New research finds Brits rely on ‘life admin’ apps to help them save time, money and energy

Thursday 10th October

The average adult uses seven life admin apps to manage their daily routines, with half agreeing their trusted apps are key to helping them stay productive
Over three-quarters use smartphone apps to manage their households, including checking their energy bills, setting timers, and monitoring appliances
44% admit their life admin apps help them feel more in control and can even help them to save money (65%)
Households that have a smart meter believe they have saved an average of £140 per year by using it to help with energy management
Smart Energy GB has partnered with consumer finance expert, Steph McGovern, to offer her top tips and advice to get the most out of life admin apps

‘Life admin’ apps, used to help Britons manage their schedules, finances and energy use, have become such a part of everyday life that six in 10 (62%) Brits would struggle to stick to their daily routines without them.

New research from Smart Energy GB reveals the average adult now has seven life admin apps across their devices to help increase their productivity (22%) and save time (46%).

In addition to helping with life admin, like managing personal finances (68%), planning their schedules (35%), and staying on top of their fitness and wellness (25%), the research shows Brits rely on their pocket pals to help manage their households too.

A fifth (21%) use apps to control household appliances, and one in six (17%) to remotely adjust thermostats, while seven in 10 (69%) use energy management apps to check their smart meter and monitor their energy use - with 65% of those who do so believing it has helped them to save money on their bills.

The research shows that the benefits of using life organisation apps are clear, but those with a smart meter could be reaping even more rewards.

Three-quarters (77%) of smart meter owners say they use apps to receive alerts that their energy supplier is running an energy reward scheme, which offers financial rewards for using energy more flexibly. A huge 97% say this information allows them to plan their weekly schedules to take advantage of the potential savings by using less energy when demand is high and using more when excess is available.

Households that have a smart meter believe they have saved an average of £140 per year by using it to help with energy management.¹

Showing how embedded these apps are in Britons’ daily lives, 42% say they conduct their weekly food shop via a supermarket app, whilst 32% use apps to book social occasions and 25% track their exercise and fitness.

Steph McGovern, Consumer Finance Expert commented: "Apps have turned mobile phones into pocket personal assistants which have become indispensable tools for managing our lives. They really help keep you on top of life admin, especially finances, when it comes to energy usage and bills. And, remember to keep an eye out for the energy reward schemes that may be available to you, if you do have a smart meter installed.

Victoria Bacon, Director at Smart Energy GB says: “We tend to feel a lot more in control when we have easy access to and visibility of our bills, accounts and memberships. This is definitely the case when it comes to energy usage.”

“Many people with a smart meter use their energy provider’s app to manage their account meaning they can check their usage and account balance remotely at any time, so the benefits of smart meters already go beyond the in-home display. Having a smart meter also enables you to access schemes or tariffs that reward you for being more flexible in the way you use energy.”

Steph McGovern shares her top tips for reaping the lifestyle and financial benefits of handy smartphone apps:

Spreadsheet your life: It sounds boring, but the more you know about what’s going in and out, the more control you have. There are loads of apps to make it easy for you. They will categorise your spending in a simple way so you can see where you might be wasting money.
Monitor your energy use: Use your smart meter data to help stay on top of your household energy spend by regularly checking your usage and bills on your provider’s app. It will help you avoid unexpected spikes with your bills.
Keep yourself notified: If you have a smart meter, energy app notifications will keep you updated on any offers or schemes that could help reduce your bills.
Smart home heating: Lots of UK households now have a smart thermostat. This gives you remote control of your home’s heating so you can choose when to switch it on. Like on your way home from work, or when one of the energy reward schemes is running.
Track unused subscriptions: Don’t pay for stuff you don’t use. There are apps that will monitor your subscriptions and monthly payments then cancel the ones you’re not using.
Make your money pay: Cash back, air miles and loyalty points are all things you could be collecting every time you pay for something. Find apps with rewards that suit you.

The top 10 apps Brits are using to organise and stay in control are:

Banking
Reward apps
Personal bills
Managing energy bills
Calendar apps
Travel booking
Grocery shopping
Broadband and other household bills
Setting timers
Productivity
Smart meter tracking

To find out more about getting a smart meter installed, search ‘get a smart meter’ or visit https://www.smartenergygb.org/. For more information on the energy reward schemes available, customers should visit their energy provider’s website and download their apps.