It’s all about the money. And saving money is one of life’s pleasures. Usually, you have to hunt around for the best deal. It’s time-consuming and exhausting. But there is an easier way. There are many money-saving apps available that can assist users in managing their finances more effectively. Here are 18 apps that help you save money effortlessly every day.
Introduction to Saving Money
Saving money is an essential aspect of personal finance that can help you achieve your financial goals, build wealth, and secure your financial future. With the rise of digital banking and mobile apps, saving money has become easier and more accessible than ever. In this article, we will explore the best money-saving apps, budgeting and expense tracking apps, savings and investment apps, and provide tips on making saving a habit. Whether you’re looking to build an emergency fund, save for a big purchase, or simply manage your finances better, these tools can help you get there.
Budgeting and Expense Tracking Apps
Budgeting and expense tracking apps are designed to help you manage your finances by tracking your income and expenses, creating a budget, and setting financial goals. These apps can be linked to your bank accounts, credit cards, and investment accounts, providing a comprehensive view of your financial situation. Some popular budgeting and expense tracking apps include Mint, Personal Capital, and YNAB (You Need a Budget). These apps offer features such as automated expense tracking, budgeting tools, and investment tracking, making it easier for you to manage your finances and achieve your financial goals. By using these tools, you can gain better control over your spending, identify areas where you can cut back, and allocate more funds towards saving.
Savings and Investment Apps
Savings and investment apps are designed to help you save money and invest in your financial future. These apps offer a range of features, including automated savings, investment tracking, and financial goal-setting. Some popular savings and investment apps include Acorns, Digit, and Stash. These apps allow you to save small amounts of money regularly, invest in a diversified portfolio, and track your progress towards your financial goals. For example, Acorns rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the spare change, while Digit analyzes your spending habits and automatically transfers small amounts to your savings account. By using these apps, you can effortlessly build your savings and work towards a more secure financial future.
Making Saving a Habit
Making saving a habit requires discipline, consistency, and the right tools. Here are some tips to help you make saving a habit:
- Set Financial Goals: Identify what you want to save for, whether it’s a short-term goal, such as a vacation, or a long-term goal, such as retirement.
- Create a Budget: Track your income and expenses to understand where your money is going and make adjustments to allocate more funds towards saving.
- Automate Your Savings: Set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings or investment accounts. This way, you can save without even thinking about it.
- Use the 50/30/20 Rule: Allocate 50% of your income towards necessary expenses, 30% towards discretionary spending, and 20% towards saving and debt repayment.
- Avoid Impulse Purchases: Create a 30-day waiting period before making non-essential purchases to help you avoid impulse buying.
- Take Advantage of Employer Matching: Contribute to tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA, to take advantage of employer matching.
- Monitor and Adjust: Regularly review your budget and savings progress to make adjustments and stay on track.
By following these tips and using the right tools, you can make saving a habit and achieve your financial goals. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your existing savings strategy, these practices can help you build a solid financial foundation.
1. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a reward app that is based on your shopping. You use the app to scan a receipt. It can be an e-receipt or a physical store receipt. You'll receive 25 points. You can also receive one percent more points if you buy the item from a participating brand. You trade your points for gift cards, sweepstakes and charitable donations. One thousand points equals roughly one dollar.
2. Flipp
Although many people no longer clip coupons, you can still receive them. Flipp delivers digital coupons to your phone from grocers, pharmacies and over 2,000 stores. Flip also matches their coupons to in-store offers so you can save more.
3. GoodRx
GoodRX can save up to 70 percent off of some prescriptions. You can use these coupons instead of insurance or Medicare Part D. But you can’t use them in combination. Pet meds are not excluded. They may find you a pharmacy for your kitty with the best deal.
4. Freebie Alerts
Freebie Alerts combines Craigslist, Letgo, Nextdoor, OfferUp and TrashNothing posts. All you must do is type in your zip code and the listings will hit your phone. It will give you the approximate distance you'll have to go to pick up the item. Click to make a claim. If you're getting too many alerts, add keywords to receive notifications for only items you're interested in buying.
