Eight money-saving apps you need in 2018

Stop what you’re doing and download these apps right now

Picture: (Getty/iStock)

There are lots of ways to save money in 2018. Maybe you plan to budget more effectively or save more. Maybe you want to pay less for your groceries and eating out.

Maybe you just want to spend less on everyday things.

However you plan to save cash there are apps for that. Here are our must-haves.

1 Chip

If you find it hard to save money each month then the Chip app could be the answer. It’s free and compatible with most UK bank accounts.

Once you connect it to your online banking, it gathers information about your spending and uses that data to work out how much you can afford to save. Every few days it transfers an amount it believes to be affordable into a separate savings account.

2 Squirrel

Okay, maybe you find it hard to make your salary stretch throughout the month, let alone make savings. That’s where the Squirrel app comes in. To use it, you have to get your salary paid into a separate account (run by Barclays so don’t worry, it’s all legit) and it then releases the money gradually back into your current account so you don’t spend it all at once.

You can tell it when bills are due and it will pay the money into your account on time. It can also help you make savings. Disposable income is paid in weekly instalments so you’re never short of cash.

There is a monthly fee for this service of £3.99. Don’t worry, it can be overridden in emergencies.

3 Money Dashboard

To manage your money properly in 2018 and beyond, you need to know what you’re spending it on. And Money Dashboard is a really handy way to work that out. Best of all, it’s free.

You safely connect the app to your bank account and any credit accounts, and then when you spend money it appears on the app’s dashboard display. Any spending is categorised, allowing you to see exactly what you’re spending the most on and where you could cut back.

4 ATM Hunter

If you’re budgeting carefully, managing your money and looking for discounts then it’s pretty galling if you have to pay money to actually withdraw some currency.

Yet at the end of 2017 it was announced that one in five of the country’s free-to-use ATMs could be at risk of closing as the Link network consults on cutting fees for its members.

Some commentators warned of “ATM deserts” created as providers close down unprofitable machines, especially in more deprived areas. That may or may not happen – Link says there is provision to ensure communities can still access free cash.

However, it’s quite likely that free withdrawals could become harder to find so you need to download ATM Hunter app. It locates free-to-use ATMs and shows exactly how far away from you they are.

5 Voucher apps

There are a few different voucher and discount code apps so it’s worth browsing around to find the one that suits you best. VoucherCodes is a good one, with national and local discounts so you can always get the best deals.

Vouchercloud also allows you to find deals local to you, using your location. Finally, HotUKDeals has a load of discounts and codes.

6 Stocard

As a nation we are terrible at actually using our loyalty cards and vouchers, even though we are pretty good at stuffing our wallets and purses full of them.

Stocard is a digital wallet for your loyalty cards, allowing you to store them all in your phone and free up your actual wallet. Just ask the cashier to scan the relevant barcode when you’re shopping and your points will automatically accrue to your relevant loyalty card.

There’s no charge and it gets great reviews.

7 Cashback apps

There are a few different cashback apps and it’s hard to choose a favourite. We like the TopCashback and Quidco apps, both of which are free.

With these apps you can download vouchers and discounts, monitor your cashback balance and make withdrawals, and even earn extra bonuses.

The TopCashback app even lets you earn money buying some groceries, you just need to snap and upload your receipt. Money for purchases you were going to make anyway, hard to argue with that.

8 MySupermarket

It’s really hard sometimes to work out if something is a good deal in the supermarket, especially if you’re relying on memory alone to check whether the discounts and “two-fers” being offered are actually any good.

The MySupermarket app takes the memory work out of that by showing you recent prices for items that look like they’re on sale, comparing prices to other supermarkets and giving you vouchers.