So I get a lot of questions on how to manage your money. It is the ultimate millennial struggle because there is not enough money being earned to balance out the cost of your student loans. Yes, it is something I struggle with as well. However, thankfully there are some apps that I use to manage my expenses, throw money into savings and still live a pretty lavish lifestyle on a beer budget. Here are my top 3 money managing apps that I use*

1 | Acorns

I cannot praise Acorns enough! Not only does it invest money so I can see ROI but it takes money without me even realizing it’s gone. What Acorns does is it links to your bank account and rounds up your purchases (i.e.: $4.50 for a coffee, they take $0.50). They place your money into the market so you get see a return. Now, I go moderately aggressive with my investment and have them take an additional $100 per month on top of my round ups. It is a great safety net to have! I was able to save over $500 in my first 6 months using the app. Need access to your money? No problem! You can transfer the money back to your bank account in 3-5 business days. Download Acorns here and start mindlessly saving! *this is an affiliate link

2 | Credit Karma

I swear by Credit Karma! I can check my credit report everyday and have it not negatively impact my score and it is absolutely FREE. I am sure you have seen the corny commercials on TV, but really though, there is nothing worse than not knowing where you stand on credit. Credit affects your buying power when it comes to big purchases like a house or car. It can even effect your ability to rent an apartment! Also, you can identify any identity theft and credit card fraud immediately if you stay on top of your score. While it is hard to build your credit back up, it is a lot easier with the tools they provide to assist. Credit Karma has a full dashboard of tools, tips and pre-approved credit card options for you to take into consideration when building or maintaining your credit. Sign up for Credit Karma today!

3 | Mint by Intuit

I love this app because it links to my bank account and gives me a reality check on how I am spending my money. There is no fun way to look at the fact you spend 40% of your income on restaurants and bars! While food is a necessity, do you really need to be eating out THAT much? Can you manage to cook 1-2 extra meals a week to cut back on costs? Not only does Mint show you how you spend, it gives you solutions to cut back, how to save, what you should save and access to your credit report. If you are in need of managing HOW you spend, download Mint!