Take a look in the app store on your mobile, and it’ll be full of money-saving apps, budgeting tools, investment platforms and services offering savings, discounts or other ways to reduce your expenditure – and it’s well worth looking into!
The advent of a new generation of digital resources means we can shave a little off the cost of our everyday transactions, budget a bit better, or use a handy coupon to cover days out.
However, the opportunities don’t stop on your mobile, and all sorts of gadgets and innovations can play a part in reducing expenditure to generate a tidy saving.
Today we’ll look at how to use technology to save money – and the best ways to go about it. We’re looking at three of the big ones in this post but if you’re hungry for more tips then check out the original guide to saving money with your tech on the wonga blog.
1. Upgrade Your Home With Smart Devices
It’s no secret that utility costs have skyrocketed. Still, there are plenty of ways to optimize your home, reduce energy usage and ensure you aren’t paying over the odds.
Here are some easy swaps – and though you might have to spend a little, you stand to save an awful lot.
- Smart Plugs: you can go all-in with a smart plug for every socket or prioritize those energy-heavy appliances such as a TV. A smart plug means you can turn devices on and off from your mobile, even if you’re not at home. Another benefit is setting automatic on/off times or using an assistant (such as Amazon Alexa) to manage your power points.
- Battery Chargers: you’ve probably got dozens of batteries in your home, from game consoles to remote controls, portable fans to the clock on the wall. A battery charger means you can buy one set of batteries and simply recharge them when they run down rather than buying a fresh pack every few weeks.
- Home Workout Programs: spending a fortune on gym memberships you never get round to using? Try swapping that for an app-based workout routine, and you can follow a professional instructor or join on-demand live classes at a fraction of the cost, and from the comfort of your own home.
- Smart Lighting: energy-saving LED lights, smart bulbs you dim or turn off from your phone and automatic brightness detectors to switch the lights off when the natural light reaches a certain level can make a big difference to your electricity bill!
2. Download Money-Saving Mobile Apps
Financing apps come in all shapes and sizes, and there is an option to suit your biggest areas of budget blind spots or shore up your savings and investment knowledge.
Many of these advanced apps are free (if you don’t mind watching a few ads now and then!) and can offer you incredible insights and advice on making your money go further.
Try some of these to get a flavor of what’s available:
- Budgeting Apps: track what you’re spending, where, and on what, to spot outgoings that you could reduce.
- Credit Scoring Apps: understand which accounts are damaging your credit score, and follow checklists of actions to bring yourself back into the black.
- Savings Apps: round up your receipt each time you shop, and deposit a few pence into a high-interest savings account! It’ll soon add up to a decent amount you can use for a little treat.
3. Take Advantage of Discount-Hunting Extensions
Finally, don’t bypass opportunities to reduce your expenses or bag yourself a bargain (or a freebie) through some discount-finding apps.
‘Honey’ is one example of an extension you add to your browser – when you buy something, it’ll scan the internet for a discount code to get free shipping or a percentage off the price.
Cashback systems are also a great way to build up rewards and earn money when you spend, all of which you can save for a rainy day or exchange for another perk.
You can also check out this guide counting down the year’s best coupon apps to see which are most relevant to your spending habits.
The trick is to integrate using some of these tools regularly so they become part of your long-term spending habits, this is when you will really start to feel the benefits!
