Free Mobile Apps That Can Save You Money

If you own a smartphone, you probably have dozens of apps and can’t wait for new ones to be developed. While you’re shopping, be sure to check out the personal finance category. The five apps below can help you keep a handle on debt, score great deals, and save some of your hard-earned cash.

CardStar
Do you have trouble keeping up with all your loyalty reward cards from supermarkets and pharmacies? CardStar has come to the rescue. Now you won’t have to worry about forgetting your cards and losing out on discounts or holding up the line at CVS while digging

through your purse or wallet to look for your card. With CardStar, you can store your reward cards on your phone. The barcode is scanned from your phone, so you won’t have to walk around with a key chain full of little plastic cards. And don’t worry about privacy; the CardStar app doesn’t connect to a server, and user or tracking statistics aren’t collected (available for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry).

AAA TripTik Mobile
If you’re taking a road trip, AAA TripTik Mobile can be a handy little guide. This new app from AAA allows you to compare ever-changing gas prices so

you’ll never be taken by surprise again when you pull up to a gas station. TripTik Mobile is a GPS-based mobile version of the AAA TripTik Travel Planner, which displays gas prices and locates hotels, events, and restaurants approved by AAA that are close to your location. This is the first free app to offer updates on gas prices in addition to directions, maps, and travel information, according to AAA (available for iPhone).

MobiQpons
If you’re an avid coupon clipper, MobiQpons is just what you’ve been looking for. This convenient app features coupons for stores in your area–deals can even be customized for your favorite stores. The coupons are scanned directly from your phone. With MobiQpons, you can finally put the scissors down and reduce the amount of paper in your wallet. (available for iPhone,  Android, and BlackBerry).

Mint.com
Personal Finance
Don’t let being away from home stop you from monitoring your budget. Like the website, the Mint.com app allows you to track your spending. But now you can keep tabs on your money while you’re on the go. Input your banking account and credit card information to the Mint app and it will display your balance in each account. If you like to be super organized, Mint can even categorize your purchases (available for iPhone and Android).

RedLaser
Comparison shopping just got a whole lot easier. You’ve most likely picked up an item in a store and wanted to know if you could get it for less somewhere else. Don’t have a stack of store circulars at the ready? Not a problem. Using your phone, take a picture of the bar code of the item you want to purchase. The RedLaser app will then search the Internet for prices at other stores so you can bargain hunt without breaking a sweat (available for iPhone).