Help balance the books with budgeting apps

IF YOU'VE been inspired by last week's Budget to tighten up your finances, there are plenty of apps to help you balance the books. Here are four of the best recommended by Melissa York in City AM.

Account Tracker (£1.99; iOS). The complexity of managing multiple incomes and outgoings across several accounts often discourages people from budgeting. This five-star reviewed, very usable, app "makes it easy".

Expensify (Free; iOS and Google Play). Busy people who travel or entertain a lot for work will love this app, which "separates your professional expenditure from your personal expenditure so one doesn’t bleed into the other". It logs miles driven and tracks purchases; very useful if you need to file expense accounts on the move.

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Stockwatch (£3.99; iOS). This comprehensive app supports 50 exchanges, allowing you to track unlimited stocks, mutuals, futures etc while out and about. You can customise watchlists and portfolios so it only shows the sectors you’re interested in.

UK salary calculator (Free; iOS). If you’re thinking about switching jobs this app is for you. It calculates the prospective take-home salary, taking into account factors like income tax rates, national insurance and student loan repayments etc. It helps you make an informed decision before you accept a new job or promotion.

A version of this article appears in the 29 March 2014 edition of The Week