budget tracking apps (CAN)

[c-kat]

Hello,

We'd like to use an app to track expenses (mint or YNAB or something similar). Right now we just download credit cards and bank statements into excel at the end of the month (some months we're too lazy to do it), but we'd like one that updates in real time so we can see what we're spending as we go.

Problem is that TD bank has a disclaimer that say that if we use that software and there is a security issue, they won't recover our money. I assume the other Canadian banks are the same?

What do you use to track expenses? And how do you deal with the potential security issue?

[AJDZee]

I personally don't track my expenses any more because I'm a bad mustachian :) but I would think any app that will automate tracking will have the same issue - they will ask for your password and that's a no-no from the bank's perspective.

TD itself has a tracking app called MySpend, have you tried that? (again, I haven't, but it could be the solution you're after)

[DesiOnFIRE]

Try tiller. It’s Google sheets based. I like the customization options in it. And it connects to our TD, Scotia, RBC & Amex Canada accounts.

[techwiz]

I still do it manually downloading into Excel yearly for my expenses, and monthly for my investments. It is not the fastest or easiest, but I don't trust giving a third party app passwords to my online banking!

Most banks and credit card companies have their own tools which allow you to download and track in real time. However, they only work for their products and since many of us have multiple credit cards and bank accounts its hard to have a real-time overview all in one app without linking everything to one of these third party apps.   

[OttawaNeal]

I just use Mint and assume it isn't going to be an issue. 😊

[JAYSLOL]

I don’t bother tracking expenses anymore, I only track what I save, and check on things if I’m not saving enough.  I used to track manually, if I started again I’d go back to that, I don’t have much trust that an app will even do a decent job categorizing stuff properly, much less keep my personal banking info safe. 

[rocketpj]

I tried YNAB for a couple of years.  It can work if you are not married to my wife (spoiler, you are not).  For us it just became something to bicker about.

Now I just automate everything and check on it all every couple of weeks.