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Personal financial management is an inescapable element of adult life. As locum tenens doctors, it's great to have talented placement partners to help with the financial implications of traveling for work. There are also some helpful software apps that can assist with the personal side of money management. One class of applications, receipt trackers, are a fantastic aid for the traveling professional.
Desktop applications
Before we dive into smartphone apps, it's worth noting that receipt trackers aren't only for mobile devices.
Desktop expense management software has been around for quite some time. Popular systems come with a physical scanner for capturing receipts and turning them into searchable files.
TechRepublic, an online resource for IT managers, ranks the PC app NeatReceipts as their No. 1 receipt tracking software system. Mobile apps round out the list's top five, but for the greatest utility, the PC-based application wins out.
Taking the show on the road
Desktop scanners aren't the most practical tool for locum tenens doctors on the go. This is where mobile receipt trackers come in handy.
Top 10 lists abound with various mobile apps claiming the top spots on each. However, certain apps are perennial favorites on tech blogs and financial sites. Here are two that split the difference between simplicity and robust detail.
Shoeboxed
Available for both Android and iOS devices, Shoeboxed is a simple and straightforward expense tracking application. When you get a receipt, simply photograph and tag it as a reimbursable or deductible expense. That's it. You're done. On the back end, you can create expense reports or export your data to a program like QuickBooks or Excel.
Foreceipt
This powerful app syncs data to Google Drive for secure access on a variety of platforms and devices. In addition to tracking receipts, Foreceipt allows users to set up budgets, reminders and recurring payments. This app also accommodates expenses in different currencies with live exchange rate data, a nice feature for travelers.
Give these expense tracking apps a try. Your accountant will thank you for it.