Top Tools to Master Money & Business

No matter where you stand with your financial or business goals, there are amazing tools that can save you time and money. But how do you know which tools are helpful and which are useless – or worse, scams?

You can ask us.

This page includes all our favorite resources – that we’ve used ourselves or closely vetted – to help you stay organized, improve your financial health, and reach your goals.

We’ll update this page as service offerings change and new courses and products come on the market. Bookmark this page so you can always find the tools you need.

Important Note: Many of these links are affiliate links, which means S$M may get a commission if you purchase, at no cost to you. These commissions have no impact on our reviews and recommendations, we only partner with products that we absolutely love.

Money

Money Management

Qube Money

A BUDGET & BANKING APP BUILT ON INTENTIONAL SPENDING

Qube Money is a revolutionary app and banking solution that combines the power of digital banking with the intentionality of cash envelope budgeting (without all the tracking or pesky cash.)

By creating “Qubes” (envelopes) in your Qube Money account that you need to open prior to making a purchase with your card, you develop intentionality with your money and maintain a real-time picture of your spending plan.

Jeremiah and I have been using Qube for all of our regular spending for the past year and absolutely love it. We have saved so much time and money. Plus, we both feel more in control of the budget.

Qube has a free Basic Plan where you get a no-fee account, 10 Qubes, and subscription controls. But you can get 2 FREE months of their Premium plan (usually $8/mo or $78/year) – which adds unlimited Qubes, joint accounts, recurring transfers, and more – with the code MONEYMAMA. Click here to download Qube Money and get started now!

You Need a Budget

A BUDGET SYSTEM FOR DETAILED TRACKERS

YNAB is absolutely incredible for long-term budget planning and changing  your thought process when it comes to money. Their philosophy of giving every dollar a job makes it easy to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. It has been this tool that has made all the crazy, unexpected expenses that have hit us over the years way less stressful. 

We recommend YNAB to people who want a hands on, detailed budget system and people who often spend with credit cards. The system requires you to approve every transaction so you do need to make time to keep your budget up to date.

While the service does cost $14.99 per month or $98.99 per year, YNAB estimates that the average user saves $600 by month two! And they offer a 100% money-back guarantee. So if you try it out and don’t feel like it works for you, you can get your money back anytime.

Investing

Vanguard

THE BEST IN LOW-FEE DIY INVESTING

Vanguard is the gold-standard in low-fee index fund investing. They manage significantly more assets than any other provider and are consistently lowering costs and minimums.

For hands-off investors, choose from all-in-one funds or manage your own investments with a wide selection of options.

Ellevest

A ROBO-ADVISOR DESIGNED FOR WOMEN

This isn’t like the “pink tax”. Women have long needed an investment option that takes into account our unique challenges.

Women spend more time out of the workforce than men and live longer. That means it’s even harder to save for retirement. Ellevest is the first robo-advisor that caters specifically to women to make it more likely we reach our goals.

With zero investment minimums, low-fees, and access to great advice – we highly recommend Ellevest. And even if you aren’t ready to switch investment providers, their free, customized investment plans are top notch.

Blooom

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR 401K, 403B, or TSP

For most people, your 401(k) or 403(b) is your largest retirement asset. But are you sure you’re getting the most out of it?

Blooom is a robo-advisor that specializes in retirement accounts. They offer an excellent, 5-minute free analysis of your employer-sponsored retirement plan (401(k), 457, 403(b), 401(a), or TSP). Find out if you could lower your fees or reduce risk in your portfolio.

Blooom also offers low-cost ongoing management services which are best for hands-off investors who would prefer to never worry about their retirement account again.

Insurance & Estate Planning

Family Emergency Binder

EVERYTHING YOUR FAMILY NEEDS TO KNOW

If an emergency separated you from your family or you passed away unexpectedly, would they have what they needed to keep the business of your life in motion?

The Family Emergency Binder puts the information your family would need at their fingertips.

Also known as a legacy binder or “in case of death” binder, the Family Emergency Binder will guide your family through all those things we hope never happen.

The Family Emergency Binder is a fillable PDF and includes over 100 pages of simple, printable worksheets, 14 easy-to-navigate subsections – no shuffling through drawers and file cabinets, and the perfect mix of cold-hard-fact and emotional legacy. Including your son’s favorite lullaby.

We also now offer an 8GB flash drive with the Family Emergency Binder files for safe storage of your information and easy gift giving!

Haven Life

AFFORDABLE TERM LIFE INSURANCE

Apply for term life insurance in minutes online – you may not even need a medical exam*!

We like Haven’s dedication to serving their customers throughout their life, not just in case of death. Haven’s policyholders get a will from Trust & Will for free with a year of unlimited updates, a free LifeSite subscription – an online safe deposit box, and a 15% discount at MinuteClinic locations (including their weight loss program).

*While applicants in excellent health may not need a medical exam, it is crucial you be honest on your application. Not being fully truthful can prevent your policy from being paid out if you passed away.

