Thank you Capital One for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. 

 

I remember the first time I won something on eBay. It was a leather jacket (I was sixteen, forgive me) and I’d been watching it for days. Would I get outbid at the last second?

Nope. In fact, I’m guessing I was the only bidder. But at sixteen, I didn’t know that. I still remember screaming aloud when the “You Won” notification appeared.

Technology has always been one of my top tools for shopping and managing my money – whether it’s an asset-tracking program, travel-booking software, a savings app, a widget that finds coupons, or a tool to help me make more informed purchases.

That’s why today, I’m sharing some of those tools to with you. So you too can leverage the awesomeness of technology to save more in the New Year.

 

1. Personal Capital

 

If you regularly read my blog and follow my go-to method for budgeting with a budget, you probably know I’m a big time Personal Capital fan.

Personal Capital is a platform that helps you track and manage your net worth (i.e. your assets – your liabilities; or what you own – what you owe).

You can sync all your accounts – retirement, savings, checking, investments – plus add any assets you have, like real estate or vehicles. It’s a great way to see your big picture financially and plan for the future.

 

2. Digit

 

Digit is an app that saves incremental amounts of money from your checking account automatically, to help you make saving money a habit.

At first, I didn’t think too much of Digit. And if you’re already an avid saver like I am, you might feel the same way – why would I need to have 15 cents a day pulled into a savings account when I already save more than a healthy amount each month?

But even for us super-savers, it can add up! After a year, I had $500 in my Digit account, and since it was withdrawn from my checking account in such tiny amounts, I never even noticed it was gone.

The best part? Digit texts you every morning with your bank balance (and funny jokes!)

 

3. Honey

 

If you’re an avid online shopper, you’re going to go crazy for Honey. It’s a Google Chrome browser extension that’s basically a coupon-ing best friend.

As you shop, Honey searches the Internet for you, finding any coupons or promotion codes for the site you’re on to help you save more.

I’ve saved money using Honey on Etsy, Amazon, Anthropologie, Groupon … and the list goes on…

 

4. Capital One’s Auto Navigator® Site

 

If you’re thinking of buying a car in the coming year, Capital One’s Auto Navigator® site can help you find a car and take care of your financing, all from the comfort of your own home.

It’s an online tool that allows you to pre-qualify for auto-financing before visiting a dealership. Once you’re pre-qualified, you can play around with car type, the amount of financing and the repayment terms, to see what your APR and monthly payment would be.

If you hate being rushed into a decision or put on the spot at a dealership, this is a great way to figure out all your financial options in a low-pressure situation (i.e. your couch) so that you can make a smart decision.

For more car buying tips, check out these 3 car shopping tips to save you money!

 

5. Google Flights

 

From a quick glance, Google Flights looks like nothing special. You plug in your destination and dates and it shows you flight options. Big whoop.

But as any savvy budget traveler will tell you, this simple piece of tech has some pretty advanced money-saving capabilities.

First, it shows you prices for your destination for every day of the month. Plus, it gives you suggestions for ways to save more by departing or returning on different days.

Want to go to Europe? You can look at a map that will show the prices for flying into each European city. And you can get alerts when the flight you want is about to get more expensive.

If you want to become an advanced Google Flights user, here’s an awesome guide to get you started.

 

We’ve come a long way since eBay was the only place to score a sweet deal online. Make sure you’re cashing in!

 

 

These opinions are those of the speakers/authors noted and not necessarily those of Capital One. Unless noted otherwise in this post, Capital One is not affiliated with, nor is it endorsed by, any of the companies mentioned. All trademarks and other intellectual property used or displayed are the ownership of their respective owners.