Frugal Apps I Use Every January to Reset My Finances

January always feels like the unofficial reset button, especially after a season of spending, holiday treats, and more impulse purchases. Every year, instead of extreme budgeting or stressful money rules, I do a simple financial reset using a few frugal apps. They help me see where my money is going, save without thinking about it, and feel back in control again. If you’re craving a fresh financial start that actually feels doable, these are the frugal apps I use every January to reset my finances and start the year strong.

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Frugal Apps for the New Year

I like to indulge over the holidays.

Whether that means relaxing my budget, or relaxing the foods (or amounts!) I eat, I factor that into my year.

It would feel too restrictive to me if I had to be really careful with either over Christmas.

I let myself take two helpings in Christmas dinner.

I try all the Christmas desserts that look delicious to me.

I spend more on my daughter than maybe I should.

My Starbucks app sees lots of action with eggnog lattes and cranberry bliss bars.

But I don’t guilt myself about this. I thoroughly enjoy it, recognize that it’s a short period in the year, and then I reset when January comes.

Because I feel very filled up with all I did in December, these resets don’t feel restrictive.

It’s like when I haven’t eaten enough vegetables in a week – I start to really crave them.

And now I crave this money reset. 🙂 I make it easy on myself by using the frugal apps I’ll share with you below.

Let me know in the comments if you’d like a post on my food reset when January comes. That’s not the main focus of The Curious Frugal, but if it’s something that interests you, please let me know and I will see about sharing that too!

Let’s get to these frugal apps!

Related post: 21 Best Passive Income Apps: Make Cash in Your Sleep

1. PocketGuard (or Monarch Money): Frugal Apps for Tracking Spending

What it is: A spending tracker that shows where your money is going – no judgment attached (it is not like the Garmin app!! lol).

PocketGuard and Monarch Money sync with your bank and credit card accounts to show your spending patterns in a friendly, non-shaming way.

In January especially, seeing your money habits clearly lets you choose small adjustments rather than strict cuts.

PocketGuard keeps things simple by showing what you have left after bills and goals, while Monarch Money offers a more detailed big-picture view.

Both are great if you want awareness without micromanaging.

If you prefer simple, PocketGuard is great. If you like details, Monarch Money might be a better fit.

Related post: The Spring Money Checklist No One Talks About

2. Frugal App for Automatic Savings: Chime

What it is: While Chime is technically a full-service online bank, one of the features that makes it really helpful for a January reset is its automatic savings tools.

Instead of saving money being a chore or a decision you have to make each week, Chime quietly moves money into savings for you.

And there are no minimums, so it’s perfect for anyone on a tight budget.

There are a couple ways that Chime can easily help you save money: by rounding up every purchase you make, or transfers the moment you’re paid.

If you choose the rounding up option, every time you use your Chime debit card, Chime can automatically round the purchase up to the next dollar and transfer the difference into your savings.

For example, if you buy coffee for $3.45, Chime moves $0.55 into savings. Small amounts add up fast by February without you doing anything.

Another option is that Chime allows you to automate transfers every time you get a paycheck.

You can choose a percentage or dollar amount to move into savings the moment a direct deposit posts. What I love about this is you don’t have to remember to save – it’s all done for you.

After holiday spending, it’s tempting to get really strict with saving.

But just like going too hard at the gym in January, intense goals often fizzle by the middle of the month. Chime lets you save slowly but consistently without extra thought or effort. 🎉

3: Swagbucks: Frugal App for Making Extra Cash Easily

What it is: A low-effort way to earn extra cash in your spare time.

Swagbucks is one of the most popular money-making apps, letting you earn rewards for surveys, playing games, shopping, and more.

It is *not* a full-time gig, but it’s a great side hustle that can help boost your January savings without feeling like a job.

Swagbucks won’t replace your income, but it’s a realistic way to earn gift cards or cash while watching TV or scrolling.

This isn’t a get-rich-quick thing, but it’s an easy way to bring in a little extra cash at a time when you might need it.

4. Rakuten: Best Frugal App for Cash Back

What it is: Cash back for purchases you’re already making.

Rakuten gives you cash back on purchases from thousands of retailers, online and via the app.

Since January isn’t about not spending anything at all, but spending smarter, this app helps you earn money back on things you’d buy anyway.

It’s like a fun little win as you reset your finances.

Rakuten lets you earn cash back from popular online stores, making it a great tool for intentional spending instead of strict no-spend rules.

January spending feels better when you know you’re getting something back.

I also especially like Rakuten in January because big retailers tend to run sales.

5. YNAB (You Need a Budget): Frugal App for Seeing the Damage 😅 (and Fixing It!)

What it is: A budgeting app that helps you give every dollar a job without feeling restricted.

YNAB (You Need a Budget) lets you allocate every dollar a purpose, helping you see exactly where your money went and where it’s going next.

For a January reset, this clarity can bring calm and intention.

It connects to U.S. banks for automated transaction importing or manual entry, whichever one you prefer.

YNAB is ideal for a January reset because it focuses on bringing awareness to your money situation, not perfection.

It’s especially helpful if you want to move forward after holiday spending instead of dwelling on it.

YNAB does have a free trial, which makes January a great time to test it out.

6. Best Frugal App for Your Financial Big Picture: Empower

While many frugal apps focus on budgets or categories, Empower gives you a big-picture view of your entire financial life, all in one place.

Link your checking, savings, credit cards, loans, and investment accounts, and Empower pulls everything together so you can see your net worth, spending trends, and cash flow at a glance.

January is a good time to understand your money, not stress about it. Empower lets you:

• See total spending across every account, even those you forgot you had
• Track trends over time so you can spot patterns after the holidays
• View your net worth (this can be a quick, motivating snapshot of progress)

Empower is like a financial dashboard. It doesn’t replace your budgeting app, but it gives context to it.

In January, when you’re trying to reset without being completely overwhelmed, seeing everything in one place is very grounding.

Instead of opening five different apps to see what happened last year, Empower shows it all on one screen. It’s like glancing at your dashboard instead of checking every fuel gauge separately.

Get a holistic snapshot of your finances for a strong January reset here.

Wishing you your best financial year yet…but do take one small action today so that you can get yourself there. Rooting for you!