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The holidays have come and gone and now we are starting a brand new year. This time is often thought of as a “fresh start,” a time for resolutions- to be more organized, to spend more time with family, to get healthier, to get finances in order, or whatever is important to you. As parents and caregivers, we can also use this time to re-evaluate some of the systems and tools we use to try to stay organized and keep our households running smoothly.
Who goes where and when? Families are made up of individuals with their own lives, which means balancing school responsibilities, medical appointments- often including regular checkups as well as visits to specialist and recurring therapy appointments, recreational activities, and (hopefully) some family time along the way! This can be a lot for the person who serves as the primary caregiver. Built-in calendar functions on your Apple or Android smartphone are great, but how about trying an app like Shared Family Calendar: FamCal or Cozi Family Organizer?
Perhaps you need to get your budget in order? Are big expenses like a larger vehicle or house headed your way in 2023? Maybe you purchased something big in 2022 or had some unexpected medical bills? Whatever the reason, and no matter your skill level at handling money and budgeting, we are always researching new FinTech (financial technology) to help users of all abilities.
Read on to learn about some of our favorite apps for organizing families (and budgets) of all sizes!
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Shared Family Calendar: FamCal
By: Appxy
FamCal is designed to help keep families connected by combining calendars, events, tasks and notes in one place. The app allows users to color code events that match family members and share events either with the whole family or only members involved in that particular event. This is a tool that could be beneficial for families as their children get older and begin working or have other responsibilities that cause their schedules to vary often.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
iTunes [4]
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Cozi Family Organizer
By: Cozi
Recently updated, the Cozi Family Organizer app is a great family planning app that includes not only a calendar, but a place for lists, recipes, and more all in one place. We recommend this as an app that could be helpful for students transitioning from high school to college or the workforce.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
iTunes [7]
Google Play [8]
[9]
CaringBridge
By: CaringBridge.org
CaringBridge is a great app for caregivers of all kinds. It transforms your personal connections into instant support for whatever a person may be going through at the time, a long-term illness or a sudden accident that requires short-term special care. Caregivers can easily post updates from the app and the person being cared for can even respond to get well messages if they are able.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
BridgingApps Review [10]
iTunes [11]
Google Play [12]
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Daily Budget Original
By: C Ruttinger
Daily Budget is a budget planning app that allows users to track their budget and spending on a daily basis as well as give users a larger picture of their monthly income and expenses. It is simple to use, just start by entering regular income as well as recurring expenses and savings goals then the app calculates how much you can spend each day. This is great for young adults working their first jobs and paying bills for the first time.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
BridgingApps Review [14]
iTunes [15]
[16]
Money Manager Expense & Budget
By: Realbyte Inc.
Money Manager Expense & Budget has a simple interface, allowing users of all skill levels to easily begin building a budget. Users put in regular income and expenses and can set limits for known expenses each month, such as credit card bills, then the app creates their budget using that information. This app also has a currency setting for traveling to other countries as well as being available in languages other than English.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
BridgingApps Review [17]
iTunes [18]
Google Play [19]
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Buddy: Budget & Save Money
By: Buddy Budgeting AB
The Buddy budgeting app is a great tool for those who are new to budgeting as well as to those who have been doing it for a long time but want to try a different approach. Our reviewer also found that this app is great for couples or other people who share a budget. Set up is simple and the interface for tracking transactions was intuitive and easy to understand. A great benefit to this app is that it is available in 13 languages with dozens of currencies that can be chosen.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
BridgingApps Review [21]
iTunes [22]
Check out BridgingApps App Search Tool [23] to search for apps, create lists and even share them.
*BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston, is a community of parents, therapists, doctors and teachers who share information about using mobile devices with people who have special needs.
Amy Fuchs is the Program Manager at BridgingApps and a former special education teacher. Amy Barry is the Digital Marketing Lead at BridgingApps and mother of five children.
Cristen Reat is co-founder of BridgingApps and a mother who found success when using a mobile device with her younger son who has multiple disabilities. We share a passion for using mobile technology to enhance the lives of people of all ages with disabilities.*
More Like This
- Tech Tips for Money Fun [24]
- The Power of the Piggy Bank | Important Life Skills Teaching About Money Management [25]
- Teaching Financial Independence The Building Blocks of Financial Literacy [26]
- Check It Out! Products to Help Teach Money Management [27]
- “Person-Ventured” Entrepreneurship Series [28]
- How to Find Your Special Child’s Spark? [29]
- Apps for Supporting Independence: The Transition to Adulthood [30]
- How to Handle Money and Your Finances [31]
This post originally appeared on our January/February 2023 Magazine [32]