Money Saving Apps

With the growing popularity of Smart Phones and Tablet computers, we are seeing more and more ‘apps’ that are aimed at helping people save money and help with budgeting. We have looked through lots and lots of apps and put together a list of our favourites.

Quidco The Quidco website offers cash back deals on a number of high street stores and products. They have now made it even easier for us by bringing out a free app for the iPhone and Android which allows you to “check in” to different shops and restaurants as you enter them. You will then be rewarded with access to offers and in-store cash backs in some of the stores.

Vouchercloud Vouchercloud is a website offering extensive deals and discounts for all kinds of shops, restaurants and other services. With their free app available for most smartphones you can access dozens of amazing deals close to where you are, like 25% off your restaurant bill. The Vouchercloud app uses GPS technology to allow you to view the best offers and discounts closest to you on your own mobile phone screen.

RedLaser An exciting, new, free app which allows you to scan the barcode of an item that you may want to buy and instantly compares to see if you can buy it cheaper anywhere else. Available for the iPhone and Android, it means you’ll always know where to find the best bargains.

Pricerunner Pricerunner is an extensive UK shopping comparison website. The website offers impartial comparison and lists millions of products and special offers from retailers, both big and small as well as online and offline. Pricerunner will show you the best prices and offers for a variety of products.

iSpending This handy free app allows you to keep track of what you are spending. You can add both income and expenditure as and when it occurs. The app will then total each area up and you can then see where you are spending your money and see if there are any areas in which you are overspending. Beware there is also a paid for version of this app that costs 69p, this gives you a few added benefits.

My Voucher Codes Similar to vouchercloud, My Voucher Codes offers you deals for shops and restaurants in your area. There is no need to log into their website as they can send you the voucher code straight to your Smart Phone.

mySupermarket If you have used their website you will know how they work. You register with them and tell them where you usually shop, you can then go through and add your grocery shop into your basket. Once everything is added you can compare all of the major online retailers – Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Ocado to see which is the cheapest. The app works in the exact same way, with the added advantage of being able to scan items straight to your basket.

If you have tried and tested any of these apps, let us know. And if you’ve found any, then please share them with our other readers.

Written by Gemma on April 4th, 2012

Filed Under  Budgeting   |  Trackback  |   1 Comment

Sim Ilyas says

Good list. I use many of them. I’d also like to put forward: 

A great new app from MSE an essential for train travellers: http://splitticket.moneysavingexpert.com/

And:

The first ever interactive debt advice app, includes a comprehensive income and expenditure section which many people have found invaluable: http://www.debtology.org.uk/

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How will the Money Advice Service proposals affect you?

Details about the new approach from the Money Advice Service, including their objectives for co-ordinating personal debt advice services from April 1, were recently outlined in a London meeting.

We spoke to Anthony Sharp, co-founder of the Money Advice Liaison Group, who attended the meeting. He said, “I went to the meeting held by the Money Advice Service before the information about their objectives (which has now been released) was made public. At the moment, the Money Advice Service can’t say an awful lot but they did reveal that they are looking to be able to provide funding for up to 150,000 individuals with free-to client face-to-face advice, which is a 50,000 increase from last year.

“Unfortunately for those interested in the future of funding for free-to- client debt advice, I don’t think we will know anything more until the middle of this year at the earliest.”

The new approach from the Money Advice Service comes after they received a grant to fund a research programme, provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Two main research documents were produced as a result: Debt Advice in the UK and User Needs from Debt Advice: Individual and Stakeholder Views, alongside an exploration of the way to attribute the costs of debt advice services through a levy on the financial services industry.

Nick Pearson, Director of External Affairs at Paymex Group, commented: “The information released by the Money Advice Service is very interesting and I personally waded through both of their research documents. Whilst I felt the paper on User Needs appeared to stack up, the article on Debt Advice in the UK seemed to me to be a partial view of the debt solutions sector, which makes it a fairly mediocre piece of work.

“What is interesting is the announcement of the levy on the financial services industry which will be administered through the FSA. A major beneficiary group when consumers go to repay their debt is secured lenders because we always tell people to repay their mortgage or housing costs first. However, only 30 per cent of people who have unsecured borrowing arrears are homeowners. Secured lenders will be paying 85 per cent of the cost of the Money Advice Service. This funding arrangement has been put in place to protect the position of ‘fair-share’ contribution debt providers.”

So how does the Service propose to put customers first?

The highlights of the new approach include:

-    A commitment to automatic referral of customers by creditors to an effective advice service so people get the best advice for their needs before a crisis is reached;

-    Improved availability of “triage” services for customers, so those who need it get the right kind of timely advice online, on the phone or face-to-face, with a solution satisfactory to both creditors and debtors;

-    Increased participation of creditors in “fair-share” arrangements; and

-    More consistent and higher standards of service delivery wherever customers go.

