From apps that give instant access to vouchers, to apps that track monthly spending, the Apple market place is brimming with savvy money saving apps. Let's have a look at them.
Voucher Apps
Anyone who uses the Internet will have come across an advert for Groupon. Groupon is a voucher site that offers members the opportunity to find great deals either in their local area or for national deals. While some vouchers offer bargain meals at luxury restaurants, others offer money-off deals at national stores. Today, there is even a Groupon app available for iPhone users, which makes saving money easier than ever – and if you are serious about saving money, you need to check it out.Closely following Groupon is one of its closest competitors, Voucher Cloud. Voucher Cloud provides great money-off deals for vital commodities, such as clothing, footwear, and food. Through the use of Voucher Cloud, families can save as much as 40% on their usual spending habits. Which makes it all the more appealing if you're looking to protect yourself from the dangers of a rainy day.
Budgeting Apps
When it comes to saving money, budgeting correctly is half the battle. Something as simple as knowing how much money you have in your bank account can help make budgeting easier – and you' be surprised how many banks still do not grant their users this most basic facility. One of the iPhone's best budgeting apps is Toshl.Toshl allows iPhone users to see how much they are spending on a daily basis, and it also provides a so-called budget creation function. Tracking daily spending this way is perfect for determining where savings can be made, and seeing a budget is a great motivational tool for cutting down on splashing out. For those who do not have the time to enter each transaction into their phone, Mint is a great alternative.
As Mint connects directly to the bank accounts of iPhone users, it provides a real-time update of spending. Again, seeing how much money is available and how much is being spent is a great way to curb spending habits. Needless to say, Mint may today be one of the world's most hyped apps – but, truth be told, it thoroughly deserves the accolades bestowed upon it.
Secret Savers
Away from the more obvious money saving apps are the ones that can save thousands of families money, but are not widely publicised. One of these is provided by Moneysupermarket, an app that allows users to determine whether they are getting the best deal from their loans, credit cards, insurance plans, and more. The free Moneysupermarket app is constantly updated, and can act as a vital source of money saving information.In addition to the Moneysupermarket app, iPhone users could save hundreds through the use of Skype and 0870. While Skype is a great way to make calls for free, 0870 converts premium paying numbers into land-line ones, saving as much as £0.35 per minute.
Last but not least, getting yourself the right bank account can also make a significant improvement to your budget. Over the past years, a new type of bank account, referred to as a basic bank account (such as the "The Eccount" from Eccount Money), has rightly triggered a lot of positive response.
Although these accounts charge a monthly fee, they more than make up for that through their elimination of overdrafts and the associated fees. And since they've been based from the outset on an online platform, you can easily manage all transactions through your iPhone.
Now all you have to wait for those beard trimming and trouser ironing apps.
William MastersAbout the Guest Author:
This article was written by William Masters. Currently hailing from London, William Masters is a finance journalist born in Liverpool. Dividing his time between print- and online-publications, masters specialises in the borderline between finance and and technology.