My Experience with Rocket Money – Bills & Budgets
I got this app about two weeks ago after my daughter mentioned it on the phone. She said it helps you see where your money goes every month. I thought, sure, why not give it a try? I’m not great with computers or phones, but I can follow directions. The first few days were fine. I linked my bank account like it told me to, and it showed me a list of things I bought. That part was interesting. I saw that I spent $47 at the grocery store last Tuesday, which I already knew. But then things got messy. The app started showing me all these categories and charts, and I couldn’t tell what was what. One graph looked like a pie with too many slices. I just wanted a simple list, you know? I tried to call their support number last Friday around 2 PM because I couldn’t figure out how to turn off the notifications. The person on the other end sounded nice but kept giving me answers that didn’t help. They said “go to settings” and I said “where is that in the app?” and they just repeated themselves. I hung up feeling more confused than before. I’m still using it because I paid for a month of the premium thing, but I’m not sure I’ll keep it after that.
Features Worth Noting
The app does a good job of showing you your bills if they’re linked to your bank account. I saw my electric bill and my water bill pop up with due dates, which was nice. It even sent me a reminder a few days before they were due. That part I actually liked. The budgeting part is there, but it’s complicated. You can set a limit for eating out or gas, and it tells you when you’re close to hitting it. I set a limit of $100 for eating out, and last week I got a notification saying I had used 80% of it. That was helpful because I had forgotten I bought lunch three times. The app also shows you a list of subscriptions you might be paying for. I found out I’m still paying $9.99 a month for a streaming service my grandson signed me up for last year. I never use it. So that was a real find. The reports are too much for me though. Too many numbers and colors. I just want to see a plain list of what I spent, not a rainbow of boxes.
What Needs Work
Where do I start? The support is slow and not very clear. I waited two days for an email reply about a billing question, and the answer didn’t even match what I asked. The app itself feels crowded. There are buttons everywhere, and I accidentally tap the wrong one all the time. Last Wednesday I wanted to see my bank balance, but I tapped something called “Net Worth” and got a big number that didn’t make sense. I don’t know what net worth means, I just want my checking account number. Also, the app kept asking me to upgrade to a paid plan every time I opened it. I finally paid for a month because I was tired of the pop-ups. That felt pushy. Another thing is the categories. The app puts everything in a box, but sometimes it gets it wrong. I bought a mop at Home Depot for $12, and it put it under “Home Improvement.” That’s cleaning stuff, not a big project. Little things like that add up. And the app takes a while to load sometimes. I sat there staring at a spinning circle for almost a minute last Saturday morning. For a retiree like me, that feels like forever.
Pricing
You can use a free version, but it’s limited. I started free and quickly found that to see my spending in any detail, I needed to pay. The premium plan is a few dollars a month. I think it’s $3.99 or something like that. I paid for one month to give it a real try. But then I saw they have a higher plan too, around $12 a month, that does more stuff like negotiating bills for you. I didn’t sign up for that. I don’t trust a computer to call my phone company. Honestly, I think the price is okay for what it does, but I wish the free version gave you a little more to test out before you commit. I’ve spent money on apps before and stopped using them after a week. That’s just my luck. For now, I’m sticking with the paid version until my month runs out, then I’ll decide.
Developer Notes
I get the feeling the people who made this app are trying to do too much at once. It’s like they put in every idea they had and didn’t stop to ask if old folks like me could use it. The app updates pretty often, which I guess is good, but every time it updates, something moves to a different spot. I lose where I was. I wish they would make a “simple mode” or something. Just a big button that says “my money” and a list of transactions. No graphs, no fancy words. The developer should also answer emails faster. I sent a question about canceling my premium subscription and got a reply three days later that said “please check our help center.” That’s not helpful at all. I don’t want to search a help center, I want a real person to tell me what to do.
Security & Privacy
This part worries me. You have to give the app your bank login information to link accounts. That means your username and password to your bank are in their system. I asked my daughter about this, and she said it’s common, but it still made me nervous. The app says they use encryption and stuff, but I don’t really know what that means. I just hope nobody gets my information. I’ve heard stories about data breaches on the news. I do think they take it seriously because they ask for a pin or fingerprint every time you open the app, which is good. But still, I wouldn’t put all your accounts in here. Maybe just one checking account to try it out. That’s what I did. I didn’t link my savings or my credit card. Better safe than sorry.
How do I view a simple list of my recent spending instead of the charts and graphs?
Open the app and tap the 'Transactions' tab at the bottom to see a plain list of your purchases. If you want to filter by date or category, use the filter icon at the top right, but you can also just scroll through the default list for a straightforward view.
How can I turn off the frequent upgrade pop-ups asking me to pay for a premium plan?
Go to your profile or settings menu by tapping the gear icon, then look for 'Subscription' or 'Upgrade' options. You can dismiss the pop-ups by selecting 'Remind me later' or, if you've already paid, they should stop after your purchase is confirmed.
Why is my spending showing up in the wrong category, and how do I fix it?
The app sometimes mislabels purchases, like putting a mop from Home Depot under 'Home Improvement' instead of 'Household Supplies.' To fix it, tap on the transaction in your list, then tap the category name and choose the correct one from the menu.
I can't find the settings to turn off notifications—where is it in the app?
Open the app, tap the profile icon (a person silhouette) in the top left corner, then select 'Settings' from the menu. From there, choose 'Notifications' and you can toggle off alerts for bills, budgets, or other updates individually.
How does Rocket Money compare to a simpler app like Mint for someone who just wants a basic spending list?
Rocket Money offers more detailed bill tracking and subscription detection, which can help you find hidden charges like old streaming services, but its interface is busier with charts and categories. Mint provides a cleaner, more straightforward list of transactions and is easier for beginners, though it lacks Rocket Money's proactive bill negotiation feature.
