As the new year begins, financial goals often top the resolution list for Britons. Whether aiming to save more, spend smarter, or simply get organised, a suite of digital tools can provide clarity and control. For 2026, a host of apps and online resources are available to help you achieve a healthier financial picture.
Planning and Protection: Pensions, Tax and Benefits
Getting a grip on long-term savings is crucial. The Scottish Widows Pension Mirror uses AI to estimate your age from a photo and then shows the average pension savings for that age group. One user, actually 57, was estimated at 47 and shown that typical savings for that younger age are £75,500, compared to £124,800 for 57-year-olds. The app then lets you project your own retirement income.
For immediate tax concerns, the HMRC app is vital as the 31 January self-assessment deadline looms. It stores your tax reference number and income details, and can set payment reminders. Separately, HMRC's online tax code checker explains your personal allowance and calculates what you should be paying.
Many miss out on entitled support. The Turn2us charity offers a free benefits calculator for a tailored list of possible entitlements, while its grants search finds charitable financial help. For retirees, the government's pension credit calculator checks if you can top up your weekly income to £227.10 (single) or £346.60 (couple).
Tracking and Saving: Daily Spending and Future Funds
Daily budgeting is made easier with apps like HyperJar, which uses digital "jars" for different spending goals and offers prepaid cards, including for children. For grocery savings, Trolley.co.uk compares prices across major supermarkets, factoring in loyalty card discounts, and can save users up to 30%.
To cut food waste and costs, Too Good To Go lets you buy surplus restaurant and shop food at big discounts, while Olio facilitates free food and item giveaways. For healthier shopping, the Yuka app scans barcodes to score food and cosmetics, suggesting better alternatives.
Building a safety net is key. The Post Office's emergency fund calculator helps you target a savings goal based on your essential monthly outgoings. For forgotten cash, the My Lost Account service searches for dormant bank accounts, and The Share Foundation's child trust fund finder helps locate the £7.5bn still held in CTFs for those born between 2005 and 2011.
Smart Tools for Deals, Debt and Home Efficiency
Hunting for bargains is streamlined with Hotukdeals, where a community votes on the best sales. The Camelcamelcamel browser extension reveals Amazon's price history, and Compare the Market's Meerkat app unlocks rewards like two-for-one cinema tickets.
Understanding borrowing power is essential. Credit Karma provides a free credit score and report via TransUnion. For travel money, MoneySavingExpert's Travel Money Max compares exchange rates for better deals than the high street.
At home, the Energy Saving Trust's home energy efficiency tool (via banks like Halifax) creates a tailored action plan to cut bills, detailing costs and savings for measures like insulation. For a mid-life financial review, the government-backed MoneyHelper Money Midlife MOT offers a personalised report for those aged 45-65 on pensions, estate planning and debt.
Other useful tools include MoneySavingExpert's Premium Bonds odds calculator, which predicts winnings, and NS&I's own prize checker to find any of the £111m in unclaimed prizes. The Trend Micro ScamCheck app (£19.99/year after trial) blocks fraudulent calls and sites, while iPhone's Hold Assist feature (iPhone 12+) notifies you when a call centre agent is available. For families, the government's free childcare calculator checks entitlement to 30 hours of funded care in England.
