Top apps to help you with saving
Getting into a habit of saving can be tricky, especially if you’ve never done it before. It’s easy to spend money if it’s sitting in your bank account, and it can be hard to make a decision to tuck it away where you can’t get at it. Technology can help to take away the regular decision making, and make it easier to build up a healthy balance in an account. Here are some apps to try…
Moneybox
By linking with your bank account, Moneybox will round up your purchases to the nearest pound (£) and stick the change into a saving or investment account! You can set up weekly or even monthly deposits to build the balance and then withdraw it straight into your bank account when needed.
Plum
If you find it difficult to save money each month, then the Plum app could be your answer. Once linking your bank, the AI will work out what you can afford to save and even invest if you’re interested!
Every few days it transfers an amount it believes to be affordable into a separate savings account. It basically does all the calculations for you! You can set up your own rules and even choose the type of savings plan that will work for you… for example this could include the 52 week challenge which can stash you £1,378 in one year!
Squirrel
Do you find it hard to make your salary stretch throughout the month? Let alone trying to save… well, you’re in luck. You’ll need to get your salary paid into a separate account (run by Barclays – legitimately). Then Squirrel will gradually release money into your current account so you aren’t spending it all at once.
You can even tell the app when your bills are due so that the money is in your account in time. This service has a monthly fee of £3.99 however in emergencies it can be overridden.
Acorns
Acorns is an app that helps you use your leftover change to save more for retirement or other long term goals. You start by linking your checking account and credit card to your Acorns app. For every purchase you make, Acorns rounds the purchase up to the next dollar. The rounded up amount is then invested into the Acorns account of your choosing. You can open a retirement account or a non-retirement account with Acorns.
You get to choose which types of transactions to round up. Or you can have all of your transactions rounded up. Plus, you can “Turbocharge” your roundups to get extra money into your Acorns account.
Joy
Joy is a free money-saving app that analyzes your bank account activity to help you find ways to save. As it analyzes your spending, it suggests amounts to transfer from your checking account to your Joy savings account. Joy won’t transfer the money automatically. Instead, it will wait for you to give your approval.
You can reduce or increase the amount of money Joy suggests you save for the day as well. Joy simply makes suggestions to help increase the amount of money you’re saving.
Affirm
Affirm is a great savings app because it doesn’t require any sort of deposit and you won’t be on the hook for any monthly fees (it’s free). There’s also no balance restrictions on this interest rate, so it applies to everything you deposit.
Affirm’s mobile app boasts a high average rating of 4.9 stars out of 5 between the Apple and Android app stores. Through this medium, you’ll be able to make transfers, check your account balance and contact customer support.
Money Dashboard
This app has great features for when you need to know what you’ve been specifically spending your money on. It’s also free!
All you have to do is connect the app to your bank account and any credit accounts, then when you spend money it’ll appear on the app’s dashboard display. Any spending is categorised which will allow you to see exactly what you’re spending the most on and where you can cut back.
Splitwise
This app allows you to easily split expenses with family or friends. For example, if you pay half and half on rent with your partner, the app allows you to synchronise with others so that you can figure out a way to work it out, stress-free.
All of these apps can be find for Apple and Android devices so you can always be connected financially and able to take control of your expenses on a daily basis. Let us know which one’s your favourite!
You might also be interested in our best low-cost ideas for a date to help you keep on top of your budgeting!
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ATM Hunter
Not quite a savings app however… we understand how frustrating it can be when you want to withdraw your own cash to follow your budget plan and the ATM charges you a fee. Not to mention, all the news from Link about the cut-down of free-to-use ATMs… that’s where ATM Hunter comes in. It locates free-to-use ATMs and shows you exactly how far away they are from you.
For more on how to budget and save, we have loads of ideas in our blog section! Just check it out.