Anthony added, “The Money Advice Service has commented that they will focus on developing an effective triage which could include the fee-charging sector. When asked about this, they commented that they want to ensure that all services are included and on offer. How this will quite happen is not clear at the moment.

 “It is almost certain that the funding will come from an FSA levy, which of course presumably will eventually be an FCA levy once the FSA disappears. We do at least know that the free sector will be safe for another year.

“It was a useful meeting but, once again, as many questions were raised as answered.”

The Money Advice Service will also start a tender process this autumn for the provision of a new face-to-face service starting from autumn 2013. They will be encouraging a wide range of firms and agencies to participate in this.

Consumer Minister Norman Lamb MP said: “I would like to thank the Money Advice Service for commissioning this research into the debt landscape. It will be invaluable in shaping the provision of debt advice in the future – in particular the Money Advice Service’s new role in coordinating consistent debt advice to meet consumer needs.

“We want people to be better informed and able to make better choices based on good, impartial and sympathetic advice. That is why it is so important to help people manage their money more effectively by increasing the level of free face-to-face advice available to consumers. The Money Advice Service will work with existing advice services, who are committed to providing the best support for consumers to take the service to the next level.”

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Running out of money? What NOT to do.

As we approach the end of the month some may be feeling the pinch and be running out of funds before the next payday. It is easy enough at times like that to think about quick cash loans such as Payday Loans and in some cases, loan sharks.

If you are worried about making ends meet then try following these simple steps to arrange your finances to try and avoid borrowing money.

Work out how much money you have left and then work out everything that you need to pay out for with that money.Look at your expenditure list and remove anything that you don?t need to spend money on, such as trips to the cinema, unnecessary car journeys and see just how much you can save.Look through your cupboards and see what food you actually have. The chances are you will have enough meals to get by. In case of severe hardship and food poverty you may qualify for a voucher to redeem at your local food bank.For any bills that need paying, if you know you won?t have the funds you need to contact the relevant creditor as soon as possible to request a payment break. You will then need to come to an arrangement to make up the arrears.

What are your tips for avoiding Payday Loans?

Written by Gemma on December 14th, 2011

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In Profile: Nicki Stewart of Money Return Ltd

We sat down with Money Return Ltd's Nicki Stewart to find out a little bit more about the company and how they help people face up to their financial situations...

 1.   Firstly, what does MoneyReturn Ltd do?

We help customers recover any money owing to them, save money on monthly outgoings and protect their future interests. Money Return looks at most areas of personal cost, both past and present, and reviews each one to maximise monthly savings and money recoverable from claims or available from grants. We do this by offering consumers a without obligation comprehensive money saving review in the comfort of their own home. 

2.   What’s the best advice you can give to consumers to minimising the chances of them getting into debt?Review everything you do. There is always a more cost effective option available.3.   What do you find the most common cause of debt is? Biggest financial burden?The cost of living is going up and most of us are suffering from pay cuts, four day weeks or even redundancy. It is about unequal income versus expenditure.4.   What is the most unnecessary expense faced by consumers?Charges on PPI, charges on loans and credit cards and things like care home fees. People just aren’t aware of the protocol of hidden fees.5.   What is the most common reason for people getting into debt?It’s about income versus expenditure again. People are living as if they have the same salaries as they used to – there is still a commitment to pay bills.6.   How can people minimise their monthly costs?It is important to review everything and look at the policies. There is always a cheaper option. 7.   With so many people in debt do you think more needs to be done to encourage people to take a better approach to managing their finances?Yes. No one wants to be in debt, but people don’t know where to turn. Money Return Ltd has panels of experts all over the country. Consumers need that knowledge because they don’t know where to start.8.   Do you think more people are facing up to their financial problems?Yes, I think more people are aware of the situation but people are stuck in a rut and they don’t know where to turn.9.    Do you expect the financial situation to improve in the coming months?No, not with the state of the economy the way it is. We need to take control of our own situation.

More information can be found at www.moneyreturn.co.uk

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DCM Money Solutions and Apex clients update

by Nazma Noor on April 6th, 2011

Following on from our recent announcement that ClearDebt are working with the administrators of Apex and DCM Money Solutions, we can now confirm that case data will be available to Apex and DCM Money Solutions clients next week.

The team here have been working hard to filter through the data we received from the administrators, HJS Recovery, and register it onto our internal systems so that we can provide a clear picture to clients on their debt management plans with Apex and DCM Money. From next week clients will be able to request their data files from us.

In the meantime, any concerned Apex and DCM Money Solutions clients can contact us on our dedicated number, 0800 612 3318 or email apexenquiries@cleardebt.co.uk

ClearDebt want to ensure that Apex and DCM clients are made aware of all their options and, should a debt management plan be the most appropriate solution, ClearDebt will waive the normal fees charged on such arrangements to ensure debts are cleared in the shortest possible time. This plan will be entirely free of charge.

