Using your smartphone to save money

 

When I hear about people getting smartphones, I am a big skeptic as to whether this is a smart financial choice. However, I found out that there are a lot of apps that allow you to save money, and if you take advantage of them, reduce the cost of buying and owning a smartphone.

 

Banking apps

My bank and most banks today offer you the ability to check your account online. Some even have apps that will make accessing your accounts easier. I like that because in one click you can get to your online banking and make sure your balance is in the black, thus avoiding overdraft fees and the like.

Billing apps

There are also apps that allow you to check your utility bills, or your phone bills, and ensure you are not being overcharged and only paying for what you use. If you have a contract like Vodafone pay monthly, you can check how many minutes you have left and not go over your plan.

Price checking apps

When you are in a store, and an item is discounted from $24.99 to $19.99, it looks like a good deal, right? However, a quick online verification can tell you that the item sells for $17.99 elsewhere. You don’t need to go home anymore to check it, nor do you have to buy something and regret it later. Some apps even offer the ease to check a barcode and in one click, will tell you what the item is selling for with several other retailers.

For items without a barcode, you can make a similar search with Google shop or just look the item up. Don’t forget to include the delivery fees in your price comparison.

Directions apps

Time is money and getting to where you have to go will not only save you time but also gas money, car depreciation, and your patience! Using a simple app with your GPS tracker can give you the directions to choose the fastest route, the one that will avoid tolls, or the scenic route if you are on a road trip.

Traveling apps

When I was traveling, I really enjoyed those, there is an app that checks your location by GPS and gives you the price of nearby hotels. Again, you save a lot of time instead of driving to each hotel to inquire about the price, and money, as you can go directly to the cheapest accommodation.

 

How else do you save money with your smartphone?