What if we could all save money and time without even thinking about it? Well, the answer is literally, at our fingertips. I’m talking about our handy-dandy cell phones ladies. Our smartphone doesn’t have to be a total time suck. It’s time to reclaim all those wasted minutes scrolling on our smartphones with these productive and money-saving apps. Lucky for us all, the very things that distract us (AKA our smartphones) can also help set us free. Below, we’ve compiled five easy-to-use apps that will help you manage your time and finances so that you can spend your energy and money doing what you do best:
For Bills: Bill Tracker
Photo: Bill Tracker
Are you a little forgetful about when your bills are all due? Never miss a payment again with this intuitive app from SnapTap. Don’t worry, it’s passcode-protected and allows you to keep all due dates and amount totals in one place. A bonus, due dates are highlighted on the calendar for quick views.
For Organization: Slack
Photo: Slack
Get closer to that elusive “inbox empty” with team-messaging app Slack. The idea behind it is simple, Integration. Integration is what takes Slack from just a regular text messaging application and collaboration system to a solution that enables you to have one central platform for all your notifications, from sales to tech support, social media and message platform, where your team can discuss and take action on pretty much any part of the business. The idea is that the fast-paced, sleek exchange of messages via Slack cuts down on email back-and-forth.
For Shopping: ShopKick
Photo: Shopkick
According to the official site, as of April 2017, Shopkick had driven more than 200 million store visits, roughly 270 million product scans in the aisle and more than $2.5 billion in total sales from a specific brand and retail partners. Users can earn points just by making purchases, inviting friends to join, and even by walking the aisles. Then, the points can be transformed into gift cards at partnering stores, a shopper's dream am I right? Businesses to shop from our Best Buy, American Eagle Outfitters, Carter's, 1800Flowers.com, Torrid, Marshalls, Yankee Candle, TJ Maxx, etc.
For Groceries: Grocery IQ
Photo: Grocery iQ
Stay away from impulse buys with this incredibly detailed grocery shopping list platform. Not only can you build grocery lists by searching through the millions of products in the app’s database, but you can implement voice recognition or barcode scanning, making it even easier than ever to use. Grocery iQ also has a built-in store locator feature along with coupons. If this doesn't keep that grocery budget under control, I don't know what will sis.
For Local Deals: Groupon
Photo: Groupon
Are you looking for next staycation or romantic weekend getaway at a reduced price? Or, maybe you want to have a beautiful spa day at half the price. Well, with Groupon, you can redeem great deals on everything from appliances, restaurants, retailers, to spas and hotel stays. You can even search by location to find deals closest to you. It’s also a great way to step out of your comfort zone and try out new places.
For Money Saving: Acorns
Photo: Acorns
According to a 2016 study from the National Institute on Retirement Security, women are 80 percent more likely than men to be poverty-stricken in retirement. That’s why we have to be smart with our money now. Because, let’s face it, women aren’t offered the same resources and education as men when it comes to protecting and growing their finances. The Acorns app might be able to help with that.
How does it work? It takes transactions from your credit or debit cards and rounds it up to the nearest dollar. Once your spare change hits over $5, it puts it in an investment portfolio for you. You can always adjust the amount you would like to invest, and there are plenty of options to customize your portfolio. Eventually, you’ll start to see returns on the spare change you would’ve otherwise lost in the street or the dryer.
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