By Alyssa McNeal
As a recent college grad out on my own, I have found that supporting myself has led to cutting what my parents would call “unnecessary expenditures” from my budget. Being a lover of clothes, shoes and purses, it has been sad to quit my weekly trips to Nordstrom. I have come to find that even a simple item one would deem a necessity, such as toilet paper, has been difficult to purchase if I am not able to find a good deal. Luckily for me and other recent grads, who somehow still seem to pay his or her smartphone bill while eating Top Ramen every night, there are apps (free!) that can help us search for the cheapest purchases possible.
Coupons and Shopping by XYMOB Inc. is a free app that has thousands of coupons and deals from shops and restaurants all over the world. Simply type in your zip code, and locate all the coupons in your area. This app is great because you can use your coupons on the go. They do not have to be printed out; retailers just scan your phone for the discount. Also, you are able to share the coupons on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. You and your broke friends can now all go out to dinner because you will all have the same coupons!
Groupon is another ingenious business that has come into play within the last few years. Not only are people able to get deals on some of their favorite products and services, but people are also more likely to buy things that they wouldn’t normally buy because they are on sale. This makes using Groupon worthwhile for business as well as consumers. The Groupon app for the iPhone and Android markets is free. You can set the app to locate deals in your area, and you also have the ability to search for deals in other places. By having this app, you will also get daily e-mails about deals that may interest you based on your previous purchases.
For those who are into fashion, HauteLook and Gilt on the Go are great apps. Every day, different designer clothes and accessories go on sale on both of these websites. And when I say sale, I mean sale! Most of the clothes have a 50- to 75 percent markdown. Every broke girl’s dream! It is also great seeing how much the item normally costs and seeing what kind of deal you are scoring! Wearing nice clothes is always more fun when you get them for a great price.
And for the extremely poor recent grads, who can’t even afford to go to the movies on a Friday night, Crackle Movies & TV is the app for you. With Crackle you can watch free movies on your iPhone or iPad. You now have an excuse to get out of going to get a drink with your friends on the weekends when you can’t even afford to buy bread. Just tell them that you are going to the movies, when really you are sitting at home, in my case with my cat, watching movies for free.
By using these apps I have been able to keep up the façade that I have more money than I actually do. Hopefully you all can as well. Any other good deal apps?
A little bit about me: I love finding new ways that technology can help make my life easier. Usually this is done by downloading free mobile apps! When I am not researching technology, my hobbies include sports (Go Giants!), fashion and stalking celebrities. Thankfully all of these things can be done from my beloved iPhone!