Mike Morgan, one of the team working with Apex and DCM Money clients comments:

I’m one of the team that’s been answering the phone to the hundreds of worried ex-Apex DCM clients who have rung us to discuss their situation. Sadly, it’s not all been good news.

It seems that Apex assessed clients using a set of criteria that were definitely NOT industry standard, or, at the very least, that they hadn’t reassessed their clients for a very long time.

A significant minority of clients were paying a lot less than we’d need to require in order to put forward a DMP that complied with CCCS spending guidelines. Others were making payments that, realistically, they couldn’t afford and we’ve had to recommend bankruptcy, debt relief orders or even the token payment scheme through the CCCS to them.

But, I’m proud to say that there are many for whom our free plan is the most appropriate advice and also a number who should have been advised to opt for an IVA and who are now likely to spend less on their debts and see them resolved in a much shorter time. The hard work is by no means over, in fact it is only just beginning, but we are now starting to see some positive movement forward for the former clients of Apex DCM.

There is currently a forum thread on the consumer website MoneySavingExpert which discusses the Apex and DCM Money administration. You can view the forum post here: DCM Nottingham / DCM Money Solutions in administration?.

Another discussion about Apex and DCM Money Solutions has also been posted on the Legal Beagles online forum. You can view the forum post here: DCM Money Solutions – In administration.

Look out for posts by ClearDebt’s Jacqueline Cohen and Andrew Smith (posting as “rednelly”).

If you have any further enquiries, please Contact ClearDebt, alternatively you may comment below.

By Nazma Noor and is filed under Debt Management.
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Discount voucher websites could help those with debt problems save money

Consumers currently seeking debt advice may like to take advantage of the offers on discount voucher websites as it could help them save money on things such as eating out.

According to Richard Sorsky, money advice co-ordinator at the UK Insolvency Helpline, more people sought debt advice in January and February this year compared to 2009.

The main issues surrounding families was that they are struggling to pay nursery or school fees as many left it too late to get their child into the school they wanted and are now paying for private education.

He issued advice to those currently struggling with debt problems: "Take advantage of voucher websites because you can actually save a fortune using a voucher website.

"Get your bank statements out, sit down for a good hour and see exactly what purchases are necessary this month."

Consumers can then work out how much they have to spend on outgoings, clothes and themselves, without getting into more debt, he added.

The Consumer Credit Counselling Service reported an increase in those seeking debt help online in January than the same month in 2010.
Wed, 23 Feb 2011
Brits concerned about their debt problems, which have been accrued through borrowing on a credit card, may want to consider using a zero per cent balance transfer card... Tue, 22 Feb 2011
Around 430,000 students will be given a manual about how to manage their money and avoid debt problems in the process.

Finance charity Credit Action intends to give its guide on student finance to young people planning to attend university in the 2011/2012 school year.

The average student is expected to graduate with debts amounting to more than £23,000 so the charity has created a guide to inform youngsters about the financial support available, how to budget and how to save money.

This could help would-be students learn how to stay in control of their money and help them avoid debt problems while at university.

Joanna Parsley, associate director of Credit Action, said: "Getting this information and guidance into students' hands before they begin university is key as it allows them to prepare financially, so their university experience can get off to a smooth start."..

Mon, 21 Feb 2011
Consumers living with debt problems may want to sign up for the broadband and phone package that Talk Talk is introducing... Fri, 18 Feb 2011
Couples that are going through financial difficulties and seeking debt advice need to be "open and honest" with one another...

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Posted in: could,Discount,money,problems,those,voucher,websites

How to save money on household bills

Today’s difficult economic climate means that now more than ever, homeowners are constantly on the lookout for ways to save money and avoid debt. Everyday things like household bills can really eat into your bank balance, pushing you closer to debt and bad credit, but there are ways you can make a few savings.

Switch to a different energy supplier – Try using a comparison company to find out if you could save money by switching to another energy supplier.Are you on the best tariff? Even if you’ve switched supplier, you still may not be on the cheapest and most suitable tariff for your needs. Energy companies are always increasing their prices, so make sure the tariff you’re on is still as good value as when you signed up.Get a discount– You can get discounts from suppliers by signing up for dual-fuel deals (although it’s still worth checking whether getting your gas and electricity separately would work out cheaper), by signing up online or by paying via direct debit.Check your bills – The amount your bill says and how much energy you’re actually using may not always match up, so check your meter regularly and let your supplier know so they can give you an accurate price.Be greener – Find ways to use less energy in your home. You can be more energy efficient by insulating your walls and roof, upgrading and insulating your boiler, turning off unnecessary lights and electrical devices and having showers instead of baths.

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Posted in: bills,household,money