We use our phones and tablets to stay connected to friends, family, and work, to keep informed and to entertain ourselves. While these are all great pastimes, there are many terrific apps out there these days that can help us do something really important: save money. So if you are looking to get a deal shopping for a new electronic item, pay less for your groceries, or snag a $2 draft, here are five great apps that you have got to download and start using right away.
Shopkick
For many of us, shopping in our favorite stores is more or less a fun game. Shopkick truly turns it into one. Available for iPhone or Android devices, the free app helps you find out the latest deals at popular stores and even alerts you to the latest trends. Then Shopkick takes the fun to the next level, by rewarding you “kicks†for performing certain activities. Earn kicks for walking into stores, scanning items, buying select items or scanning receipts. Once you earn enough kicks, you can redeem them for gift cards at places like Starbucks, Target, and many other great stores.
SnipSnap
If you are a coupon warrior, then SnipSnap is the app for you. SnipSnap boasts that it has “the biggest database of printable coupons on the planetâ€, making it a great app for you to find coupons for all the things you are planning to buy. The app also allows you to turn a printed coupon into a digital one instantly, simply by taking a photo of it. It will send push alerts when a new deal arises or your saved coupons are about to expire, and its community of users will also alert you to which deals are good and which ones you should pass on. SnipSnap is available for iPhones or Android devices.
Digit
Digit is an app whose sole purpose is simply to save you money, a little bit at a time. After you link your credit card to the app, Digit spends time monitoring your spending habits. Once it gains an understanding of how you spend money, it starts looking each day to determine where there is a little extra money for you to set aside. Digit then sends that money to a FDIC insured account. The app will send push alerts to let you know when it does so and send reports on how much money you are saving, and you can transfer the money back into your main account anytime simply by sending a text. Available for Apple or Android devices, this is a great app for people that want to save more money but never seem to find the time to do so.
ParkMe
If you live in a big city or commute to one, than ParkMe is a must-have app. ParkMe can help you find the cheapest and closest parking area for wherever you are going; it will even allow you to comparison shop to find the absolute best parking place for the price. ParkMe’s database will also let you know if the parking lot in question has certain amenities, like charging stations for electric cars. And ParkMe’s onboard pay system allows you to pay for parking digitally as well, streamlining the entire process for you and making it hassle-free. ParkMe is available for iPhone, Android, and Windows phones.
Happy Hour Finder
If you enjoy going out for a drink every now and then, then Happy Hour Finder is an app that can help you save money while you are bar hopping. The app will map out the distances of bars with drink specials that are near you; it will even list the type and price of drink specials available and provides maps so you can navigate your way to them. Happy Hour Finder is free and available for iPhone and Android devices.