Saving money does not have to be difficult. Finding little ways, here and there, to save yourself money may quickly turn into some useful monthly savings. While your smartphone is an expense, it can also be used as a source for savings. Learn about how you may be able to save money and time, and stick to a budget by downloading these six apps.
How to Save Money with your Phone
1. Save Money on Gas with GasBuddy
Gas can get expensive and finding the “best deal” by driving around to different gas stations is not really an effective way to save your money. To actually save money at the pump, you can try the free app GasBuddy, available on IOS and Android. This easy-to-use app tells you in real-time where the cheapest gas prices are local to your location – perfect for when you’re on a tight budget. One of the highest rated apps[1] in the Apple App Store history, GasBuddy has been downloaded close to 100 million times and has access to real-time pricing information for over 150,000 gas stations across North America!
Since its inception, GasBuddy has managed to save North Americans over $3 billion[2] thanks to its provision of real-time information of local gas prices. In more recent history, GasBuddy has also implemented the completely free of charge ‘Pay with GasBuddy’ card, which can help save you money in just a few easy steps! Once you order your card, you then simply activate it through the GasBuddy app and can begin swiping the card at the pump each time you go and get gas. This free and secure program can potentially save you hundreds of dollars a year.
For extra value, earn points by engaging with the GasBuddy app. You can earn up to 1,000 points from contributions such as personally reporting local gas prices, and you can use these points to enter into various draws to win free prepaid gas cards to help you save on gas in the long run!
2. Find Free Wi-Fi with WiFi-Finder
Have you ever been out of the house with no place to connect to Wi-Fi, forcing you to turn on and overuse your data? With WiFi-Finder[3], you have a way to save money by avoiding cellphone data overage charges. A free to download app, available on the Google Play Store, WiFi-Finder provides you with a list of free Wi-Fi networks local to your current location on a map and can provide you with directions on how to get to them. So, the next time you are out and need to connect to the internet, use WiFi-Finder to quickly locate where there is free Wi-Fi around you so you can avoid using your data!
For more information on how you can lower your cell phone bill, click here.
3. Manage your Finances with Mint
Having trouble sticking to budgets and reaching your financial goals? Need to save money fast? If so, Mint is the app for you. With over 680,000 reviews on the Apple App Store and boasting a 4.8/5-star rating[4], this popular and free money management app monitors all your financial information in one secure online platform. From monitoring the price changes in your subscriptions, to keeping track of your credit score and net worth, Mint is able to offer you a more complete insight to your overall financial health on a micro and macro level to help you achieve your financial goals and improve your financial habits. Get access to custom insights and budgets unique to you through Mint as they keep tabs on all of your finances for you, from your monthly bills, to all of your transactions, to your investments and loans, and to your credit balances.
Want to learn more about how personal loans work so you can manage them better? Click here!
Mint will also make notes on your spending habits along the way to help you make informed decisions on how to budget and save money. It will also send you reminders when bills are coming due and alerts if you’re running low on cash.
4. Save on Shopping with Shopkick
Interested in getting rewarded for your everyday shopping activities both online and in-store? Shopkick[5] is a revolutionary shopping rewards app where you can earn points, known as ‘kicks,’ that can be redeemed for gift cards, just by shopping! Available on the Apple App Store and on the Google Play Store, Shopkick makes shopping for goods even more thrilling, and will have you jumping for joy as you stack up your reward points and redeem them for gift cards that will help you save money when you shop.
The process is simple: by shopping at participating stores like Walmart, TJ Maxx and Marshalls, you can use the Shopkick app on your phone to scan the barcodes of select products and verify your purchases at the partner stores to earn kicks[6]! Alternatively, if you are more of an online shopping type of person, you can even earn kicks from the comfort of your home by shopping via the Shopkick app at over 80 participating stores, including Amazon, H&M, and many more! You can even effortlessly earn points just by navigating through the Shopkick app itself, watching free videos and browsing the app’s content[7].
Once you have accumulated enough points, you can begin to redeem them for gift cards at your favorite shops. From Starbucks to Apple, and from Amazon to Disney, you may be able to find the perfect prepaid cards just for you. As a matter of fact, most ‘Shopkickers’ will manage to earn at least 1 gift card within their first week of using the app! By earning rewards for your everyday shopping habits, the extra gift cards are certainly a welcome addition to help ease your finances and save money on your budget, if even just a bit.
5. Get Free Stuff for Completing Easy Everyday Activities with MyPoints
Are you a frequent online shopper? Do you enjoy playing apps on your phone, reading articles and watching videos? If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then you can get rewarded for doing any or all of these things with MyPoints! MyPoints[8] is an established online rewards app available on the Apple App store and on the Google Play Store that lets you earn points – redeemable for prizes – just for completing simple and often everyday activities. You can earn points for each dollar that you spend at your favorite shops and retailers online like Walmart, Nike, AliExpress and many more, just by shopping at these sites through the MyPoints app. But don’t worry, you don’t have to spend money to earn points and prizes with MyPoints – you can do it all completely free. By simply completing surveys, viewing emails, and watching videos in your free time, you can begin earning points with the MyPoints app. These points can be accumulated and redeemed for prizes like Amazon and Starbucks gift cards.
Currently, new members can even earn additional free points redeemable for up to $10 on gift cards of your choice just for signing up and making small purchases at your favorite affiliated online stores, through the app[9].
6. Get Free Coupon Codes, Deals, and Earn Cash Back with RetailMeNot
If you have ever found yourself scrambling to find coupons online and around the house, or just want the convenience and extra cash savings from having an app with over 200,000 coupons from over 15,000 brands, then RetailMeNot [10]may be the perfect money saving couponing app for you. From fashion, to food, to retail appliances, to travel, RetailMeNot has you covered for all your couponing needs – helping you to save money during checkout for stores you previously didn’t even know had such deals! With this app, where you can find all the coupons you need under one single platform, you can save time and go easier on your budget when you check out from shopping at your favorite brands like Adidas, Nike, Samsung and more.
Users of RetailMeNot will save money thanks to a mix of various discounts, free shipping offers and deals offered by the various coupons on the app. In the long run, this can equate to big time savings that your bank account will thank you for.
Leverage the Power of These Apps to Save Money
Saving money isn’t always easy, so it’s important to take advantage of all the tools you have at your disposal. With the apps we’ve listed, you may be able to save money on everything from gas, data overages, everyday shopping, and more.
Looking for more ways to save money? Take a look through some of our other useful resources to learn more about saving money, budgeting, how and when to borrow money, and more!
[1] https://www.gasbuddy.com/about
[2] https://www.gasbuddy.com/pay
[3] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.speedspot.wififinder
[4] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mint-personal-finance-money/id300238550
[5] https://www.shopkick.com/download?shortlink=ff51617d&pid=Blog&c=Website%20Download%20Button
[6] https://www.shopkick.com/how-it-works/#free-gift-cards
[8] https://www.mypoints.com/download-score
[9] https://www.mypoints.com/paid-surveys
[10] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whaleshark.retailmenot&hl=en_CA&gl=US
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or other professional advice. For full details, see MoneyKey's Terms of Use.
