Eight incredible apps that will save you time and money
Feeling like you’re fighting an up-hill battle with the cost-of-living crisis vs the impossible struggle of finding time for yourself? Here’s how you can save yourself money and find me time within your smartphone
Published: May 2022
On average us Brits spend up to 6.4 hours a day Link opens in a new window on the internet across different devices. It’s quite a shocking figure when you think about it. I look at my screen time and think ‘but what have I actually been looking at on my phone?’ because it never feels as long as it says it is. Likely because time flies by when mindlessly scrolling through social media or lost in the latest addictive game. But how about if we put our screen time to good use?
We’d all love to have more time for ourselves and save money where we can – especially in the current climate where we are constantly on the go, leaving little room for self-care and battling with a cost of living crisis. That’s where our eight favourite apps come into play…
1. Too Good To Go Link opens in a new window – “Fight food waste, feel good”
What is the app?
With the Too Good To Go app you can buy and collect local fresh food from your favourite retailers which would otherwise go to waste – just because it hasn’t sold in time. Prices start from as little as £2 and the food is always a fraction of the original retail costs – result! Shockingly, every year, one-third of food is thrown away - the certified B Corp are on a mission to stop this.
Is this app for me?
If you’re looking for new ways to live a greener life, save money and still enjoy tasty food, then this app has your name on it. Choose from retailers such as, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Morrisons, Caffe Nero, YO!, and your favourite local small businesses. You won’t know exactly what’s in your order until you pick it up but don’t worry, you can specify your dietary requirements on the app. Your order is called a ‘Magic Bag’ and Too Good To Go say that every bag you rescue saves 2.5kg of CO2e – the same as it would take to charge 440 smartphones.
Price
Free
2. Virgin Money Mobile Banking app Link opens in a new window – “Say hello to Brighter Money”
What is the app?
If you’re a Virgin Money bank account customer then you have access to the simple and secure Virgin Money Mobile banking app. It's packed full of clever tools to help you budget, top up your savings and sort out your spending. Plus, it’s full of exclusive rewards so you can live your best life for less, including Virgin Money Cashback Link opens in a new window, Virgin group discounts Link opens in a new window and music gig perks Link opens in a new window.
Is this app for me?
If your resolution for this year was to get better at budgeting and saving, then this is the app for you. You can:
- View and track your transactions with our automatic tagging of your spending – or you can add your own custom tags too.
- Budget better by seeing your spending and what you’ve got left at the end of the month. If you go over your set budget, then we’ll let you know!
- Save cleverly with our savings pots. Pick a goal, create a pot and transfer money to it when you can. The app will do the maths to help you keep on track.
Plus, so much more!
Price
Free with any Virgin Money current account Link opens in a new window
3. LTK (LIKEtoKNOWit) Link opens in a new window – “Meet the new way to shop”
What is the app?
The app allows you to buy products directly from your favourite influencer’s posts. From fashion to beauty, you can ‘shop the pic’ and buy the products in a tap. You can follow creators that you know and love and discover new ones to curate your shoppable LTK feed.
Is this app for me?
If you find shopping a draining chore or struggle to fit finding the perfect outfit around your never-ending to-do list, then this app could be a life saver for you. Long gone are the days of aimlessly searching on websites or kicking yourself for missing that Instagram story link to the dress you wanted – LTK does all the hard work for you.
Price
Free
4. Blinkist Link opens in a new window – “Big ideas in 15 min”
What is the app?
Blinkist condenses nonfiction books into short 15-minute text or audio summaries. There are over 5,000 titles to choose from, 27 different categories covering everything from personal finance to career development and over 20M users!
Is this app for me?
The app is fabulous if you’re wanting to sharpen your professional skills, on a self-development journey or insatiably curious but don’t enjoy or have the time to read a full book. The 15-minute convenient summaries get to the heart of all the key points and facts upfront so you can learn and develop on the go - at the gym, in the car or washing the dishes!
Price
Subscriptions are £9.99 (paid monthly) or £59.99 (paid annually and works out at £4.99 a month, first 7-days are free)
5. Calm: Sleep & Meditation Link opens in a new window – “Find your calm”
What is the app?
Calm is a mindfulness app that has guided meditation sessions, Sleep Stories, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and relaxing music. Calm’s Sleep Stories feature well-known voices such as Matthew McConaughy, P!nk and the Duke himself, Regé-Jean Page.
Is this app for me?
If you’re looking for a way to boost your wellbeing or in need of a peaceful night’s sleep then give Calm a try. According to a Calm study, 73% of subscribers who use the app 5+ times per week felt the app improved their mental health. The app has guided meditation sessions available in lengths of 3-25 minutes so you can choose the ideal length to fit in with your busy schedule.
Price
7-day free trial and then £28.99 billed annually, cancel anytime
6. Seven: Home Workout Exercise Link opens in a new window – “Seven is a PT in your pocket”
What is the app?
Seven-minute workouts that you can do anywhere, anytime without needing a gym or equipment. Seven say that the workouts are ‘based off of scientific studies to provide the maximum benefit in the shortest time possible.’
Is this app for me?
Looking to save some money on that gym membership that you don’t use? Or have a case of ‘gym-fear’ but still want to look after your body? Then these seven-minute free workouts could be the answer. They’re super easy to fit into your daily-routine and you can create your own workout tailored to your goals.
Price
Free with in-app purchase options
7. Duolingo: Language Lessons Link opens in a new window – “The free, fun, and effective way to learn a language”
What is the app?
Learn a new language with DuoLingo’s quick, fun and bite-sized lessons. With over 35 different languages to choose from, Duolingo helps you prepare for real life conversations with engaging exercises and playful characters.
Is this app for me?
The app is perfect for you if you’re wanting to learn a new language in an exciting and light-hearted way with little time. With quick lessons, you’ll be able to make the daily commute more productive with games and characters that will help you build speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills in your chosen language.
Price
Free with in-app purchase options
8. Getir Link opens in a new window – “Groceries from app to door in minutes”
What is the app?
Get your everyday essentials, fresh produce, snacks and treats delivered to your door from well-known brands in minutes – day or night. Think of it as a corner shop in your pocket.
Is this app for me?
Constantly in a rush or always missing a key ingredient while making dinner? Getir is at your side. Plus, there’s no need to book a slot so you’re totally covered for those last-minute needs. They also only use electric vehicles, e-scooters and e-bikes so you can put your carbon footprint conscious to rest.
Price
Free
The Virgin Money mobile banking app makes money easier
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