Saving Money: There’s an App For That

Moms are always looking for ways to save money and I’ll freely admit that it’s become somewhat of an obsession of mine. I’ve cancelled my cable contract, switched to a cheaper cell phone plan and even started clipping coupons. While researching unique ways to pinch pennies, I came across an idea that had never occurred to me: apps! I’ve tried dozens, kept many and deleted a few.

Here are five that I have found incredibly useful:

1. CardStar

Rewards cards, in themselves, are a great way to save money. I soon found, however, that my keychain was loaded down with those handy little tags. What the CardStar app allowed me to do was select a store and manually enter my rewards card number. My entry then magically turned into a barcode which was easily scanned by most retailers. One word of note: if the clerk is unable to scan your rewards code off of your screen, ask them to enter the numbers into their system by hand. It seems that some phone’s screens inhibit certain scanners.

2. Coupon Sherpa

Even with the best of intentions, I’ve found that I am a bit lazy when it comes to clipping coupons. With the app, I can search for a specific store to view their online and app specific coupons or even search by category. The coupons are then either scanned or manually entered at the register. The app is perfect if, like me, you find yourself forgetting to carry your paper coupons with you.

3. GasBuddy

Every mom has, from time to time, felt like a taxi driver. Hauling kids to and from activities, taking the pets to the vet and even commuting back and forth to work can drain the gas tank faster than you’d like and make frequent fill ups a necessity. With the GasBuddy app, you’re guaranteed to find the best prices in your neighborhood and beyond. Remember, though, that driving across town to save a penny per gallon isn’t necessarily a savings at all.

4. pricecheckah

Comparison shopping has never been easier! If, like me, you have several big box stores in your city, it can be time consuming hopping from one to another looking for the best price on a certain product. This app does the comparison shopping for you. Simply scan the bar code of any product and the app will compare the prices among up to five retailers of your choosing.

5. Milo

By entering a product into Milo’s search engine, you can find out which of your local stores has the product in stock. Milo will also tell you the store’s price on that particular item. No more driving to all of the stores in town to find what you are looking for.

While there are literally hundreds of apps that claim to help you save money, these are the five that I have found most useful. These apps save me money on a weekly basis. Try them! They’ll change the way you shop forever.

Coupons on Coupon Croc can save you a bundle on your everyday purchases in the UK. Tom Blanchard, a coupon addict, uses them on a regular basis to save on his family’s budget.