Apps & Tech Tools That Make Saving, Investing & Budgeting Fun 📲💰

Greetings, and welcome to the ninth edition of Wallet Wellness in 2025 - your midweek source of practical personal finance tips to elevate your money management skills.

We hope you had a chance to check out the last edition where we explored small steps to make 2025 the year you unlock passive income. In today’s edition, we discuss the role of tech in personal finance and apps and tools you need in 2025.

As always, be sure to check out the Concept Corner below for a deep dive into the money concept of the week.

Let’s dive in! 

MONEY254 TIP OF THE WEEK

Apps & Tech Tools That Make Saving, Investing & Budgeting Fun📲💰

Let’s face it , technology has crept into every corner of our lives, from how we order lunch to how we hail bodas. But when it comes to money, tech isn’t just convenient — it’s a game-changer.

Picture this: One person is scribbling their expenses on a tattered notebook, forgetting half of them, and wondering where their salary vanished to by the 10th.

Another has a budgeting app that tracks every shilling, nudges them when they overspend, and even helps them save automatically. 

Same income, two totally different outcomes!

In today’s edition, we’re diving into the role of tech in personal finance: apps and tools you need in 2025, showing you how to use technology to unlock smoother money moves, smarter savings, and effortless investments.

1️⃣ Budgeting Tools 📊💸

In 2025, budgeting isn’t just about knowing where your money went — it’s about steering where it’s going with ease. With smart apps, you get real-time tracking, automatic categorization, and clear spending trends that even show you how to free up cash for investments.

• Why It Matters: Good budgeting is the foundation of financial freedom — knowing your money flow helps you spot what can be redirected into income-generating opportunities and avoiding bad money decisions.

• Examples Of Tools: M-Pesa App (with My Spend), Money Manager by Realbyte, Wallet App, and YNAB (You Need A Budget) Alvin App, Kiihela Expense Tracker, Centonomy Spending Tracker, Goodbudget, Spendee.

• What To Do: Pick a tool that fits your lifestyle — if you mainly use M-Pesa, start with apps that integrate directly, but if you want global-level tracking, consider pro tools like YNAB.

2️⃣ Savings Platforms 💰📈

Saving isn’t just about piling cash — it’s about making sure your savings earn you something even while you sleep. Tech has simplified savings, letting you set goals, automate deposits, and even join peer-saving challenges — all at your fingertips. The right platforms turn passive saving into passive income.

• Why It Matters: Savings is the seed money for investments — the more efficiently you save, the faster you can move into wealth-growing opportunities.

• Examples Of Tools: M-Shwari, KCB M-Pesa, Chumz App (for group saving goals), Absa Digital Savings Account, Loop by NCBA.

• What To Do: Don’t just save randomly — set savings goals tied to future passive income projects, from land deposits to money market funds, and let tech help you stay on track. Read More.

3️⃣ Investment Apps 📈📊

Investing in 2025 is no longer just for the suit-and-tie types — thanks to tech, you can invest from your phone in minutes, directly accessing T-bills, bonds, money market funds, and even fractional real estate. Investment apps help you build passive income streams with less hustle.

• Why It Matters: part of building wealth and passive income grows when you move money from idle savings into investments that earn while you sleep — tech makes this process seamless and transparent.

• Examples Of Tools: Dhow CSD (for direct Treasury investments), Zimele App (for affordable Money Market Funds), Bonsai App (for small-ticket investing), Chumz (for collective investing), and Co-op Bank Invest App and many more.

• What To Do: Start small — even Ksh500 can go into a money market fund. Use tech tools to compare options, automate deposits, and track your portfolio growth.

Technology is no longer just about convenience — it’s a wealth-building partner waiting in your pocket. Whether you’re budgeting better, saving smarter, or investing faster, the right tools can help you unlock financial freedom without breaking a sweat.

CONCEPT CORNER

The 60% Solution

The 60% Solution is a super simple way to budget where you use 60% of your income to cover your basic needs — things like rent, food, transport, school fees, and bills. The other 40% is for everything else: savings, investments, debt payments, fun, and emergencies. It’s a way to make sure your main expenses are covered while still leaving space for your future and your enjoyment. Learn More.

Money and Me: My Cousin's Tax Free Empire in Ushago Has Gotten Me Rethinking  My Life Choices

“…I was pretty sure very few cousins there had shares in a Sacco, unlike the unemployed Kim - he had gradually built a nest egg from his eggs income. Excuse the pun. 

I didn’t know what I really wanted, then.

Do I get a job in the city and join the 9 - 5 bandwagon, or - follow Kim’s path - eke out a tax free albeit less glamorous self-employment lifestyle?..”. Read On

MONEY254 #MONEYTOK

What You Need to Buy Shares in Kenya

Investing in the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) can be an enticing opportunity for individuals seeking to grow their wealth. Before venturing into the complexities and risks inherent in the stock market, it's crucial to equip oneself with knowledge and understanding. In this week's MoneyTok, we discuss what you need to buy shares in Kenya. Watch the video and dive into the details in this article!

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That's it for the ninth Wallet Wellness edition of 2025! We hope these financial tips have added some energy to your weekly hustle. Stay tuned for more practical insights in our next edition of "Wallet Wellness" next week and watch out for Money Weekly.

Also, don’t forget to download the Money254 App on the Google Play Store, and remember that we can help you compare over 300 loans, savings accounts, current accounts, and more if you’re thinking about your next product.

Cheers to your wallet's well-being!

Money254 editorial team.