Filed under: Shopping, How to Save Money, Deals, Coupons, Saving
Fortunately, your smartphone can make saving money as easy as a few clicks. Here are 10 great apps -- nine of them free -- that will help you save money, time and hassle when you're grocery shopping.
1. Cellfire
Platform: Any.
Cost: Free.
Save your store loyalty cards right to your smartphone, then "clip" digital grocery coupons that you add to your cards. Simply show the cashier your phone when you check out and the savings are automatically applied to your total.
2. Checkout 51
Platform: Apple (AAPL), Google's (GOOG) Android.
Cost: Free.
Check available rebate offers (the app adds 20 to 30 each week), then send the ones you like to your phone. Snap a picture of your receipt when you buy the item, and the rebate is automatically added to your account. Once you reach $20 in rebate funds, you can request a payout check.
3. Coupon Sherpa
Platform: Apple, Android.
Cost: Free.
New coupons are added daily, and the app sends you reminders to use these digital coupons when you're in-store. It also displays the expiration dates prominently.
4. Favado
Platform: Apple, Android.
Cost: Free.
This app promises that you can save up to 70 percent by comparing prices across local stores, finding the best sale/coupon combinations and setting up notifications for when your favorite brands go on sale. It also allows you to create a shopping list based on current sales.
5. Ibotta
Platform: Apple, Android.
Cost: Free.
Get paid to grocery shop with this rebate app, which works in a similar way to Checkout 51 but pays out at $10 instead of $20. Use the two in combination to maximize your savings.
6. Grocery iQ
Platform: Apple, Android.
Cost: Free.
This app is your grocery list on steroids. It allows you to build your shopping list from a database of items you can search by text, barcode scanning and voice. You can arrange your list by store layout for easier shopping. You can also manage lists for different stores and create "favorites" based on your shopping history.
7. mySupermarket
Platform: Apple, Android.
Cost: Free.
Billing itself as "the only grocery list you'll ever need," this app compares prices on items across eight retailers and sends you price alerts and savings suggestions. It can fulfill your order with several retailers through one easy online payment.
8. Paprika
Platform: Apple, Android, Mac, PC, Kindle Fire and Nook.
Cost: $4.99 (for Apple and Android; other platforms vary).
This app is great for the planners among us. It stores recipes, sorts them into a meal plan for the upcoming week and helps create a shopping list geared to the items you need for those recipes.
9. Shopkick
Platform: Apple, Android.
Cost: Free.
This app rewards you with "kicks" for doing certain things, like entering a particular store, scanning a particular item or linking your Visa (V) or MasterCard (MA) and making purchases. It also shows you nearby deals you can take advantage of. Kicks can be redeemed for gift cards to places like Target (TGT) and Starbucks (SBUX).
10. SnipSnap
Platform: Apple, Android.
Cost: Free.
Extreme couponers will love this app, which turns your physical coupons into digital ones. Simply snap a photo of each coupon, and the app converts it into a scannable barcode you can present upon checkout. It also lets you know when you enter a store for which you have coupons and when coupons are about to expire, and it lets you share scanned coupons with friends.
Paula Pant ditched her 9-to-5 job in 2008. She's traveled to 32 countries, owns seven rental units and runs a business from her laptop. Her blog, Afford Anything, is a gathering spot for revolutionaries who understand that they can afford anything -- just not everything. Visit Afford Anything to learn how to crush limits, create wealth and live life on your own terms.
