With each passing semester, it seems that the college
experience gets pricier and pricier. Tuition is constantly climbing, book
prices are consistently increasing and the number of fees students are charged
seems to be multiplying by the second. It's no wonder, then, that so many young
professionals are drowning in debt from student loans when they graduate. It doesn't help that many of them struggle to find stable,
decent-paying work when they leave school, leaving them with nothing more than
a slightly higher than minimum-wage pay rate at a job that may or may not offer
benefits. With such a gloomy outlook, it's important that students do what they
can to save while still in college, so that they aren't struggling to make ends
meet in the real world. Thankfully, there are several mobile applications emerging
that help students watch their spending and save. Below are just a few
money-saving apps worth a second look.
GasBuddy On top of all of the other expenses of today, students also
have to worry about the rising cost of gasoline. Once-economical road trips are
now money-sucking vacation options, as companies charge upwards of $4 a gallon
for their fuel. That being said, saving a few bucks at the pump can go a long way,
especially for a college student with limited means. So, if you're trying to
cut back, consider using the free GasBuddy app. Available
for Apple, Android, Windows and Blackberry phones, this app allows users to
locate gas stations near them and compare the prices. Users work together to update the prices listed, making it
easy for each other to find the best deal on the go. So, the next time you find
yourself needing to top off the tank, first check the GasBuddy app, your
wallet will thank you, even if you are only saving pennies on the gallon, every
little bit helps!
RedLaser Another app that should be on every college student's smartphone
is RedLaser. A free shopping app that has
been downloaded over 19 million times, RedLaser helps users find the best deals
around them. It even syncs with certain brands and stores to make it easier for
you to make purchases from your phone. Plus if you scan a barcode, you can
compare prices on a product from store to store to guarantee you get the
absolute best deal for you. Available across cellphone markets—from iPhones to
Androids—users everywhere can take advantage of this great, money-saving app.
Yowza!! A coupon app that works with deals around you, Yowza!! is revolutionizing the way people
save money. Gone are the days of clipping coupons, as you don't even have to print
the deals you find, you can just use the screen shot from your phone. Merchants
and shoppers alike benefit from this app as the merchants get more exposure and
shoppers get more bang for their buck. The app even allows you to track your
results so you can see cumulatively how much you have saved thanks to Yowza!!
So, as you can see, our world is becoming more technologically savvy. The way we do everything from coupon clipping to
shopping is evolving at a rapid rate. What's so great about these apps is not
only do they help you save money, they make you a smarter, more conscious
consumer— a life skill. So, do your bank
account a favor and download some or all of these now!
Karen Smith, a former newspaper reporter and
globetrotter, is now a freelance writer for various publications and websites.
She specializes in answering questions from students who are hoping to earn an online business degree; but she
also welcomes comments or questions regarding all educational topics.
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