Update Your Profile: 10 Websites to Help Improve Your Financial Picture

Buying a new home this fall or winter? Planning for a move next spring? If you’re in the market to buy a new home anytime in the next year or so, it is likely that you’ve already started to take a closer look at your finances. And, if you haven’t, you probably should. Unless you’re planning to pay cash for your next home, any lender will want to see how much money you’ve got in the bank, how much you may owe and how much you typically spend. So, money management should probably be bumped up on your list of priorities.

Need some help saving or managing your money? You don’t have to immediately go spend even more money to hire a financial advisor. The internet offers an abundance of sites that can help you save.

To help put your money management plans into action for a future home purchase, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite savings websites. These five sites make saving money even more fun! 

1. RetailMeNot – Who doesn’t love a good coupon code? Whether you’re an online shopper or you’re hitting the mall, carrying the most up-to-date coupon codes can save you big bucks when you reach the checkout. RetailMeNot is a free site that will send you email alerts when new coupon codes are available. They’ll even let you know when your favorite shops are having big sales.

2. ThredUP – Saving money is a family affair and it can be especially hard to do when you’ve got children, particularly children who want to be dressed in all of the latest fashions. ThredUP is an innovative site where you can pay $5 (plus shipping) to order a box of gently-used clothes or toys that will make sure your kids have the hottest items for much less.

3. CouponMom.com – When it comes to saving money, it always helps to turn to dear old mom, CouponMom that is. Without a doubt, groceries are a necessary expense, but paying full price for your food is very unnecessary, according to the free website. CouponMom.com does the time-consuming task of tracking coupons and clipping them for you, even pointing you in the direction of weekly sales that will maximize your savings.

4. BillShrink – Shopping codes and coupons are great, but BillShrink suggests that there is more money to be saved on a regular basis, simply by taking a closer look at your regular bills. BillShrink is a free site that will help you evaluate your cable, phone and credit card bills to cut costs on the services you use most.

5. Groupon – Saving money doesn’t have to mean becoming anti-social. Great discount sites like Groupon allow you to score big deals on everything from a night out at your favorite restaurant to a class at the gym and more. Groupon will send you a daily email to let you know about new deals that are available in your area, so you can pick and choose which ones you would like to take advantage of.

Once you’ve got the “saving” part of the money management puzzle down, it is time to start tracking your cash flow. Lucky for you, there are a lot of web options for doing that, too. Here are five great sites for managing your cash:

1. Mint.com – Not only will this popular money management site help you track your cash flow and create a budget, it is also savvy enough to suggest additional places where you may be able to save. Mint.com will help you set budget goals and it offers free apps, so you can track your progress no matter where you are.

2. MyMoneyCircles.com – Need a coach or personal trainer to help whip your finances into shape? Try MyMoneyCircles.com, where free “trainers” will put you through daily boot camps designed to help you meet your financial goals. If things like saving money and controlling debt are your personal money management goals, check out MyMoneyCircles.com to help you get your money into shape!

3. AnnualCreditReport.com – Ah, yes… the ultimate tell-tale sign that your savings and money management plans have been working: your credit score. AnnualCreditReport.com is just what it claims to be, your free, annual credit report. See what your credit looks like and dispute any discrepancies before you go to apply for that new home loan.

4. FlexScore – If you’re not quite ready to take a look at your credit score, FlexScore is a website that will score you on how well you’re managing your money. But, don’t worry; if you don’t like the score you receive, FlexScore will also offer tips like refinancing your mortgage or updating your insurance policies to help you raise that score.

5. LearnVest – Talk about taking a look at your overall budget. LearnVest displays your entire budget, breaking it down into three categories: essentials, lifestyle and priorities. Not only can you see your spending, but LearnVest offers users the free advice of financial experts.

Whether your financial goals include saving for a new home, buying a vacation home or simply eliminating personal debt, these 10 sites are great tools for saving and managing money. The free financial tracking and advice they offer may not only help you reach your future goals, but also have a little fun while you’re on your way to financial freedom!

This post is sponsored by PA Preferred Mortgage:

Pennsylvania Preferred Mortgage is a full service mortgage banker and is a member of the Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC family. Specializing in residential and refinance loans, Pennsylvania Preferred Mortgage offers a wide range of mortgage products, including fixed and adjustable rate mortgages, jumbo loans, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, and renovation financing. Learn more at www.papreferredmortgage.com.