The Best Finance Products That Take the Stress Out of Saving (and Spending)

In this “New York Times” bestseller, Alichie (aka the Budgetnista) shares the ten-step process she followed to get herself out of major debt. Her method favors accessible, short-term techniques, including walking you through how to calculate your baseline budget and painlessly boost your credit score, to achieve long-term financial security. “[I’m a] big fan of Tiffany Aliche’s book — she was able to really level up her own financial situation and is one of the OG financial girlies,” Tu tells us.

This podcast from Jamila Souffrant has earned a loyal following since its first episode in 2018, with over 3 million downloads to date. This is also a favorite of Feinstein Gerstley, who says, “Jamila covers all aspects of personal finance, including her own journey to financial freedom. I love her nonjudgmental, straightforward approach to personal finance and her relatable and inspirational guests.”

If you’re starting your investment education from scratch, read this book. Bola Sokunbi, the founder and CEO of Clever Girl Finance (home to over 30 more free financial resources, FYI), is a certified financial education instructor and an expert in how to save, invest, and pay off debt simultaneously. Our team found this book non-intimidating and easy to understand, especially for the newbiest newbies to the world of finance. 

“Girls That Invest” is probably the most popular investing podcast out there, and we especially love that it’s geared toward women. The podcast was founded by friends and investors Simran Kaur and Sonya Gupthan, and they aim to provide the education that women generally lack about investing. PS: Tu is also a big fan of Sim’s book and online course. 

Anne Lester is the former head of retirement solutions for J.P. Morgan and another expert we’ve consulted previously for tips on how to pay off debt and save for retirement at the same time. In her award-winning book, Lester provides actionable advice on how to build a retirement fund, particularly for millennials and Gen Zers who’ve faced some of the toughest financial climates. You’ll walk away from this book not only with the belief that retiring comfortably is doable, but knowing exactly how to do it yourself.

Brandyn Rodriguez and her husband paid off $137,000 of debt in just under five years. How’d they do it? It’s in the blog. She’ll teach you some of her debt-clearing best practices, like the zero-based budgeting method and the value of rewarding yourself along the way.  

Hands down, YNAB is the most universally beloved budgeting tool among both HQ’rs and our experts. Dorsainvil shares, “I absolutely LOVE YNAB. I've been utilizing it both personally and with clients since 2017, and it stands out as the ultimate budgeting tool. YNAB prompts you to consider your finances before making purchases, fostering intentionality in your spending habits. Its visual representation allows you to understand the tradeoffs involved in each financial decision, empowering you to make informed choices about your money, not just for today, but for the future as well.” And as one HQ’r put it: “This product has absolutely changed my life.”

This one comes courtesy of Dorsainvil, who finds this a more comprehensive alternative to YNAB and often recommends it to her clients. She says, “Monarch offers a broader overview and allows users to access historical data from checking, savings, and credit card accounts spanning up to two years. This feature effectively illustrates spending patterns, which can be invaluable for certain individuals. Additionally, Monarch's interface is sleek and user-friendly. While YNAB excels as a straightforward budgeting tool, Monarch offers a more flexible approach without compromising efficiency.”

Reason number one to love Cash App Taxes: It’s completely free to file both state and federal taxes, no matter how many forms you have to file. It also has an easy-to-use interface on both mobile and desktop — just upload your documents and go. One HQ’r says: “They make it SO easy to file! Couldn't get to Tax Day without them!”

If you’re self-employed, we recommend using TaxSlayer to file your 1099s and/or W2s, since this software has a program specifically designed for you. They also provide direct access to a tax professional — which is especially appreciated for your unique (and occasionally complicated) filing status. One thing to note: the self-employed service is priced at $67.95 plus additional fees per state, and their lowest-cost option, which is for active-duty servicemembers, is free.