Bestow

AFFORDABLE TERM LIFE INSURANCE WITHOUT A HEALTH EXAM

Get low-cost term life insurance, entirely online – without a health exam. You can apply and get approved for life insurance in less than 10 minutes.

We purchased my husband’s policy through Bestow – after spending a year putting it off until he had time to do the health exam required by other providers – and loved how quick and easy the process was.

Bestow offers up to $1 million of coverage for 10- or 20-year terms. A 2-year term policy is also available for up to $500,000 of coverage. 

*It is crucial you be honest on insurance applications. Not being fully truthful can prevent your policy from being paid out if you passed away.

Trust & Will

AFFORDABLE, QUALITY ESTATE PLANNING

Getting a quality will, or setting up a trust, doesn’t have to require an expensive trip to an estate attorney. We love Trust & Will’s easy-to-use and robust estate planning platform. And it’s entirely online!

Wills start at just $69, and if you aren’t ready to complete a will, you can name legal guardians for your children for $39.

Trusts start at $399 and include a revocable living trust, schedule of assets, pour over will, and living will. Not sure what any of that means? Trust & Will’s platform will walk you through questions about your situation to determine what your family needs.

PolicyGenius

INSTANT ONLINE QUOTES FOR INSURANCE

Regardless of the type of insurance you’re shopping for, PolicyGenius can likely help you compare rates and get the best deal.

Users put in some anonymous data (location and size of your home or height, weight, health conditions, depending on the type of insurance), and see quotes instantly from over a dozen carriers. Once you’re ready to choose a quote, create an account and enter your personal information to finalize your policy.

PolicyGenius allows you to compare rates and buy life, disability (long-term and short-term, renters, homeowners, auto, health, vision, travel, and pet insurance. Shop rates quickly and easily online today!

Credit & Debt

Discover Credit Scorecard

FREE – STAY ON TOP OF YOUR CREDIT SCORE

Keeping a healthy credit score is an important part of managing your finances. Even if you aren’t a customer of Discover, you can sign up to see your free Credit Scorecard, including your actual FICO score (many free credit monitoring platforms offer an estimated credit score, not your true FICO score.)

Monitoring you score with the Credit Scorecard won’t impact your credit and will keep you in the know if new inquiries are made on your credit or your score changes.

Saving Money

Rakuten

FREE – GET CASH BACK WHEN YOU SHOP ONLINE

As a busy mom, shopping online is a way of life. Rakuten’s browser plug-in makes it easy to get cash back from the purchases you’re already making. Every quarter you get a deposit directly to your PayPal account (or a check in the mail), without having to do a thing.

We also love the coupon code finder in the Rakuten plugin, which saves you the time of searching for promo codes.

Pro tip: Watch for double or bonus cash back offers at retailers where you shop frequently. We wait to order photo books as gifts for family when Mixbook has bonus cash back deals!

Drop

FREE – CASH REBATES ON EVERYDAY PURCHASES

Drop is a cash back service, like Ebates, except you can get money back on all your purchases – not just the ones you make online.

Connect your credit or debit card to Drop’s service (this is done through a secure system where Drop can only see your transactions, not initiate charges or make changes) and it will watch for purchases with partner brands and credit your account with cash back. 

Drop is partnered with Trader Joe’s, Costco, Whole Foods, Lyft, Uber, and many, many more brands. Start earning cash back today!

Ibotta

FREE – SAVE ON GROCERIES WITH CASH REBATES

Hate couponing but want to save money at the grocery store? Ibotta is the app for you.

We use Ibotta every time we go to the grocery store. To be honest, we stink at remembering to look for coupons and when we do find them, we’re always forgetting to actually bring them to the store. Oops.

Ibotta is an easy way for us to get cash back on groceries each week, without having to find time to cruise the internet and local paper for coupons.

Side Hustles

Earn More Writing

BECOME A FREELANCE WRITER

The demand for writers is high. If you can hit deadlines, follow the direction of an editor, and commit to improving your writing with each new project, you can make great money as a freelance writer. You don’t need an advanced degree or any formal writing training. And the best person to learn from is Holly Porter Johnson.

Holly makes over $200,000 a year freelance writing and her course helps new writers pitch effectively and get paid what they’re worth (no writing in exchange for ‘exposure’). When I took the course, it paid itself back when I booked my first client two days later!

The Facebook group that goes with her course is a great place to find new writing gigs and learn from experienced writers. 

FlexJobs

FIND LEGITIMATE REMOTE, PART-TIME, AND FREELANCE JOBS

Looking for a remote or flexible job online can be overwhelming. You’re always worried about whether the offer on the other side is a scam. That’s why FlexJobs exists – to help you save time, sort through the nonsense, and find legitimate job that fits your lifestyle.

FlexJobs hand-screens remote, part-time, freelance and flexible jobs for you. Jobs are sorted into over 50 categories, details are provided on every company, and there are over 25,000 active job postings right now that you can apply to right in the platform.

