Apps to save money

Saving money doesn't have to mean living like a hermit or cutting back on the things you love. Small changes can make all the difference, so whether you are a poor student or a mother who would like to make the weekly budget stretch a little further, these four apps will help you cut back your spending without changing your lifestyle.

Goodbudget: manage your budgetunnamed

Goodbudget is like having a personal finance manager in the palm of your hand. It lets you enter your monthly income and then sort your expenditure for the month into “envelopes” which you can assign to particular payments, such as “phone bill” or “groceries” for example.

You can then check the balance of your envelopes and the state of you budget on the go. The free version offers up to 10 envelopes for regular budgeting and 10 more for annual or irregular budgeting. Perfect for everyday budgeting or saving for something special. (iOS, Android)

Skype: stay in contact for free

Everyone knows about Skype, right? If not, then you have missed out on a revolution in the world of telecommunications. Skype for your mobile lets you send instant messages and make voice or video calls to others who also have the app, all for free.

You can share snaps with friends and also make low rate calls and messages to users who do not have the app. If you're a certified chatterbox, join the 250 million other users on Skype and chat away to your heart's content without spending a rupee. (iOS, Android)

Tiendeo: find the best offers in your area

Tiendeo is a website and app which lets you search for store info and the best deals in your area. The great thing about the Tiendeo app is that everything is geo-localised to help you find the best offers, brochures and coupons closest to you. Set your current location and you can view the latest offers published by stores in your vicinity.

View the map to see the stores around you, then click on the marker and view store details such as opening hours alongside currently running offers. You can also search for products to find the best deals on your favourite items or brands. (iOS, Android)

My Data Manager: avoid unwanted phone bills

This app is a godsend for those who are constantly going over their data usage limit and getting hit with huge unexpected bills. My Data Manager lets you control your data usage and save money on your monthly phone bill.

You can track your roaming data usage, track which apps use the most data and set custom alarms which will alert you when you are about to go over your monthly limit and therefore help you avoid incurring unexpected bills. (iOS, Android)