Sounds too good to be true, I know. The thing I marveled out while in England this summer was that for only a pound (about a buck seventy) you could order your groceries online and have them delivered to your house. Oh, how I wish we had that. It would save time and probably lots of money for all the extras I buy when grocery shopping.
I do have a few FREE apps to share with you today that will save you money and time. Maybe you already use them or maybe you have one that is better than what I'm using. Let's find out if you need to introduce me to a new one!
Doing a little research I read that smartphone users worldwide downloaded 56 billion apps in 2013. Whoa!
I am very picky when it comes to looking for and downloading an app. I always look at how many have downloaded and rated it. I also read the top 5-10 reviews. And I look what exactly the app does AND what permissions it wants. I get agitated by how some apps want to read your contacts information and other various info that's none of their business.
If I don’t use an app after a few months, then I’ll delete it. I like to keep things clean and in order. That way it’s easier to find what I’m looking for when I need it. That same principle applies to my house too although I’ll keep things longer than a few months. They usually aren't free after all.
Out of Milk
So my first most-used favorite app to save time and money is called Out of Milk. I <3 it.
What it does
It’s a shopping list, pantry list and to-do list although I mostly use it as a shopping list. Your list stays with you every where you go because really, do we leave home without our phones?
Features
1. It has multiple shopping and to-do lists. Think grocery store list, maybe a list for Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, etc.
2. You can create categories for your items and the app also remembers your shopping list history. So if you bought “bananas” and put it in a category called “produce” then when you enter bananas for the next week it’ll automatically put it in your “produce” category. (Here I was typing in "rolls" to add and it gave me choices from what I've added in the past.)
I have mine divided into these categories: Pantry (dry goods), Supplies, Freezer/Refrigerated Section, Deli & Produce. You can move the categories in whatever order you want for your list so I have mine set up in the way I shop the grocery store (for me, it’s Wal-Mart).
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| I picked colors to customize my different categories. Here's my list for this week so far. |
4. You can scan the items as you’re buying them or as you need them (such as off the cereal box before you throw it away), and it will keep track of how much you’re spending.
5. I have this app downloaded on my smartphone and tablet plus pull it up on my computer every day so it’s always accessible to add something when I’m thinking of it. If I don’t add it at that moment then it’s very possible I won’t remember it. Plus, from your computer you can print your list if you prefer paper.
It has so many other cool features including coupons and prices at stores that you can read more about at the app store. Out of Milk Online
GasBuddy
Most of us know which gas stations have the better prices for fuel. I have noticed occasionally that one that is almost always the cheapest by a couple cents, isn't all the time.
Sometimes you may be out of town or traveling, and you don’t know that information. Enter GasBuddy.
What It Does
Gas prices can vary by up to 20 cents per gallon or more. GasBuddy helps you find the cheapest gas prices with one tap by searching from location or you can enter a zip code or city.
Features
This app is pretty straight forward. You click on it and use it to find the cheapest prices. You do need to look and see the last time the prices were reported. If it was two days ago then it’s possible they have gone up (or down). Even in our Small Town, USA the top 5 to 10 gas stations are updated by app users every 4-8 hours.
When you participate in the app by updating gas prices then it helps everyone plus you get a chance to win $100 of gas every day. GasBuddy Online
You know all those crazy member cards all the grocery stores and shoe stores and fabric stores and every forces you to sign up to use so you can save $2 on a container of ice cream? They’re a nuisance, aren't they?
At one point I had punched holes in the corners of all of them (that didn't already have holes) and put them alphabetically on a book ring. That worked great for a while despite the few times the book ring popped open and they went all over the place and got out of order.
But then I discovered…..
Key Ring
What It Does
Never carry plastic or paper loyalty, membership, library cards or coupons again! You add your cards to the app and it alphabetizes it all for you.
Features
1. A barcode scanner lets you scan the barcode on the back of your cards creating a replica of the barcode that cashiers have to scan. Note: Not all stores have the ability to scan from your phone so they’ll just enter the card number that comes up which the app also automatically inputs when you enter your card info.
2. With a remote cloud backup you don’t have to worry about losing your cards. Plus if you switch devices you can pull them up on your new device when you open the app under the previous user information.
3. You can share cards with family members!
Key Ring saves me time and money because I get the “loyalty” discount plus don’t have to waste time rummaging through my purse for the right card to give the clerk. Key Ring Online
Your Bank or Credit Union App (no picture)
My last favorite FREE app to save time and money is my local credit union app.
What It Does
All bank apps will offer different things, but the main things all will offer is of course bank balances and the ability to transfer money.
Features
What I LOVE about the app I use for my credit union is the ability to scan and automatically deposit checks. Call it laziness but I find that when someone gives me a check as a gift or payment that I will hold on to it for at least a week. I just don’t take the time to do it. It’s another errand. Another thing to add to my to-do list.
Not now. Now I can just open my app take a photo of the front and back of the check and enter the amount to deposit. I get an email usually within the hour that it was accepted and deposited. Coolio! You need to see if your bank offers a mobile app like this if you haven’t already!
A few other apps I love that aren't necessarily about saving time and money but I use often are:
*Bible by YouVersion - My favorite Bible app, I have used this for about three years for my daily devotional reading. The rest of my family uses it too. My son especially enjoys the fact that he can read and listen at the same time which helps him to get more out of his Bible reading. They offer numerous reading plans with 2 day to all year plans including topical, devotional, whole/partial Bible, youth, family, etc. (The She Reads Truth is my favorite devotional plans I've read through their app so far.) Bible by YouVersion Online
*Weather Underground - Are you a semi-weather geek like me? My husband is definitely worse though. This app is sooooo much better than well-known apps such as Weather.com. Why? Because it's powered by a community of weather enthusiasts reporting live data from weather stations in their own backyards. This crowd-sourced data generates forecasts targeted to your precise location. It offers so much more information than the other weather apps too. Weather Underground Online
So tell me! Do you have a favorite app to save time and money or just one you LOVE that you want to share!? Please leave a comment and let me know. :) I hope maybe I was able to share a new one with you that will help you.
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