The ultimate guide to mobile apps that can help save you money

The last few years have seen the rise of mobile apps that are designed to help you save. With the digitization of our lives and smartphones becoming commonplace, it has never been so easy to track your spending and to save money. If you are looking to better your budget and improve your spending habits then try out some of these mobile apps this year.

For automatic savings: Chip

Chip is a great way to save without even realising that you are saving. The app is linked to your bank account and then takes small amounts from it each week depending on how much money you have. If there is a surplus the app will run the calculations and take out a portion that you can afford to save without noticing it. This is a great way to save up for a new phone, holiday or for the holidays without having to think about it too much. If you refer friends, you can also get interest on what you save up to 5% making this a very good savings account.

To help with budgets: Starling Bank

Physical banks are becoming less and less commonplace with each year and banks with no physical locations are becoming the norm for many. The benefit of online banks is the focus on usability and customer service, as this is the main way that you get your information. Starling Bank along with Monzo is one of the best examples of this. Their mobile app is one of the most aesthetically pleasing and simple to use that we have seen. You are able to create clear pots of money for spending like bills and enjoyment and you get instant feedback on where your money is going. The account is free to use and you get a debit card and credit options like any high-street bank would offer. Check out this guide if you want more information on the best online banks currently available.

Budgeting for those that hate spreadsheets: Cleo

Cleo has been made to make personal finance fun. The app works like a chat that you would get with Facebook messenger or WhatsApp and you can ask her questions about your finances. The app is able to check your finances and uses artificial intelligence to tell you where you could be saving money. The tool is free to use and has a great personality, sending you funny GIFs as much as personal finance advice.

Cashback apps

One of the best ways to save money when shopping online is to use cashback websites like https://www.rebatesme.com/ and Quidco. These websites allow you to get anything from 1% to 25% cashback on the purchases you make. There are now mobile app versions of these websites that mean that you can browse for cashback opportunities easily from your phone while you are shopping online as well as on the high street. Simply take a picture of you receipt with the in app camera to claim your cashback just like you would if you were shopping online,