No matter what the time of year, saving money and stowing away cash can seem like the most difficult challenge known to man. But, with a few good money-saving apps you CAN be well on your way to a frugal life.
From on-demand alerts to delegating bank accounts to locating the cheapest gas prices, these apps will have you managing your money more efficiently and effectively than you've ever thought possible.
So make your dosh go further than ever with our round-up of the best money-saving apps.
Account Tracker
This personal finance app is easy to use and allows you to keep on top of your cash flow. Set up alerts, create reports and generally keep a closer eye on your spending, which is never a bad thing when money-saving is on your mind.
Available for: iOS and Windows Phone. Price: From £1.49.
0870
0870 numbers are a pain but the 0870 app isn't! Who wants to spend a fortune calling 0870 numbers? Not us! Which is why this is one of our favourite money-saving apps, turning expensive 0870 numbers into cheaper numbers that are often included in phone contracts.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: £0.99.
VoucherCodes
From huge savings at restaurants and discounts on the high street to 2-for-1 deals at top tourist attractions, install the VoucherCodes app on your phone and never miss out on a great deal again!
Available for: iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Price: Free.
Trivago
Trivago compares room rates across popular hotel booking sites such as Hotels.com, Lastminute.com, etc, so you're sure to get the best possible rate. If you've got a particular hotel in mind, this allows you to find the cheapest site to book it through. And if you need to find a nearby hotel that's available tonight, this app will sort you out too, again at the cheapest rate.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: Free.
RedLaser
RedLaser is your shopping partner in crime. This clever app scans barcodes to compare the best prices in your area, getting you the most bang for your buck. The barcode-scanning app will compare prices to nearby shops so you can be sure you're bagging the best deal. And if you’re in a rush, you can also buy items directly from the app and pick them up in-store. Can it get any easier?
Available for: iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Price: Free.
PetrolPrices Pro
Petrol leaves a big dent in car owners' pockets so make sure you're buying the cheapest petrol in your area with the PetrolPrices Pro app. Based on your location and the type of petrol your vehicle runs on, it will find you the cheapest pumps.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: £2.99.
Nosey Parker
Another app for drivers, this one's to help with avoiding pricey car parks. Containing information about 14,000 car parks in the UK, Nosey Parker lets you search for the cheapest and safest car parks that are either nearby or at your destination. You can also filter the results to just show car parks with parent and toddler spaces, disabled spaces, safer parking awards, or car parks that accept credit cards.
Available for: iOS. Price: £2.99.
Groupon
Never underestimate the power of Groupon. There are some banging deals on here where you’ll find yourself saving 50-90 percent - something no girl can argue with. From venues, activities and restaurants (in more than 500 cities around the world) it’s difficult to go wrong. Buy and redeem your vouchers online or get them directly from the app.
Available for: Web, iOS, Android and BlackBerry. Price: Free.
Happy downloading!
Got another money management app to recommend? Tweet us @sofeminineUK
