10 apps that will help you manage your money like a pro
These are worth their weight in your virtual currency of choice
The Bank of England has cut interest rates. The boss is saying the final quarter is going to be a bit of a struggle. You crumbled under the last internet search to find a savings account that might actually grown your cash.
Sure, you could just withdraw all your money and keep it in a shoebox under your bed. Or you could peruse the following apps that'll help you in managing your money with a good deal more sense.
From mastering the stock market to balancing your monthly budget, these are worth their weight in your virtual currency of choice.
Pennies
What it does: Featured by Apple as the Best New App of 2015, Pennies' simple format allows you to set a budget and watch how you're sticking to it as the month progresses. The app will tell you how much you can spend each day, and carry over any remaining funds. Kind of like your brain, but better.
Price: £3.99
Available on: iOS
Invstr
What it does: Although it falls pray to the "remove the Es and hey presto, we have an app" trend of marketing execs everywhere, Invstr is an incredibly useful app for anyone wanting to get involved in the stock market. Why? It's a game. You can invest virtual, imaginary money and learn the tricks before you start on the real thing.
Price: Free
Available on: iOS, Android, Amazon
PayPal
What it does: It's 2016, so if you're still only using PayPal to buy that vintage ceramic kettle off eBay, you're living your life wrong. What PayPal's app is now great at is transferring money to (and more importantly, getting money from) your friends. Instead of faffing around waiting for your co-worker Tim to have £7 in change or find his online banking card reader, all you need is his email address. Easy.
Price: Free
Available on: iOS, Android, Windows
Bux
What it does: Another app for stock market beginners, Bux teaches you how to trade and invest in a really simple way. You can practice with virual money before moving onto the real stuff, and it provides exclusive easy-to-understand articles about the market.
Price: Free
YNAB (You Need a Budget)
What it does: Beloved of life hackers everywhere, YNAB is a budgeting and money-saving app that many users claim has literally changed their lives. It provides you with four clear rules for financial success and unlike other budgeting apps, can be synced up to your bank account so you don't have to manually enter your own expenditure. It's so popular that it even has its own incredibly active subreddit.
Price: Free app, £38 a year for full desktop version
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Expensify
What it does: If your job requires you to claim expenses, then you'll know how annoying it is to keep hold of receipts and tally them up. The app's SmartScan technology reads the receipt and creates an expense, and it has a built-in distance-tracker for anyone who claims mileage.
Price: Free
Available on: iOS, Android, Windows
DealPad
What it does: If you fancy a bargain or a freebie without trawling through the many misleading websites that offer 'em, DealPad is a great place to see the best current deals and offers in the UK. You can search, view, and save, as well as view comments to see others' experience with the deal.
Price: Free
OnTrees
What it does: If cold hard balance sheets give you the cold hard sweats, then this undeniably beautiful financial manager from MoneySupermarket is the one for you. Not only is it incredibly clean and simple, the app is particularly handy for people who have accounts with different banks. You can view a total of money in and out, and the app's analysis tools answer the age old question of just where your money goes.
Price: Free
SharePrice (Live)
What it does: Those who are a little more advanced with their stocks and shares might appreciate this app, which delivers simple market data and research information straight to your phone.
Price: Free
StockTwits
What it does: It's like Twitter for people who do stocks stuff. Scroll through the app to see what experts are saying about the markets in real-time and what's trending in order to best inform your trading decisions.
Price: Free
