Hello everyone! My name is Brenda Butnick and I’m a Financial Coach at Jewish Family Service in Dallas. I work one-on-one with clients to help them achieve financial self-sufficiency.

In my last blog, we talked about budgeting basics. Today, I want to share a few simple ways you can use technology to make budgeting easier.

1. Automate your savings
Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account every time you get paid. It’s a great way to grow your savings without even thinking about it.

2. Use budgeting tools and apps
There are many apps available that help you track spending, set savings goals, and stay on budget. Find one that works for you and check in with it regularly!

3. Pay your bills online
Paying bills through your online banking portal is one of the easiest and most secure ways to stay on top of your payments.

4. Set up auto-drafts (with care!)
You can also set up auto-drafts so your creditors pull payments directly from your account. Just remember: this method puts the control in your creditors’ hands, not yours.

Both of these methods mentioned above (#3 and #4) help you avoid late fees—and making on-time payments is one of the best ways to improve your credit history.

We’ll talk more about credit history in my next post on Friday, July 11th.

That’s all for today’s Financial Fitness tip.
Until next time—take care, and stay financially fit!