The Power of a Budgeting App

Most people think they know where their money goes, but the reality is: unless you’re tracking it, you probably don’t. That $6 coffee, $12 Uber ride, or $39.99 subscription can slip through the cracks quickly.

That’s where budgeting apps come in—and there are a lot of them. I’ve tried a handful over the years, from Mint to YNAB (You Need a Budget), but the one I keep coming back to is Empower (formerly Personal Capital).

Here’s why.

Why I use Empower for Budgeting

Empower combines budgeting and wealth tracking in one app, which makes it especially useful if you’re running your own business, side hustle, or managing multiple income streams.

Some of my favorite features: 

✔ All accounts in one place — Connect your checking, savings, credit cards, loans, and investments to get a full financial snapshot.
✔ Cash flow tracking — Easily see how much is coming in vs. going out each month.
✔ Automatic categorization — Your transactions are automatically tagged (e.g. groceries, gas, rent), which saves tons of time.
✔ Spending trends — Month-to-month comparisons help highlight where you might be overspending.

✔ Net worth tracking — See how your assets and liabilities stack up over time.

Budgeting Helps You Make Smarter Decisions

Once I started using Empower regularly, I found I made better financial decisions almost without trying. Just seeing a chart showing my food delivery spending spike made me rethink how often I was ordering out. And having all my accounts in one place made it easy to understand how a big purchase or slow business month impacted my bottom line.

Plus, the tool is free—which is kind of incredible, considering how much data and insight it gives you.

Final Thoughts

Budgeting doesn’t have to mean spreadsheets or giving up your morning coffee. It just means having a clear view of what’s coming in, what’s going out, and where you can make small changes that add up over time.

If you’ve never used a budgeting app before—or if you’ve tried and fallen off the wagon—give Empower a shot. It’s simple to set up, and after a week or two, you might be surprised how much clarity it brings to your finances.

Your money should work for you. Knowing where it goes is the first step.