It seems like the need for Moms to squeeze more pennies out of every dollar becomes greater all the time. Budgets become more restricted and yet the needs are still the same. So what is a Mom to do?
The answer is to find new ways to save money. Most likely you have cut everything extra from your budget in order to make ends meet. A high ticket item that many think they have to give up is their smartphone. Honestly though mine is a lifesaver. It contains my calendar, a GPS enabled map that is searchable for directions, the ability to check on the weather in an instant, and so much more. I can’t imagine life without it.
In order to justify keeping it though, I went in search of some money saving smartphone apps. I want to share some of my favorite ones with you. Whether you are an iPhone user or have one of the HTC phones, like Tricia’s EVO, then I’ve got you covered.
The best way to save is with some coupon apps. Most of these apps use your smartphone’s built in GPS to locate deals that are close to your current location. Here are the details for some of them:
- Groupon – This daily deal site is a great way to save money on restaurants and services that you already use, plus find new places to try out. Their mobile app allows you to retrieve previously purchased Groupons as well as buy new ones and redeem them right from your phone. You can even search for deals that are located near you, which is helpful if you are traveling.
- Valpak – Move over blue envelope of coupons, this popular coupon company has gone digital. They now have a free app that allows you to search for coupons in your area for restaurants, health services, home repair services, and beauty salons.
- Cellfire – The most common way to save money on groceries is by clipping coupons and using a savings card at your local grocery store. This app combines the two by tying your savings card to available coupons. You search the app for available coupons and add the ones that you want to use. When you check out, the cashier scans your savings card, and the coupons are redeemed on your order. It is available at over 4,000 grocery stores around the country.
Speaking of savings and rewards cards, how many do you own? I’ve acquired quite a collection myself. I really dislike the amount of room they take up though. This is where the CardStar app comes in handy. Scan in all of your cards and it then stores the bar codes on your smartphone. When you are checking out, just let the cashier scan your phone and you are good to go.
Thank you for letting me share my favorite money saving smartphone apps for moms. I would love to know some of your favorites in the comments below.
Shannon Weidemann is a freelance writer for Prepaid Reviews, a site that provides information about prepaid cell phones coupled with over 17,000 consumer reviews of 30+ service providers such as Tracfone.
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