Top Tools For Managing Micro-Transactions
Christmas is inevitably the time of the year we all spend
more than usual. Not only are there large presents to buy, there’s drinks to be
bought, social events to attend, and an array of small gifts to suddenly
remember to purchase.
The volume of transactions occurring can be difficult to
monitor and keep a check on; contactless cards often mean we get home totally
forgetting quite how many times we used them throughout the day. There are however
a few tools available designed to help us keep a closer eye on our small
transactions, without the hassle of accessing full banking details.
Facebook Messenger
The basis of most personal finance assistants, Facebook Messenger of course has its own payments system that is worth mentioning. Payments to friends can be sent and requested in a format that most people are familiar with due to their previous Facebook usage.
Transactions are free and backed with a debit card, but only take place between people that are friends on the social media platform. After registering a card the service is easy, and uses a PIN number to prevent any fraudulent payments.
Due to the fact it is for friend payments only, it isn’t usable for paying for items when out and about Christmas but could prove useful otherwise.
Plum
Using Facebook Messenger, Plum monitors any spending made throughout the day, making you aware of things through their service. Every few days it will take amounts and put them into a savings pot, designed to take into account the current balance; when it’s more, the amount put into the savings will increase and vice versa.
ash can be withdrawn from this, if needed, simply and quickly. By doing this Plum ensures that there is always a bit of money kept back, to be used as required, a feature that those who have issues with overdrafts are finding especially useful.
Cleo
Cleo aims to provide full awareness and insight into exactly how, when and where you are spending money in an attempt to tighten up money management. When bills are due, weekly updates as to how much has been spent and what it has been spent on all are features in a service that is being favoured by those looking to control finances.
It’s proving popular with people who feel they are spending too much and want to trim down on the little bits of expenditure that all mount up, something which is especially apparent over the Christmas holiday season.
Chip
Like many other personal savings assistants, Chip is used via Facebook Messenger, but also has its own app. Operating in a similar manner to Plum, Chip looks at expenditure and then calculates an amount to save accordingly.
Adjustments can be made to this, or the savings feature can be cancelled. Chip acts as a good way to put a little aside in an affordable way, and ensure that Christmas spending does not need to mean that savings plan get jettisoned.
Folio
Different in that it doesn’t use Facebook Messenger, Folio acts primarily as a way of saving money. The user sets how much they want to save, how often, and leaves it to operate. Unlike other financial tools it doesn’t monitor the ins and outs of a bank account, instead operating based on a debit card.
Setting simple saving targets is easy, and as they can be named, planning short-term financial goals is the driving factor behind Folio. Because you can leave it to save, it means that users can forget they have done so, enjoying the Christmas festivities while later being pleasantly surprised that they have still saved what they had in mind.
