So I used a personal finance management app that aggregates all the accounts I have in one place. The company that owns it shut it down at the end of the last year and transitioned it to another site they own. It does absolutely fucking nothing that I need it to do, which includes:
show me balances from all my connected accounts
track spending
sort/recategorize/tag transactions
set budgets
Literally the only functionality it retains is the ability to sell me shit. Which I was fine with (lights gotta stay on somehow) when I got use out of the site, but now it has been enshittified.
The other thing this experience has reminded me of is you should find a service that aggregates all your bank accounts. Empower is the one I'm using because it's got the same functionality as Mint, but there are other options*. Your bank/credit union might also offer a similar service.
It's a lot like using a password manager--it's a giant pain to set up initially, but it will ultimately make your life so much easier. All your account balances in one place** so you don't have to log in to each individual site to check! A unified view of your finances!
It is, of course, not a solution for not having enough money, but clarity on your purchases and subscriptions can help you identify things you don't want/need, as well as overcharges and discrepancies.
I know better money management is a popular new year's resolution, and this is a pretty easy step towards that. You don't have to add all your accounts at once. But I find it satisfying to see the picture become clearer. Also, graphs.
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* Search "mint pfm alternatives" if you want to know more. Most options I found were paid but maybe you're a person who would shell out for useful features. Monarch looks amazing for people with shared finances.
** It's totally safe. I deal with this shit for a living. I can explain more if you want but it's boring.
