If you’re looking to take control of your finances and want apps to help you do it, then you’re in the right place! We’re here to introduce a range of different apps, from credit scores to budgeting, reducing the cost of your bills and helping with your overall family finances, to transform your finances and make them easy to manage all from your phone. So, let’s get into it and help you take control!

ClearScore

First up, it’s great to keep up to date with your credit score, so downloading ClearScore is the best way to do that. ClearScore not only identifies your credit score but can provide guidance on how you can increase it, which can then help you get favourable rates from credit card companies, mortgage lenders and car lenders. If you’ve gone through something that could have impacted your credit score, such as a DRO, knowing where you’re up to can be really helpful. This is good information to know, as you know where you’re up to and also where you can make improvements when you’re planning a new financial step in your life, whether it’s getting a new credit card or buying a house.

Emma

Now, in terms of actual budgeting, one of the best apps is Emma. You can connect all of your different bank accounts to the app, and then the app records all of your income and outgoings, so you know exactly where your money is going. You can also set budget limits for each month, so if you want to spend no more than £200 a month on food shops, the app will give you a timeline of what you’ve spent, when you spent it, and how much you have remaining until your next payday. It helps you take accountability for what you’re spending, so you can identify ways to cut back where you need to.

You can also trade directly in the app for as little as £1 of investment. If it wasn’t already good enough, you can transfer money to people directly through the app! You can manage all of your income, outgoings and savings in one place, so you know where your money is going and where you could cut back. The only downside is that you do need to pay a fee for Emma; however, considering how much money it can help you save, for many people, it’s worth it.

Snoop

Snoop is another money management app designed to help you take control of your money, save on bills and improve your finances overall. It has many of the same features as Emma, including allowing you to connect up bank accounts and knowing where your money is coming in and out of. A big part of this app is also allowing you to pay less for your bills, with access to specific deals to help you spend less! For many people, seeing exactly where every penny goes can help them be more responsible financially. There is also a completely free version of Snoop, which is a big benefit for many people. Give Snoop a go and see how it works for you!

Compare The Market

Next up, we have Compare the Market, which is a price comparison site to help you find the best deal on so many different bills, from all different types of insurance to energy, broadband and mobile phone packages, as well as financial products from mortgages to credit cards, savings and current accounts. While all of the above are essential outgoings, that doesn’t mean that you have to settle for the current prices that you’re paying! So, write down a list of all your bills, go on Compare The Market, and see where you could be making savings. Then, give your current providers a call and tell them about the prices you could get elsewhere, and they may be able to match them to get you to stay. If not, you can move to save money! This might take some time and effort; however, it can save you a significant amount of money over the course of the year, so it’s 100% worth your time.

Hyperjar

Lastly, we’ve got Hyperjar, a prepaid debit card and money app designed for both adults and children, to help them effectively budget and understand the importance of money. You can create “jars” for different outgoings like food, holidays or days out, as well as other savings, and then it’s all visible in the app. You can get specific children’s cards, so then you could assign some money to the cards for the month for different things, like meals out and birthday presents, then get your children involved in helping to manage the budget and decide where some of it is spent. This encourages healthy budgeting and spending habits from an early age, which can help them move into adulthood feeling more financially confident.