🚨12 COMMON SCAMS THAT TARGET YOUNG PEOPLE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)

The Young Money Guide is a personal finance blog for college students and young professionals. We share simple, practical tips on saving, budgeting, investing, and side hustles to help you take control of your money early. Whether you’re starting from zero or leveling up your finances, this is your go-to guide for smart money moves, growth, and financial freedom. Your journey to wealth starts here.
INTRODUCTION:
Managing your money on the go has never been easier. With the rise of powerful mobile banking and budgeting apps, you no longer need spreadsheets or calculators to get your finances in order. Whether you're a student on a tight budget or a mom juggling bills and groceries, there’s an app to help you plan, save, and grow your money.
In this 2025 guide, we break down the 10 best mobile banking and budgeting apps, why they stand out, who they’re perfect for, and how to use them to your advantage.
1. M-Shwari (Kenya)
Why it’s great:
Integrated directly with M-Pesa, M-Shwari allows users to save and borrow money instantly.
Top Features:
Earn interest on savings
Instant micro-loans
No paperwork needed
Perfect for:
Students, side hustlers, and low-income earners who want to build a savings culture.
Example Use:
Mercy, a university student, saves KES 50 daily in her M-Shwari account. After three months, she had enough for her semester’s books—without borrowing a coin.
Learn more
Check also our guide on:https:10-simple-budgeting-hacks-every-student-should-know.
2. KCB M-Pesa
Why it’s great:
KCB’s mobile savings tool is easy to use and offers higher interest than many traditional accounts.
Top Features:
Savings + loans in one place
Competitive interest rates
Works within the M-Pesa app
Perfect for:
People who prefer simplicity and instant mobile access.
Example Use:
John, a boda boda rider, uses KCB M-Pesa to set aside KES 1,000 weekly for maintenance. He withdrew from it during a recent engine failure—no stress.
Explore KCB M-Pesa
Check also our guide on :10-simple-budgeting-hacks-every-student-should-know.
3. Equity Eazzy Save
Why it’s great:
This digital product from Equity Bank offers lock savings options and good returns.
Top Features:
Lock savings feature
No withdrawal before maturity
Available via USSD and app
Perfect for:
Anyone serious about disciplined saving.
Visit Equity Bank
4. Monefy
Why it’s great:
A simple app for tracking daily expenses and visualizing where your money goes.
Top Features:
Easy-to-read charts
Categorized spending
Works offline
Perfect for:
Beginner budgeters and visual learners.
Example Use:
Tasha realized she was spending KES 4,500/month on snacks—something Monefy revealed in pie chart form. She cut back and saved the rest.
Download Monefy
5. AndroMoney
Why it’s great:
A powerful tool that tracks multi-currency budgets and integrates with Excel.
Top Features:
Cloud backup
Expense breakdown
Budget monitoring
Perfect for:
Side hustlers and freelancers with irregular income.
Get AndroMoney
Check also our guide on:how-to-save-on-tight-budget
6. Safaricom Mali
Why it’s great:
It’s an investment product that lets you earn interest on idle M-Pesa funds.
Top Features:
Invest as little as KES 100
Returns of up to 10% p.a.
Available via *334#
Perfect for:
Young earners looking for low-risk passive income.
Check safaricom mali
7. NCBA Loop
Why it’s great:
A fully digital banking app offering savings, loans, and expense tracking.
Top Features:
Visual expense categorization
Goal-based savings
Instant loans
Check NCBA loop
Perfect for:
Young professionals and digital nomads.
8. JumiaPay Save
Why it’s great:
Lets users earn interest while using Jumia for bills and shopping.
Top Features:
In-app saving
Cashback integration
Simple setup
Perfect for:
Online shoppers who want their spending to work for them.
9. Cytonn Money Market Fund
Why it’s great:
An investment product with better-than-bank returns.
Top Features:
Interest compounded daily
Withdraw anytime
Easy mobile onboarding
Join Cytonn MMF
10. Sanlam Kenya MMF
Why it’s great:
Another top money market fund ideal for mid- to long-term emergency savings.
Top Features:
Stable returns
Transparent reporting
Safe and regulated
Check also our guide on:emergency-fund-101-why-you-need-it.
CONCLUSION:
LET YOUR PHONE DO THE HARD WORK
Budgeting and saving don’t have to be stressful. With the right mobile app, you can stay ahead of your bills, prepare for emergencies, and track every shilling. Try one or two apps, and stick with what works for you. Let 2025 be the
year you take full control of your finances—right from your pocket.
CALL TO ACTION:
Which app are you using this year?
Comment below with your favorite or tag a friend who needs help saving smarter in 2025!
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