Tracking tools could save Brits nearly £2,000 a year

Tuesday 18th November

● 3 in 4 Brits who use tracking data use it to help manage their monthly budget

● While 40% started using tech to monitor calories, steps or sleep, more than half (55%) of people using tracking tools to save money, say that’s now more important

● The benefits are clear: 85% of adults who use tracking tools say they help cut costs, and could save users nearly £2,000 per year

● Loyalty schemes (57%), utility tracking apps (40%) and cashback platforms (39%) top the list of most popular tracking tools for saving, while 44% use their smart meter display to monitor their energy spending

● Smart Energy GB teams up with financial advisor and author Bola Sol to help households make meaningful savings with tracking tech

18th November 2025 - From comparing flight prices to checking the smart meter display, savvy households are creating a new ‘tracking economy’ that turns everyday actions into data-driven savings.

New research from Smart Energy GB reveals that 3 in 4 Brits who use tracking apps or services, now use them to track their spending. While 40% of them started using tech to monitor calories, steps or sleep, 3 in 10 reveal they now use these tools to track their finances or savings every single day.

Managing budgets even takes priority over productivity and running or cycling distances, with more than half (55%) who use tracking tools to save money saying that it is now more important than any other use.

And the benefits are clear - 85% of adults using apps or tools to track their spending say it has helped them cut costs, with more than 60% using them more frequently over the past 12 months. In fact, the research has found Brits could save nearly £2,000 per year on average by using tracking tools.

The most popular tools that people use to keep track of their finances and spending are loyalty schemes (57%) which save an average of £166 per year according to the polling; household utility tracking apps (40%) which save an average of £179 per year; and cashback platforms (39%) which save an average of £175 per year.

According to the research, these are closely followed by budgeting apps (38%) - the biggest saving drivers at an average of £241 per year - and smart meters (38%), which the survey found have helped users shave an average of £174 off their annual bills.

Subscription tracking apps, that monitor streaming and software memberships, are also growing in popularity, with a quarter (26%) using them to avoid paying for services they no longer use. This growing trend marks a clear shift toward more mindful spending, with 86% saying using tracking tools and apps makes them feel more in control of their finances, while a third (33%) track their daily financial activities to take advantage of reward schemes.

Half of all Brits now even say they prefer tracking tools that give them real-time updates on their spending, rather than monthly statements – with 40% of them saying it helps them to stay within their budget.

One area where people are increasingly utilising tracking tools is at home, and particularly when it comes to energy. 44% of Brits say they use a smart meter display to help them monitor their energy usage, with 1 in 5 of them revealing they check their display multiple times a day. In fact, two-thirds (66%) of smart meter users agree it is a key part of their household budgeting strategy.

Among smart meter users, 51% say having one has encouraged them to switch off unused appliances and 29% now try to use high-energy devices at times when electricity from their supplier is cheaper, through energy reward schemes or by choosing flexible tariffs. 1 in 3 even admit that these energy tracking habits have created competitiveness at home, with 30% turning home energy tracking into a competition amongst family members or roommates.

To advise Brits on how they can embrace tracking to make meaningful savings, Smart Energy GB has teamed up with financial advisor and author Bola Sol.

“Households are getting smarter about tracking where their money goes and honestly? It’s one of the best ways to stay on top of your finances and find real savings. With the cost of living still affecting so many of us, people are realising that small changes really do add up. Whether that’s keeping an eye on energy use, spotting flight deals early or simply checking where the everyday spend is going.

It’s no wonder that, for many people, checking your bank balance or a smart meter display has become as normal as checking the weather. These small daily check-ins help build better habits and a healthier relationship with money.”

Victoria Bacon, Director at Smart Energy GB, said “Making the most of tracking tools is a simple step for anyone looking to save money. Our research found that frequent and regular access to spending information, rather than a monthly statement, is important for many and smart meters give households exactly that. They come with a display that shows energy usage in pounds and pence and in near-real time. They’re installed at no extra cost and help contribute to savings on household energy bills.”

For more information on smart meters or energy reward schemes, search ‘Get a smart meter’.

TOP MONEY-SAVING TRACKING TOOLS AND DEVICES (according to Brits)

Budgeting apps – £241
Self-created spreadsheets – £220
Flight price trackers – £206
Hotel price trackers – £195
Subscription tracking apps – £189
Utility tracking apps – £179
Cashback platforms – £175
Smart meters – £174
Loyalty schemes – £166
Petrol price trackers – £155