Technology is a pretty amazing thing. Who could have imagined 25 years ago that many of us today would be walking around with powerful little computers in our hip pockets that could help us do so many things? One of the things that smartphones can do is save us cash and allow us to keep more of our hard earned money in our wallet. Here are five must-have smartphone apps that will help you save money on darn-near everything. The best part? They are all completely free.
RedLaser App
The RedLaser app turns your smartphone into a sophisticated personal shopper. The next time you are standing in the aisle at your local Home Depot, wondering if the power drill you are about to buy really is a good deal, just pull out your phone and scan the barcode of the drill with the RedLaser app. Within seconds you’ll have prices from not only online retailers but competitors down the street as well. The power of the app doesn’t stop there as you’ll also get access to product reviews and detailed specifics about the scanned item. Lastly, if your child has food allergies you’ll definitely want to download the RedLaser app as you’ll get informations on known allergens when food products are scanned.
Available for: iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. Price: Free.
GasBuddy App
Have you ever wondered while filling up at the pump if the gas station down the street might be cheaper? If you’re normal, you probably have. Make sure to add the GasBuddy app to your smartphone and you’ll always save some money when filling up. Essentially the app works by using the GPS feature on your phone to find your current location and then it gives you all the stations in your area and what they are currently charging for a gallon of gas. Pretty slick. It also works great when traveling. On our family road trip last Summer I used it daily to find the best value on gas when approaching a town where I needed to fill up. I figured over the course of our 3 week trip it saved me close to $50. The added bonus of turn-by-turn directions to the gas station made it a real winner in my book.
Available for: iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. Price: Free.
Rather-Be-Shopping Coupons App
If you are not currently using the Rather-Be-Shopping.com app to redeem in-store coupons directly from your iPhone you’re leaving a lot of money on the table. Our free app allows you to have in-store coupons redeemed directly from phone when checking out. The cashier simply scans your phone and you instantly collect the savings. The app completely removes the need to clip, organize, and store paper coupons. Some of the more popular retailers that offer in-store coupons include Macy’s, Sports Authority, Michaels, Joann Fabrics, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, Olive Garden, and Harbor Freight Tools.
Available for: iOS. Price: Free.
Kayak App
Having used every hotel and flight booking app available at one time or another, I can honestly say that the Kayak app delivers the best results, and cheapest rates, time after time. Essentially the Kayak app pulls and compares hundreds of travel sites for bargains on flights, hotels, and rental cars. You can then book your travel directly from the app. The coolest part of the app is that allows you to create alerts for price drops which insures you only book when the price is right. Bonus features include a flight tracker, itinerary management, and airport information.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: Free.
ShopKick App
Did you ever think it would be possible to walk into a store like Target, American Eagle or BestBuy and earn some money just for doing so? Or how about earning even more by buying or scanning products? Technology is a pretty amazing thing as the ShopKick app lets you do exactly that. Essentially the app works by allowing you to earn “kicks” which you then redeem for things like gift cards and merchandise. The app can be very fun and a little addicting as you’ll find yourself scanning and earning “kicks” every time you walk into a store. I was able to earn over $50 in gift cards from Starbucks and Target in a few months’ time. Go check it out for yourself.
Available for: iOS and Android. Price: Free.
Kyle James lives in Redding with his wife and 3 kids. His online business, Rather-Be-Shopping.com, specializes in online and printable coupons to over 800 national retailers and since 2001 has been featured in the New York Times, The Today Show, and Reader’s Digest to name a few.
