MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares her tips on how to use apps to save money every day
Apps are everywhere – and they can be incredibly useful for the savvy money savers out there.
From discount cards to cashback sites to library apps, here are some of MoneyMagpie’s favourite ways to save money on everyday things using apps and technology.
Sign up for loyalty cards
Loads of retailers now have loyalty schemes – make the most of them! Supermarkets in particular have leaned into ‘member pricing’, so shoppers who don’t have their free loyalty card will pay more for every shop. Cafes and restaurants also have loyalty schemes that earn free menu items or money off for regular customers – ideal if you’re a regular coffee drinker or like to enjoy lunches out! Whether a loyalty card earns you points to spend, real cash, or freebie items, these apps are easy to use several times a week and could save you hundreds of pounds across the year.
Try Readly
Readly is a magazine app that has literally hundreds of titles available – including their back issues. From niche hobby magazines to daily newspapers, there is something for everyone. It usually costs £12.99 a month – but if you usually buy two or more magazines or newspapers a month, it will save you cash across the year.
You can also take advantage of a free trial – the standard is 30 days, but you right now you can get a two-month free trial. Keep an eye out for deals, too: you can often nab an extra free month or get a discount if you buy a gift subscription for yourself.
Sign up to your library’s Libby app
If Readly isn’t quite up your street – or you’re more of a book person – sign up to your local library. There are so many free things libraries offer these days too, not just book lending. One of them is the Libby app (or your library’s own equivalent). This lets you borrow eBooks and audiobooks for free. Perfect for avid readers, using your library continues to support authors without you paying a penny because they receive a royalty payment whenever you borrow a print book, eBook, or audiobook – guilt-free moneysaving.
Use cashback apps
Cashback apps are brilliant for your regular spending because they earn a small percentage back on each thing you spend through them. TopCashback, Quidco, and Swagbucks are the most popular cashback apps, with both app and website versions. All you need to do is sign up for a free account (there are also sometimes premium tiers available if you want more perks), and search the app for the retailer you want to shop through. That’s it! Make sure your cookies are switched on to ‘allow’, as the app will need to track your purchase to verify it for your cashback reward.
Save money with budgeting apps
Budgeting apps can help you take control of your finances to give you a true picture of what you’re spending – and where. Some, like Snoop, will send you a weekly spending report, daily bank account updates, and help with contract renewal reminders so you can shop around before you’re billed again.
There are other kinds of budgeting apps too, such as ones like HyperJar which lets you load a virtual pre-paid card from your bank account to limit how much you spend at a retailer. This is a fantastic way to keep tight control of your spending, especially if you’re prone to a bit of mindless online shopping if you’re bored.
Sweep savings in your banking app
Most banking apps these days have a round up option. This allows you to round up any spending and shift the savings into a linked savings account. It might be pennies each time, but over the course of a year it’ll quickly add up.
You can often set how much you want to round up by – the nearest £1, £2, or £5 are the most common options. For example, if you set it to £1 and you buy something that costs £3.50, you will be ‘charged’ £4 – with the extra 50p going into your round-up pot. Or, if you picked the £5 option and you spend £3.50, that’s £1.50 into your round-up pot.
Use a blocking app to stop overspending
If you know you’re prone to impulse buying, a blocker app could be exactly what you need. Many of us make silly purchases we don’t need (or can’t afford) late at night, or when we’re bored on our commute. Blocker apps can restrict access to your chosen apps or websites, so that you can’t be tempted to impulse buy when you’re at your most ‘spendy’ time of day.
You can set the parameters and choose the times and websites or apps that need to be blocked. You might need to try a few out to find one that works for you – some are app-only, while others have an online desktop version, too. Stay Focused, Freedom, AppBlock, and ColdTurkey all come highly recommended to try.
Health incentive apps
Some health incentive apps let you earn points that you can turn into spending money! These apps reward you either with gift cards or actual cash for making healthy choices. Some are through health insurance providers, while others might be run in your local community.
For example, in York, residents can earn points based on their walk, bus, or cycle use to incentivise them to avoid using cars in the busy city centre. These can be spent in local shops or with national retailers. There are other apps that pay you to get healthy too, such as SweatCoin – or your employer might run (or consider running!) an app at work with a company like Earn It.
Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of MoneyMagpie.com. However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.
