For many of us, it’s now hard to imagine life without a smartphone. From Google Maps to Candy Crush and all other apps in between, the smartphone embodies both entertainment and usefulness, helping us keep track of many aspects of our lives.
That includes helping us save money. As we, collegiettes, strive to save every dollar that we can during our college years, it doesn’t hurt to use everything at our disposal to keep our finances in check. While hundreds of apps are out there to help, here are eight smartphone apps that will help you save money during your college years!
1. Mint
Living on a college student budget is already very tricky, but keeping track of your finances is even harder, what with all those hidden expenses that add up bit by bit. The solution? Download a finance management app like Mint! With a few simple taps, you can sync all your bank accounts and investments to Mint and constantly check how much money you have. Out shopping and don’t remember how much you have left in your budget for the month? Pull it up on your phone with Mint before you go for that new pencil skirt.
2. GasBuddy
Any collegiette with a car at her disposal knows just how much gas prices can take out of your budget. To avoid paying more than you need to at the pump, download GasBuddy to your phone, register, and shop around for the lowest gas prices in your vicinity. Just enter your zip code and a page will pop up that not only gives you the locations of gas stations in a 50 mile radius, but also shows you their gas prices for comparison so you can just head right on over.
Coupon apps are all the rage, and Coupon Sherpa is one example of an easy-to-use app that will over time save you lots on your purchases! Next time you head out to do some shopping, whether it’s to satisfy your retail needs or to buy groceries, fire up Coupon Sherpa and find the store you’re currently in. From free drinks on your birthday to 15% off of your purchases, all you need to do is present your mobile coupon at the counter to claim the deal, making it a perfect smartphone app for the coupon-crazy shopper.
4. RedLaser
Hunting for the best deals can be time consuming and frustrating, so price comparison apps, like RedLaser, are becoming more and more popular. By clicking on the scan setting and holding a product barcode still under your phone’s camera, RedLaser will pick up on the exact item and not only give you a bunch of online price comparisons, but also a list of stores near your area that sell the product.
Whether it’s free food, free t-shirts, or free anything, really, we love nothing more than getting free stuff. But how can you know about every free sample that could be in your vicinity? I Love Free Things not only gathers all the day’s free deals for you on one screen, its smartphone-app form also lets you figure out what free things can be nearby when you’re out and about. So if you’re looking for a free coffee to replace your daily four dollar Starbucks latte or even a free magazine subscription, check out I Love Free Things for a user-friendly free thing finder!
6. BillTracker
Most of us will, at some point during our college career, suffer the financial penalty that comes with paying bills late. To avoid paying more for overdue bills, download BillTracker and you’ll never forget to pay your bills again! The app sends your phone a reminder of when your bills are due, making sure that you’re immediately aware of when you need to pay, no matter where you are.
Studies have shown that creating a list saves you from over-spending at the grocery store, and Grocery Gadget lets you do just that and more. Besides letting you create your own grocery shopping list that you can bring along, Grocery Gadget also tracks your spending habits, showing you what you can cut down on as you’re scanning the aisles deciding on what food to buy.
8. CardStar
Have you ever walked into your favorite store only to find that you forgot your membership card? With CardStar, you’ll never leave another rewards card at home again! Store all your membership cards on the app and take them wherever you go, getting your discounts all the while.