5. Rakuten
Rakuten gives you cashback rewards from one to ten percent, sometimes more, when you shop at over 3,500 stores. Stores pays Rakuten for referrals, and Rakuten pays you. You shop by linking your American Express, Mastercard or Visa. You'll receive your rewards every three months by check or PayPal.
6. ShopSavvy
With Shop Savvy, you scan a product's barcode or QR code to compare local and online retail prices. You can add products you've wanted to the watch list and be notified of price drops. There are also graphs that let you know how prices of products you like have changed over time. It's a free app, but if you don't want ads, you'll need to upgrade to the premium version. It's $1.99 per month for Android and $2.99 per month for iOS.
7. GasBuddy
GasBuddy helps you save at the pump. It locates the cheapest gas near your neighborhood or wherever you travel. This app sends you notifications if fuel prices are rising. This app can save up to 25 cents a gallon at select stations.
8. Kayak
Kayak searches travel sites simultaneously to find the cheapest flights and hotel rooms. It will even show you "hacker fares," which are two one-way tickets on the same or different airlines for a total cost cheaper than a round-trip ticket.
9. The Points Guy
It's hard to keep track of your credit card or frequent flyer points. This is especially true if you belong to several programs. The Points Guy app supports more than 70 loyalty programs. It reminds you how many points you need to take that well-deserved vacation. It will also alert you when points are about to expire. It's currently iOS only.
10. Ibotta
Ibotta is a digital alternative to the paper coupon. It lets you earn cashback and other rewards for purchases you make online or in stores. Some of the 300 retailers it works with include, Walmart, Amazon, Family Dollar, Costco and Whole Foods. After you use the coupon, submit your receipt to earn cashback. You can withdraw earnings once you reach $20 by choosing a gift card or linking to a bank account.
11. Groupon
Groupon was initially launched as a website but now is a money-saving app. It can help you save up to 70 on goods and services. With Groupon, you can search for coupons and promo codes by keyword or category.
12. Makeena
Makeena is designed to save on eco-friendly, healthy products. Browse through the list of available offers. You’ll find brands like Cabot, Barilla, Beanitos, Dole, Paleo Powder Foods etc. Add the offers for these items to your account and then head to the store and purchase your selected items. Later scan the barcodes for the items and your receipts. The rewards will be credited to your account. You can earn cash, rewards plus freebies and samples.
13. RetailMeNot
RetailMeNot finds discounts, rebates, coupons and promo codes to save you money. The RetailMeNot Deal Finder automatically combines promo and cashback offers to maximize your savings. Although the app was originally for non-essential items like clothes and restaurants, it now encompasses pretty much everything you want.
14. CouponCabin
CouponCabin finds online promo codes or it can be used to download in-store coupons. The coupons can be scanned at the register. You can also get cashback from online purchases at eligible retailers. You can earn five times the cash back, and payments are sent each day.
15. Keepa
Keepa is available as an app or a browser extension. It provides the price history of Amazon products so you’ll know when the right time to buy is. You can create a watch list and receive a notification when prices drop.
16. Dosh
Dosh allows you to link your credit card in the app, and cash back will automatically be applied to eligible purchases. You don't have to save offers on your phone first. Earn cash back at more than 10,000 retailers and restaurants. It's available on iOS and Android.
17. TopCashBack
TopCashBack lets you earn cash back on online purchases. The app provides money back on purchases from 7,000 online retailers. You can also receive cash back on digital gift card purchases from retailers such as Target and Home Depot. Payments are received via bank transfer, PayPal or gift cards.
18. CoinOut
CoinOut was featured on Shark Tank. It lets you earn money for every receipt, not just selected ones. Every time you shop at a grocery store, take a picture of your receipt and then upload it. Receipts must be submitted within two weeks of purchase, or they won't be accepted. You won't earn as much as from other apps, but you won’t have to spend time loading specific offers. CoinOut pays through direct deposit, PayPal and Amazon gift cards.
Conclusion
You’re busy and don’t have time to run from store to store to get the best deal. These apps are easy to use and can save time and money.
Many of these apps offer a free trial, allowing users to test their features and usability before committing.