Access to FlexJobs’ full service costs $14.95 per month, but click the button to get 30% off with the code SAVE30 and find your perfect remote job!

At Home Business

BlueHost

CREATE YOUR OWN WEBSITE

It’s 2020. Your business needs a website.

Even if it is just one page that tells what you do and how to contact you, you need a footprint online. (And let’s be honest, most at-home business ideas have something to do with the internet.)

Bluehost offers web hosting from $3.95 a month, including your domain name and an email account. With one click install of WordPress, you can be setup and customizing your site in minutes!

Shopify

THE BEST PLATFORM FOR ECOMMERCE BIG & SMALL

Shopify is a platform that allows you to create online stores to sell physical or digital goods. And they are the best at what they do.

Today, Shopify powers over 600,000 online stores and their shop owners have generated over $82 billion in sales.

The shops are easy to set up, have beautiful and easy to navigate themes and templates, and make it easy to manage sales and inventory.

With pricing plans starting at just $9 a month (where you can sell on Facebook or an existing website), Shopify is a great deal to help you increase sales online while maintaining control of your brand and customer information.

The Smart Money Mamas Shop is even powered by Shopify!

FreshBooks

SIMPLE ACCOUNTING FOR FREELANCERS & BUSINESS OWNERS

When you’re business was new, you probably didn’t need an accounting software. You only had a few transactions and could use a simple spreadsheet. But as things grow, a service like FreshBooks can help you stay organized for tax season.

Starting at $15 per month, Freshbooks is a very popular small business accounting platform with an excellent invoicing system. It is a bit more user friendly than QuickBooks, a major competitor, but does have somewhat fewer accounting and tax tools. Head over for a 30-day free trial!

IncFile

BUSINESS GROWING? FORM AN LLC 

Looking to form an LLC, S-Corp, or non-profit properly in your state? You can just download the paperwork from your state’s website, but if you need a little guidance, IncFile can walk you through the process step-by-step and file everything for you.

The service costs just $49 (plus your state’s filing fee) and provides great peace of mind that you’re doing everything correctly.

Mama Life

FamZoo

ALLOWANCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

We all want to raise financially smart kids who will grow up to move out of our houses, not permanently camp out in the basement. And in a world where money is increasingly invisible, hidden behind credit and debit cards and online banks, teaching smart money skills has gotten harder. 

FamZoo is our favorite service for teaching kids of all ages how to handle money in a digital world. By using prepaid debit cards, FamZoo allows parents to create a “Bank of Mom & Dad”, where their kids have their own money but still have oversight from parents.

FamZoo offers a ton of cool features like the ability to create virtual save/spend/give jars, pay interest to motivate savings or charge fees for bad behaviors like skipped chores. 

For only $5.99/mo for up to four cards, the cost is well worth the lessons your kids will learn.

AirBnB

TRAVEL FOR LESS, LIVE LIKE A LOCAL

Traveling with a family can be expensive. You’re crammed in a hotel room and, without a kitchen, you’re forced to eat most meals at restaurants.

AirBnB can give you a home away from home, anywhere in the world. 

Groupon

SAVE ON EXPERIENCES, SERVICES, AND MORE

Sometimes it can be hard to find room in the budget for a massage or dinner out at a restaurant, but Groupon can help make it more affordable.

We like to watch for deals on things we wouldn’t typically do – the trampoline park, pedicures, home cleaning services, weekend getaways – and take advantage when Groupon makes those special things reasonably priced.

See what’s available in your area today! 

$5 Dinners

LOW COST MEAL PLANS DONE FOR YOU

Sick of trying to come up with a meal plan every week that doesn’t bust the budget? Erin from $5 Dinners has your back.

With complete meal plans with delicious recipes that average out to – you guessed it! – just $5 a dinner, all you have to do is print the included shopping list. Recipes are clear and easy to make.

Choose one of Erin’s top weekly or six-week meal plans systems or sign up with $5 Meal Plans to receive a new meal plan every week. (We highly recommend doing the 14-day free trial of $5 Meal Plans!) 

$5 Dinners has meal plan and recipe options that are gluten-free, Paleo, and vegetarian. 

Hulu

CUT THE CORD, KEEP YOUR SHOWS

We cut cable almost three years ago and have never looked back. Hulu keeps me up-to-date on Grey’s Anatomy and This is Us and I don’t have to remember to set the DVR.

Rover

QUALITY, AFFORDABLE PET CARE

Need a dog walker or someone to watch your furbaby while you travel? Rover can connect you with dog walkers and pet sitters in your area.

We love using Rover, as opposed to kennels, because it saves money and Stitches gets a more home-like experience when we travel.

Before using a walker or sitter, we meet with them to make sure it is a good fit. If we are screening a sitter, we have always been invited to their home before confirming the booking. These steps by Rover has always made us secure leaving our pup in the care of Rover providers!

I’ve vetted every item on this list and organized them by how they can help improve your finances, business, or life. Pin this list to your Pinterest profile so you always have the tools you need!