Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
How To Increase Your Savings With ProActive Budget
I've lost a lot of weight in my life. It took trial and error – just like budgeting. It was hard to be consistent without accountability. The apps that helped me the most were those that required me to think about what I was putting into my body.
Sticking to a budget can be just as challenging as sticking to a diet. It’s easy to create a budget – but actually utilizing it is a challenge for many.
My friend Shane Walker, executive vice president, and CMO at ProActive Budget confirmed that “very few families stick to budgeting consistently”.
However, the good news is that ProActive Budget has cracked the code and created a product that will actually help you save money!
ProActive Budget forces you to think before you spend. Lots of people, myself included, have heard of – and used – the cash envelope system. This is where envelopes are labeled and used to allocate money for specific things. ProActive Budget has modernized the envelope system, which Walker calls “the most powerful budgeting platform in the world.”
“ProActive Budget has really replicated the cash envelope system, and made it cashless,” said Walker. “You can hold it in the palm of your hand.”
Here’s how it works:
First, download ProActive Budget app from the App Store – the app is currently not available on Android devices, but will be released next year! Next, create an account and link your banking information. You’ll need to take a picture of your driver’s license, for security reasons, so have that handy.
“It's actually really simple,” Walker said. He added that it takes a couple days for the whole process to come together, because of security measures and other steps that are in place to protect the user.
Once payday rolls around, pay your bills like usual. The leftover money is called “discretionary income.” Transfer this money into your ProActive Budget Account.
Next, you distribute your money – you must put money into categories before spending it. To make things easier, ProActive can save your distribution plans so you can use the same setup later on.
In order to spend the money, open up the ProActive Budget app and tap “spend” on the category you wish to use money from. When it says “Ready to Spend” you can swipe your ProActive Budget debit card. Categories stay active for 30 minutes or until your purchase comes through.
It’s that simple.
“Each time you spend, you have to take certain steps to consult your budget and activate that money,” Walker said. “In real time, you’re experiencing what’s going on with your budget and your spending simultaneously.”
Using ProActive Budget is safe and secure
Additionally, the ProActive Budget debit card is incredibly safe to use! It can only be used when a spending category is selected – so if you ever lose your wallet, the card becomes a useless piece of plastic to anyone who finds it. You also cannot overdraft using the card – you’re only able to spend the money you have.
Since you’re required to think before you spend, you’ll likely end up spending less money. In fact, Walker said, ProActive Budget has been shown to save users around $400 a month.
Budgeting for the Whole Family
I think this is the silver bullet for families that really deserve to move ahead financially. It's a program the entire family can use. Extra debit cards can be ordered for extra users, so if you need your child to pick up something from the store after practice, they’ll be able to access your account.
ProActive Budget is a really reasonably priced investment – especially considering the money you will save by using it. A primary plan, with one spender, is just $69 a year (that’s only $5.75 a month). An additional user can be added for $29 a year, and a special kids account can be added for $24 annually per child.
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