Thanks to the explosion in app development and our own increasing familiarity with smart phones, monitoring and managing money has never been so easy with a range on online tools to help monitor your expenses, help you save and cut the clutter when it comes to traditional pen-and-paper budgets.

In this post we check out some of the top money management apps that you can carry with you 24/7 on your smartphone.

1. Bullet

This is a handy app for freelancers and the self-employed who can kiss receipt shoeboxes goodbye. Bullet is part of the online accounting software of the same name, giving users an easy way to photograph, scan and log receipts and track expenses. It is one of the only apps with Irish taxation and accounting rules built-in to simplify the accounting workflow. The standard Bullet app is free.

2. You need a budget (YNAB)

Monitor your spending with this easy-to-use app that helps you manage your budget, tackle your debt or save for something special. It helps to spread your expenses out over the year so paying for your annual insurance premiums, school fees and holidays can be planned methodically and in advance. This app offers a free trial period after which an annual subscription applies.

3. Home Budget

A handy budget tracker with families in mind that helps track expenses, income and bills. This gives families the option to calculate their disposable income and set budgets to manage items such as utilities, transport, groceries and more. It can even sync several devices so family members can work together on one budget. This app charges a fee.

4. Marketwatch

This app gives investors real-time access to the latest data on stocks, commodities and currencies while on the go. You can track your stock picks and receive news feeds about those stocks to your phone, helping you stay up-to-date with the latest stock market movements. The app also offers extensive stock quote pages and key trading information.

5. Transferwise

If you have reasons to send money abroad you’ll enjoy the convenience of the Transferwise app. It claims to send money up to eight times cheaper than the banks, helping users to make a significant savings each time they transfer. Transferwise is authorised by the British regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority.