Full disclosure: I don’t have a smartphone yet. I’ve never been an early adopter, but I do carry an iPod that handles many of the same tasks—especially now that many stores offer free WiFi.
It’s surprising how much you can save with just a few well-chosen apps and a little awareness while shopping.
How to Save Money With Your Smartphone
Price Match
ShopSavvy Barcode Scanner
How it works: Scan UPC barcodes, QR codes, or Data Matrix codes, or search for items to compare prices across retailers and locate the best deals quickly.
Amazon (Price Checking via the Amazon App)
How it works: The Amazon app includes price-checking features that let you scan barcodes while you shop so you can decide whether to buy in-store or order from Amazon for a better price.
Being able to scan a barcode on the spot removes guesswork and can save you time and money by revealing lower online prices or nearby store matches.
Earn Rebates
Ibotta
How it works:
- Link your store loyalty account.
- Unlock available rebates before you shop.
- Buy qualifying items at participating stores.
- Submit receipt or use linked loyalty account to confirm purchases.
- Receive cash back deposited to your account.
Ibotta streamlines rebates so you earn real cash for purchases you would make anyway.
Use Mobile Coupons
Rakuten
How it works: No printing required. Show digital coupons on your phone at checkout to redeem offers without digging through paper or messy wallets.
SnipSnap
How it works: Save printed coupons to your phone by snapping a photo, then use the app to find and apply the best available coupons. Some apps also include tools that recommend savings and match coupons to nearby stores.
Grocery IQ
How it works: Build shopping lists from a large product database using text, barcode, or voice search. Sync lists with other devices, find related coupons, and keep everything organized to avoid impulse buys and missed deals.
Other Practical Ways to Save
GasBuddy
How it works: Locate the cheapest gas prices nearby by community-sourced reports. Some programs also reward you with points for reporting prices, which can be entered into drawings or redeemed for discounts.
Additional tips to multiply savings:
- Combine coupons and rebates when possible to stack savings on a single purchase.
- Enable store loyalty cards in apps to automatically apply discounts and track rewards.
- Use price alerts and wish lists to wait for sales instead of buying at full price.
- Scan items while shopping to confirm you’re not overpaying compared with online prices.
- Keep receipts and check cashback apps regularly to ensure you claimed all eligible offers.
Smartphones and even basic connected devices like an iPod can be powerful budgeting tools. With barcode scanners, rebate apps, and mobile coupons, you can shave significant amounts off your regular bills without changing your routine—just by using technology to make smarter buying decisions.