Here in the Welfare department at De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU) we’re always looking for ways to help you save money. Since we’re always on our phones nowadays – why not try and find an app to help you do that? We sent our intrepid reporters Sam Chambers and Jonathan Whitney to look at four of the most commonly used apps.
Despite being poorly presented (not least the misspelled words in the instructions), and giving the word ‘basic’ a whole new meaning, Spendometer isn’t actually half bad. This is because that, in an age that has forgotten the virtues of simplicity, basic isn’t necessarily a bad quality, and makes the app easy to use. The report feature, allowing you to see how much you have spent, when you have spent it and what on, could just help you figure out why you are inexplicably short of funds a week after pay-day.
BEST FEATURE: THE REPORT.
EASY TO USE: YES.
Proof that presentation isn’t always everything. On the contrary to Spendometer, AndroMoney looks a lot prettier, but is way clunkier. Too many screens make it difficult to navigate, and you can often lose track of where you are. Often left scratching your head at the app’s confusion levels, you sometimes you have to wonder if the old-fashioned way of budgeting could be the best option after all.
BEST FEATURE: PICTURES.
EASY TO USE: NO.
Initially taking a bit of getting used to, Monefy does all the things you expect from a free to use app, and if you have the time to play around with it, could be a valuable device in your money-saving endeavours. That being said it is a little frustrating on first use, and whether the consumer has the patience to stick with it is entirely down to their personal temperament.
BEST FEATURE: CATEGORY SELECTION
EASY TO USE: NOT REALLY…
Complete with a whole host of options and special features, MoneyWiz is a comprehensive yet easily navigated budgeting app. Its layout, settings menu and help page ensure that you get the most out of its many functions. It is hard to imagine another free app as helpful as this – I’d be happy to pay for its use if it came down to it!
BEST FEATURE: SCHEDULES.
EASY TO USE: DEFINITELY!
So there you go. The best app to use if you’re looking to save for that holiday – or just make sure you’ve got enough Weetabix in your cupboard next week – is MoneyWiz!
But if you do find yourself in trouble with money it can affect not just your studies but your wider mental health – and nobody wants that. If you do feel it’s getting too much for you, come and see us for free, impartial advice provided by your students’ union – which means we’re separate and independent from the university.
You can find us on the First Floor of the Campus Centre or find us online at demontfortstudents.com/welfare. You can also follow us on Twitter @DSUWelfare and show us some love!
