Money saving help at your fingertips
AS THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS BITES, THESE APPS OFFER WAYS TO SAVE
YOU may have heard about this – there’s a cost of living crisis going on.
We obviously need all the help we can get when it comes to looking after our money, whether that’s spending less and saving more, or even investing a bit for the future.
So here are five apps which might help with all of that – however – I’ve never been described as a financial wizard, so make sure you get expert advice before you make any big decisions.
EMMA
They say: Meet Emma, your financial super app. We say: Emma is an all-in-one powerhouse to help you reach your financial goals. You can quickly hook it up to your accounts and it can then analyse everything and offer some savvy advice, from budgeting to savings.
Its strength is in having all your accounts in one place, so you can get a fuller picture of what’s going where.
■ Cost: From £3.49/month.
HMRC
They say: The only app that gives you access to HMRC’s information on your personal tax affairs. Feel in control of your financial life by joining the 550,000 people who use the HMRC app every month.
We say: Tax is very boring. But this official UK government app gives you a window into that world that at least makes it painless to keep up with what’s going on.
Apart from anything else, it’ll allow you to check how much tax you pay, claim a refund if you’ve paid too much, and check up on any application forms you’ve submitted. It also offers a direct line of communications to HRMC via its in-built messaging system.
■ Cost: Free
PLUM
They say: At Plum, we’re on a mission to make your money go further. Our smart automation helps you put money aside and easily invest in what matters to you.
We say: Plum is a savings app which does all the hard work for you by putting money away automatically according to rules you set – you don’t even need to think about it.
That’s not all it does, though - you can even invest in the stock market and make a killing… There are lots of cool features – like setting up savings ‘pots’ with a specific purpose in mind, and a gamified mode which encourages you to keep up saving streaks. All tiny nudges to push you in the right direction.
■ Cost: From £1/month
VOUCHER CODES
They say: Voucher
Codes is your go-to app for the UK’s best voucher codes, discounts, deals and savings for thousands of leading brands you love.
We say: There are loads of voucher code sites, but Voucher Codes and its companion app seems to be among the most reliable.
The app hosts codes for money off and special offers at some of the biggest names on the high street from Asda to Uber, from H&M to John Lewis. You’d be a fool to buy anything before checking it first.
■ Cost: Free
USWITCH
They say: Switch everything today and save this year. Get more out of your switch when you use the awardwinning Uswitch app. Compare and switch anywhere, anytime — Compare the market to find the plan that works for you, then switch to it in minutes
We say: Obviously there’s not much joy to be had switching your fuel supplier at the moment… prices are high everywhere, and last time I checked my supplier simply suggested I sit tight until things calm down.
But there are other options for big savings for switching, and the Uswitch app offers access to all of them. From credit card deals to insurance savers.
Good deals on broadband are also available at the moment. The app shows you what’s on offer, initiates the process when you’ve made your choice, and lets you track the progress of the switch.
■ Cost: