I am not a hypocrite, I find that APPS can be helpful. I like the APPs that measure my steps, I can keep notes on my phone and now got ChatGPT and used it to help me with my radio show. I checked it to find out how to clean my make up brushes, which to some is common knowledge but when I’ve tried they’ve smelled and had to throw the away but books and magazines for information is still good but ChatGPT is quick and can save you time but it is still good to keep things on paper, because all technology in my experience can break down. My laptop broke and lost a lot of my books I had been writing and so now I hand write some of my books and an APP to do this wouldn’t be the same and thankfully got some copy of some of my books on my google docs, but I like using the Youtube APP, the APP for M&S as I have a Sparks card on there and good for shopping as I loved it last Christmas 2025 using my M&S Sparks card as it did save me money on Christmas gifts, but I find it can affect us. APPs can be good for shopping but if you have a spending habit that has gotten out of hand then is it a good idea to have an APP for stores which can make you over consume?

I worked for a Manufacturer and would deal with complaints when someone was trying to work a Smart TV, a Smart audio device and I found hard in telling them to take it back to the shop and contact the company that they got it from. It is hard for the customer and for me the advisor, to try and resolve their problem and it I felt for them because they’d spent a lot of money and with APPs they can be a scam and be hacked into. With an old tablet often being an old model couldn’t use some of the APPs again and so it can be convenient but also a burden.
Yes the free ones like my fitness one, which came with my phone and I use a Journal APP when I don’t have my physical journal, use Facebook and Instagram to stay in touch with friends, but I stop having Notion because they also can use up your storage and then you start to get messages about it needing an update and not able to send messages and there were many that I would never use on my phone.
I like to visit a store now rather then relying on an APP to support local businesses like the independent and chain coffee shops, charity shops. Not only that I like to go and have walk around the shops not to buy as I am able to now go into a store without buying. I use the bank APPs and that is good and can check my account everyday.
I suppose your wondering what it has to do with Wellbeing, well because we can rely upon them stopping us from seeing the outside world, not cooking and relying on Deliveroo and eating up our money and money is not evil its how is it being used and if you are in debt then having Temu APP for example then is that going to help you? It can be addictive. Spending addiction is real, the same with all addictions. One person I know who I have met in the rugby days had extreme debt and she was level headed, yet she was in debt and I got ruthless with money and so APPs are good if they are purposeful but not to be relied on and I like going out and mooching and window shopping rather than going into the store. I still get the urge to impulse buy but I find going when the stores haven’t opened yet a good way to shop because my enthusiasm to shop and spending money goes and why I don’t have that many shopping acts. I like getting my free coffee from #Costas and the local gym where I can pay as you go, but not in any type of contract and the APP to book is easy to use.
Since unsubscribing getting rid of shopping APPs has helped me save and made me feel better about my relationship with my money and not being on my phone all of the time that can be distracting and lose concentration. The same with shopping on our phone and if you got the money then fine but I had the face the truth. If I don’t spend I can save and pay for a day trip somewhere and I have a few music festivals booked and yes having my wallet APP is good but also especially in London, phones are being stolen right in front of our eyes and scrolling on an APP can cause temptation and why I still carry a purse and not rely on my phone to pay for everything and safety should come first.
I hope you find this blog helpful and if you’d like to share you advice on APPs and not being reliant then please do. You can use the comment section below.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X