This is the year you really, truly save money. You’ve got it all planned: cooking instead of eating out, skipping the Starbucks, cancelling the gym membership you never use; giving up that monthly spa day.
Just one thing: you have to actually do it this time. No more planning without follow-through. Not when the device you’re holding is the only tool you need to save a ton of money. Here are three coupon apps to get you started on the hunt for savings — two for iOS and Android and one for Windows (so you can’t use compatibility as an excuse).
SnipSnap
SnipSnap saves you from that whole scene of walking into the grocery store, only to realize you left your coupon book at home. SnipSnap is pretty much your digital coupon book, so even when you leave your coupons at home, you won’t get stuck paying full price. Also a perk, you won’t look like a crazy person rushing around with a tattered folder overflowing with expired coupons and scribbled notes about sales in the area.
SnipSnap converts photos into a digital coupons that you can scan from your phone at the checkout. Although the app doesn’t currently support manufacturer coupons, it does recognize coupons for (most) stores and restaurants.
Available at the App Store and Google Play.
Coupon$
Frustrated that TheCouponsApp.com, DealNews.com and other money-saving smartphone apps hadn’t developed a Windows-compatible version, app developer bySeon decided to create one that would work for HTC phones, Nokia Lumia phones and all other Windows 8 and 8.1 devices.
Coupon$ shares all of the TheCouponsApp and DealNews coupons with Windows phone users. DealNews is a huge win for buying products online, while TheCouponsApp has everything from deals at your favorite stores and restaurants to free samples and lowest gas prices in the area.
Available on Windows 8 and 8.1 devices.
Note: Although the Windows OS is somewhat lacking in legitimate coupon apps, it does support most major banking apps and a slew of budget planning apps.
Ebates
Perhaps the most brilliant of all shopping apps — and for good reason — Ebates pays you for using it, sometimes up to as much as 12 percent cash back from your purchase at practically every place you ever spend money. Cash back on travel, electronics, baby gear, jewelry and even tax services (seriously). Even Groupon. Do you know what that means? It means you’re getting cash back on the already-discounted products and services you get from Groupon deals (i.e. saving money and making money at the same time).
Free to download and free to use, Ebates keeps track of your earnings and either deposits a lump sum into your PayPal or mails you a “Big Fat Check” quarterly. To date, Ebates has paid $250 million in cash-back rewards to its members.
Available on Google Play and the App Store.
There you have it. Three apps for you to check out and use to your advantage. Think of the Hawaiian vacation you want to take. Think of paying off student loans. Think of saving for a rainy day. After absorbing all of that info about fattening up your wallet and knowing that you’re just an app search away from the solution to your struggle to save, you’d be silly not to make it happen.
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