CURLY AND CANDID

If you’re operating a business, then chances are you’re using some kind of software tools on a computer. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Mac computer or a Windows–you’ve probably got some software that helps you run your business more effectively. However, a lot of business owners, especially inexperienced ones, don’t understand the full potential of the tools they use daily.

In this post, I’ll look at three of the most common software tools you’ll use and how to get the most out of them.

3 Software Tools For Business: Accounting Solutions

Cloud account is so easy to use that you don’t even need an account to use it. Everything can be done by you, but there are also ways to automate certain processes like adding items that you sell, chasing invoices and even creating tax reports. These features are incredibly important for smooth business operation so it’s a good idea to look through the manual to learn more.

3 Software Tools For Business: Communication Tools

There are a lot of communication tools such as Slack that are perfect for small businesses to use, but did you know that there are a lot of useful features such as sharing files, pinning important messages, formatting text and even notifying specific users to get their attention.

Spreadsheet Software

A lot of people simply think of spreadsheets as big grids of values, but they can be so much more with formatting and formulas. Personally I think of spreadsheets as instruments of torture but that is possibly because I am not using them as effectively as I could or should. You can add calculations that automatically update, you can insert the current time and date and use it for different formulas and you can even link spreadsheets to different documents. Below is a basic guide on how to format your spreadsheets for usability. I have this saved and will be practising!

What are your go-to software tools for business?

Infographic by STL

Knowing how or where you can save money on your phone bill is no easy feat. Fortunately, there are a whole host of websites and apps designed to help you do just that. The best news is most of them are free (or very cheap)! I hate spending money needlessly (I’m a thrifty bod). These top tips should help you reduce your phone bill spend too.

Save Money on Your Phone Bill With Data Compression Apps

Data compression apps help stretch your data allowance further by reducing the amount of data web pages and email clients use. And they do this without impacting the quality of your browsing experience. Some apps also block unwanted data usage from background apps, updates and notifications.

How does this save you money? With your data going further than ever, you won’t need to buy expensive add-ons. Some apps report a saving of up to 20% which might not sound like much but will make a significant difference to how quickly you run through your allowance.

There are lots of data compression apps on the market, some better than others at what they do. Some of the most highly recommended apps include: Opera Max, My Data Compress, My Data Manager, and Datally.

I remote work a lot so will be trying these out as sometimes I tether through my phone and that eats data!

Save Money on Your Phone Bill With Billmonitor.com

Launched in 2009 by three Oxford-based mathematicians, Billmonitor’s entire purpose is to save you money on your phone bill.

Mobile phone contracts are notoriously complicated and unclear. It can be hard to know how much you’re paying for the handset and how much you’re paying for the tariff. Billmonitor helps to clarify all this, giving consumers transparency in an increasingly murky industry.

Billmonitor works by analysing your past bills (or you can manually enter your estimated usage) and comparing your usage against one million tariff and bundle combinations. It searches deals from five of the largest providers; EE, O2, Three, Vodafone and Tesco Mobile. You are then provided with a free analysis explaining where you’ve been overcharged, the best contracts for your usage, and exactly how much you will save.

You only pay for this service if you choose to proceed with a new contract. Billmonitor charges a flat fee of 30% of the amount you save on your bill. One trick is to use Billmonitor to get a recommended tariff then see if you can beat it on comparison sites like Tiger Mobiles (specialise in PAYG) or Uswitch.

08 Wizard

If you’ve ever had to call an 0800, 0845 or 0870 number from your mobile phone, you know exactly how expensive it is. These premium numbers can charge up to 41 pence per minute, which means just a ten-minute phone call will cost you more than £4. Many businesses in the UK use 08 numbers, including some mobile phone networks and utility companies.

08 Wizard is an app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone that replaces 08 numbers with an 01 or 02 landline number. If you’re on contract, the call will now come from your inclusive minutes, and if you’re on Pay As You Go, it will be charged at a standard rate.

The app costs 99 pence but will quickly pay for itself in money saved calling premium numbers. If you ever need to call 08 numbers, this app is an absolute must-have.

Network Apps Offer Great Perks

If your phone contract is with O2, Three or Vodafone you can score some great freebies and discounts via their rewards apps. The offers change quite frequently but can include things like advanced gig tickets, discounted cinema tickets, free coffee and data boosts.

This is a bit of a wildcard because these apps won’t help you save money on your phone bill. However your phone bill will help you save money on other things, and I think that’s just as good.

If you’re an O2 customer, the rewards app is called O2 Priority and it’s available for iPhone and Android. Three customers will find rewards in the Wuntu app on iPhone and Android. And for Vodafone customers, rewards are offered via the ‘Very Me’ programme in the My Vodafone app (again, available for iPhone and Android).

GiffGaff Payback

GiffGaff offers a fantastic Payback scheme where you can earn money for referring friends and family to the network. For every person you bring on board, GiffGaff gives you £5 (and £5 to your friend, too). This can then be converted to cash, credit to your GiffGaff account, or donated to charity.

In addition, GiffGaff members can call and text each other for free, so it pays double to refer friends.

Any Payback points you’ve earned are paid out twice a year (in June and December). There’s no limit to how much you can earn, though the payment amounts change after the first 15 referrals (they actually increase). With this unlimited earning potential you can save some serious money on your phone bill should you choose to convert it to credit.

Save Money on Your Phone Bill

If you are looking to save money on your phone bill it pays to think outside of the box. If you have any other top tips feel free to comment with them below.