If you’re pretty handy with a smartphone, tablet or laptop, you won’t want to miss out on all the ways technology can help save you time and make your day-to-day life a little easier – and all from the comfort of your home.

Stay connected

Apps like Skype and FaceTime are invaluable if you have children or grandchildren living overseas, as they allow you to video chat for free – all you’ll pay are your internet or data costs. WhatsApp is another great way to stay in touch with your nearest and dearest, and its handy group chat function means you can have running conversations with your family, friends, golf buddies, book club and more.

Do your shopping

Retailers like Woolworths and Pick ‘n Pay offer convenient online shopping, so you can place your order and have your groceries delivered directly to your door – and that means no more busy aisles to navigate or heavy packets to carry. There are also a number of online organic box schemes, where you can order fresh fruit and vegetables to be delivered weekly.

Stay on top of your finances

These days, you can do most (if not all) of your banking online, and most major banks also have apps you can download so you can even do your banking on your smartphone. Just remember to be vigilant when doing online banking (or any online transaction) and never give out your PIN numbers or passwords to anyone, ever.

Track your fitness progress

While these are more gadgets than apps, devices like Fitbit trackers, Apple Watches and standard pedometers allow you track your workouts or steps taken, and most even let you monitor your heart rate.

Enjoy a world of entertainment

Streaming services like Netflix or Showmax give you access to a wide range of TV series, movies and documentaries that are regularly updated – and you can watch on a number of devices, including your smart TV, computer, smartphone or tablet. Or if reading is more your thing, you can build up an online library on your Kindle or iPad.