Buying Gear, Big Trip, Even A Boat? These 4 Apps Make Saving Easy
Dreaming about new gear, trip of a lifetime, or even a drift boat? Quality fly fishing gear isn’t getting any cheaper, and the cost of a guided lodge trip can easily beat $5,000 – $7,000 per person – not including airfare! Check out these 4 apps which make short work of saving for your gear, dream trip, or boat. Our goal as always: Get To Better Fishing™.
If you want to save more (or are having trouble saving enough), the latest apps will help you save easily. Some have catchy ways to set goals too – and we’ll give you a few tempting ideas along with our review of the apps. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can save money for your trip, gear, or boat, or stash it away for a rainy day.
What are money savings apps, anyway?
Money-saving apps use technology to help you more easily save. These apps can change your approach to saving, even make it fun and first priority, instead of painful and last priority. Here are four of the top money-saving apps:
In this article, by saving, we mean tucking away money for yourself, not a discount on a purchase. Look for our next article on apps that help you invest too.
Our Review of Savings Apps
Based on our review, here are the best apps are that allow you to save money in a savings account.
Digit
Digit helps you save money without even thinking about it.
This tool is well suited for when you are saving for a trip or something you’ll enjoy that’s a few months out. You save in small increments, which may surprise you in terms of how much you’ll stash away.
- Pros: automatic savings, earn savings bonuses (cash back rewards), no-overdraft guarantee
- Cons: Doesn’t earn interest, fee $2.99/mo after 3 months
When you sign up, it first asks you to connect your checking account (which was a little freaky for me, signing in with my bank password, but I got over it). After you link your account, it can even analyze your income and spending habits to figure out how much you could save each month.
Then, with your permission of course, it’ll transfer money in the background based on what you can do.
“Pay yourself first” is how this app works. So just say for example you have your eyes on a full gear setup – just to tempt you – like the Orvis Encounter Deluxe Fly Fishing Package or another gear package. Just set your savings rates for how many months you want to save up, and you’ll be surprised at how fast you get to your goal.
It does protect you with a no-overdraft guarantee, so you don’t overdraw your account. It’s a great app, in that it does the savings for you. While you don’t earn interest, instead you’ll get rewarded with “saving bonuses,” which are essentially cash back rewards.
To get $5 towards your account by signing up from our referral, you can sign-up for Digit at https://digit.co/r/bJBeegldO4?wn. That’s our exclusive sign-up link – it’ll say the referral is from Mark the author of this article.
Qapital
What if you could make a game out of saving money? Qapital let’s you do that.
- Pros: no fees, goal focused, customizable, makes a game out of saving, goals seem fun & manageable
- Cons: deposits take 3 business days, must have a bank account with Qapital, very low interest rate
Here’s how: Qapital lets you save based on your goals and sets up rules to make it more fun. Just for one example, let’s say you wanted to save for Cabela’s Advanced Fly Tying Kit. You’d set that as a goal and include a goal amount, then set up the savings rules.
For example, the “Round Up Rule” adds your spare change to your savings. And the “Spend Less Rule,” which saves the difference if you spend less on your favorite expenses.And here’s a fun one: the “Guilty Pleasure Rule” that every time you enjoy your pleasure, 
you’re also saving. So for example, let’s say your “guilty pleasure” is buying new flies every time you fish. Every time you buy a few new flies, you would also save for your goal.
Cabela’s Advanced Fly Tying Kit
The key with Qapital is you can customize goals if you want something specific. If you want a money-saving app that puts you and your own goals first, then Qapital is a good choice. And perhaps the best part – it’s free.
https://get.qapital.com/FqEoDabQIV, our own special code link which will get you a $20 sign-up bonus!
SmartyPig
SmartyPigDid you have a piggy bank when you were a kid? That’s how SmartyPig works – essentially a free digital piggy bank that helps you save and reach your goals.
- Pros: no fees, higher savings interest rate (APY) than other apps, FDIC-insured
- Cons: minimum $10 recurring transfer, deposits held for 5 business days before you can transfer, currently no mobile app just online
With SmartyPig, just like with the other apps, you link up your bank account, set up a goal, and track your progress. You can set it for recurring contributions or fund your SmartyPig any time you want.
What’s unique about SmartyPig is how you stay accountable with its goal planner. Say for example, you have your eyes on the new Orvis Ultralight Convertable Waders. Some users say they like SmartyPig because it helps them focus on one goal at a time.
Orvis Ultralight Convertable Waders.
Check Price
SmartyPig is free, without fees, and unlike most others like Digit or Qapital which barely has an interest rate, you actually accrue interest on your savings – a little over 1 percent at this time which is higher than most average banks. Also, SmartyPig is FDIC-insured and part of Sallie Mae Bank.
While there is currently no mobile app available for SmartyPig, the application is just online, transactions can be made on its website. Don’t forget that recurring transfers must be at least $10 (or you can do manual transfers any time for any amount if you prefer).
You can sign-up for SmartyPig at www.smartypig.com. Hopefully they’ll soon have a mobile app too.
Tip Yourself
Tip YourselfThis catchy concept is intuitive, because it’s just like when you go out to eat, and leave a tip for the waiter. Except that Tip Yourself lets you do the same…for yourself!
- Pros: free, no fees, intuitive concept, focus on motivation, rewards, social sharing
- Cons: doesn’t earn interest, deposits held for 3 business days
The great thing about Tip Yourself is, you can tip yourself for anything! For example, went to work out even if you didn’t feel like it? Tip yourself. Got more sleep for a change? Tip yourself. Had a bad day? Tip yourself.
The beauty is, it’s all about reinforcing healthy habits and rewarding yourself. Say for example, you want to reward yourself with an EmotionTM Stealth ProTM Angler Kayak. We bet you’ll find all kinds of reasons to tip yourself to reach this goal!
The mechanics: in this app, you start by signing up for a Tip Jar account. Your checking account then transfers your “tips” to your Tip Jar. You can also opt in to a social feed and community where you can share your for the day, and get “props” (comments) from others. Just the thing to make you feel good about saving.
Conclusion
Any of these apps are great choices, all you need to do is get started. The important thing is, put yourself first, and put away a little every week and you’ll be really surprised at how it adds up over time.
As a side note: check out this handy calculator for Alaska trips at http://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-trip-cost-calculator.
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