TECH TOOLS TO TRY

1 BUDGET BOSS

Apps that track your spending, such as Mint and YNAB, take spending info from your bank account and categorize it, letting you know when you’ve exhausted your budget for, say, entertainment or groceries, so you can make up for it in other areas (don’t forget to manually track what you spend in cash). Before you sign up, however, read your bank contract’s fine print—giving a third-party provider access to your bank account may nullify your protection from identity theft and fraud.

2 SECRET SAVINGS

Every time you spend, you can save a bit, too! Some banking institutions, along with apps such as Mylo and Wealthsimple’s roundup feature, will round your purchase to the nearest dollar and move that “spare change” into a designated savings or investment account. You won’t notice the pinch, but your designated account will grow month after month.

3 MASTER COUPONER

Coupons, rebates and price comparisons are at your fingertips with a smartphone in hand. Canadian company Flipp allows you to search flyers and save certain coupons to your shopping list—and if your local store boasts a price-match guarantee, the app is your oyster. Groupon and Travelzoo are great for discounts on travel, restaurants, activities, goods and services, while apps such as Ebates and Checkout 51 offer rebates for what you buy, mailing you a cheque.

4 DEBT CALCULATORS

If you’re in the market for a larger-ticket item (think car or home), download a free easy-to-use loan calculator— or look for a no-cost option from your financial institution. Enter the price and the term, then it will calculate your payments and interest so you can find a plan that makes sense for you. There are also debt-repayment calculator apps that track your progress as you pay down your credit card or loan.