SmartyPig

Let’s face it: Saving money simply isn’t as much fun as spending it. Making a purchase (and having something to show for it) is a lot more exciting than merely putting money into a bank account. But, in the long run, saving money is a lot more satisfying than blowing it on a shopping spree. Whether you’re saving for a vacation or retirement, it’s important to learn how to save properly and, eventually, reach your goals.

The good news is that with the rapid growth of technology, saving money is now easier — and maybe even enjoyable — than ever before. To help you manage your expenses, you can use tools like SmartyPig and Manilla.com, a free service that lets you manage all of your bills and accounts in one place. SmartyPig lets you create and track savings goals, while Manilla lets you view them next to everything else. And by following a few simple tips, you can use these services together to reach your target.

Create a budget — and stick to it. This is rote advice, but it’s necessary, nonetheless. Creating a budget is absolutely essential in reaching your savings goals because you need to know where your money is going. Manilla can help you stick to your budget because it gives you one place to manage all of your accounts — your financial accounts, household accounts and utilities, travel rewards programs, Netflix and magazine subscriptions, daily deals, OpenTable reservations, and more. You can check the balance of your savings account right next to the balance of your credit card, keeping you aware of your expenditures and making sure you stay on budget.

Once you create a budget, you’ll be able to figure out what your financial savings goals are and track them on SmartyPig. With SmartyPig, all you have to do is figure out how much you want to save and SmartyPig does the rest. You can even set up automatic transfers so that you’re always hitting your savings target. 

Stop paying late fees. Paying a late fee is like throwing money down the drain, and it can keep you from reaching your savings goals quickly. With Manilla, you can get reminders via email or text message so that you always know how much you owe and when your payments are due. You’ll even get reminders when your travel rewards points are about to expire and when it’s time to use your daily deals before they expire.

Track your SmartyPig savings account on Manilla. Use SmartyPig to set your financial goals, and use Manilla to track them next to everything else. When you add your SmartyPig account to Manilla, you can track all of your savings goals right next to your other accounts, putting everything in your life in one place. That way, you’ll be able to see the balances of your other bank accounts and know if your savings goals seem attainable. Manilla also gives you access to all of your account documents — such as bills and statements — which you can view, download or print whenever you want.

So, before you give up on the idea of creating a budget, sticking to it and, eventually, reaching your savings goals, sign up for Manilla and use it to manage your SmartyPig account. It will allow you to get a complete view of your savings goals, bank accounts, bills and more — all in one place, all for free.

Nilisa Crespo writes for the Manilla Blog and works at Manilla.com, a free service that lets consumers manage everything in their lives, all in one place. With Manilla, consumers can manage their financial accounts, household accounts and utilities, travel rewards, daily deals, Netflix and magazine subscriptions, and more.