A recent USAA Bank survey indicates that many consumers are putting into practice personal finance lessons learned during the past few years, with nearly half (49 percent) saying that keeping a budget has become a bigger priority than it was before.
When asked about their budgeting personality, three-fourths of respondents described themselves as a “penny pincher” (40 percent) or a “big picture budgeter” (36 percent). And nearly nine out of 10 (86 percent) said they always or often stick to specific targets within their budget for everyday expenses.
The survey also uncovered that even the best budgeters benefit from having their financial information at their fingertips. Respondents indicated they’re more likely to make better budget decisions if they had access to real-time updates on their mobile phones. For instance, nearly 70 percent said they would decide against purchasing a $40pair of jeans if they saw on their mobile phone that they had only $20 left in their monthly clothing budget, while nearly one in four (24 percent) non-budgeters said that having updates on their mobile phone would increase their likelihood to develop a budget.
“As costs for necessities like gas and groceries continue to rise, it’s more important than ever for consumers to keep a watchful eye on their spending habits,” said Jeff Easley, executive director for USAA Bank. “The first step in avoiding budget missteps, like overspending, is to use simple mobile tools that work for you and your family.”
USAA® Money Manager Goes Mobile – Providing On-The-Spot Info
To help members manage their finances, USAA recently launched a mobile version of USAA® Money Manager, a free personal budget tool that provides on-the-spot spending information using an iPhone® or Android™ mobile device, such as:
When asked about their budgeting personality, three-fourths of respondents described themselves as a “penny pincher” (40 percent) or a “big picture budgeter” (36 percent). And nearly nine out of 10 (86 percent) said they always or often stick to specific targets within their budget for everyday expenses.
The survey also uncovered that even the best budgeters benefit from having their financial information at their fingertips. Respondents indicated they’re more likely to make better budget decisions if they had access to real-time updates on their mobile phones. For instance, nearly 70 percent said they would decide against purchasing a $40pair of jeans if they saw on their mobile phone that they had only $20 left in their monthly clothing budget, while nearly one in four (24 percent) non-budgeters said that having updates on their mobile phone would increase their likelihood to develop a budget.
USAA® Money Manager Goes Mobile – Providing On-The-Spot Info
To help members manage their finances, USAA recently launched a mobile version of USAA® Money Manager, a free personal budget tool that provides on-the-spot spending information using an iPhone® or Android™ mobile device, such as:
- USAA and non-USAA account balances, including transaction history for up to 60 days.
- Charts that categorize spending to show how much of a pre-set budget is going toward expenses like gas, groceries, utilities and entertainment.
- Real-time updates for each pre-set spending category. For example, members can see if there’s still room in their dining-out budget for a $5 latte or a $25 dinner.
