Top 5 - Money saving apps

Top 5 - Money saving apps by Michael Cheary When it comes to saving money, all of us have our preferred methods. Whether youre a student waiting for the next loan to come in, a recent graduate looking for your first job or youre just trying to feed a family of four every night, making your money stretch as far as possible is one of those life skills we all strive to perfect.If youve tried some of the traditional methods and had no luck, its time to embrace technology. There are literally hundreds of different options available, but weve selected a small sample to get you started.So grab your Smartphone and stand by to start pinching the pennies. Here are five of our favourite money saving apps:5. ToshlA free-to-use, money saving app which helps you keep track of your spending. It visually represents your outgoings with graphs and charts, giving you an easy way to see where your moneys going, and how you can trim the fat.Described as your first step to financial freedom it also has pretty colours. Cost : FreePerfect for: People looking to improve their organisational skills4. CashpointerAre you guilty of continually paying on your card without really realising how much youre spending? If the answers yes, this app is definitely for you. Cashpointer finds your nearest cash point, how much youll be charged for using it, and even gives you directions.That way, if youve only got get 20 to spend, you know when its time to head home (or at the very least, avoid costly card charges). Unfortunately, its not able to tell you if therell be a queue.Cost: FreePerfect for: The card happy co-worker3. 0870This app makes expensive 0870, 0800 and 0845 calls a thing of the past. It turns these pricy digits into local calls, saving you an average of 30p per minute. Its 69p to purchase, but in our opinion, its well worth it.Look at it as more of an investment. One call to an expensive customer services line and youll have easily made your money back.Cost: 69pPerfect for: People who live on their phone s2. Fuel SchoolEveryone thinks theyre a good driver. Fuel School tells you if youre right. Using GPS technology, this app analyses your driving style and makes recommendations on how to be more fuel efficient. Its also good for the environment, so youll have permission to feel suitably smug using it.Cost: 69pPerfect for: People who live in their cars (not literally)1. Nosey ParkerAdvertised as closer, safer, cheaper car parking, this app checks nearly 1.8 million parking spaces, and 14,000 car parks across the UK to find the perfect space for you. Not only will you save money on expensive parking fees, you can also pay by card, which is great if youre not carrying cash.Its slightly more expensive than the other apps on this list, but with parking at a premium in most cities around the UK, it could prove to be essential for some.Cost: 2.99Perfect for: (See above)Honourable mentions: The Family Handyman, Petrolprices Pro, Foodmatic, NHS Quit Smoking app.Think weve missed any? Share th em with us on twitter @reedcouk