This is the time of year when people start talking about the C word - that festive period where you will either be wondering how much cash you might receive as a gift, or pondering how much it might be wise to spend on eggnog, or maybe even thinking about how you can revamp your finances for the new year. I’ve thought about money and finances a lot this year and it’s been an interesting, frustrating and sometimes rewarding process.

If you’re ever reviewing your finances, it’s easy to look at the bigger picture: current accounts, savings, mortgages. But as the saying goes, it’s useful to look after those pennies as well because they can start to add up to more meaningful numbers. The Pennies app helps you do just that, with a super simple and clean interface that sets up a budget and tries to ensure you stick to it.

The thing I hate about being an adult is having to be responsible about money. At the moment, I’m busy trying to save for something rather important, and it’s really, really not working. My outgoings are equalling my income and there’s nothing left over. It’s rubbish. If I didn’t have the thing to save for, I would be treading water quite nicely, but it’s just a weight on my shoulders. I’m constantly aware that I’m going to have to pay out soon, and so far, the funds aren’t quite there yet.

Today, I managed to actually enter my pin number whilst paying for something. Up until now, I’ve managed to say that I don’t know it, or go to Sainsbury’s who have yet to implement it in their stores. But today, I took the plunge, bought the goods and typed the number, and you know what? I kinda liked it. At first I was opposed to the idea, and it makes me feel that sales staff will eventually be surplus to requirements, but I do like this ’not signing’ business.