Back-to-school shopping is more expensive than ever. Parents anticipate spending an average $1,239 this back-to-school season, up 24 percent since 2011, according to the latest American Express survey. If you already missed out on tax-free week savings at your favorite stores, there are still some ways to take advantage of great deals and discounts on clothing, school supplies and electronics.
If you’re not interested in paging through the weekly circulars or researching the latest deals online, one of these five apps can make back-to-school shopping on a budget much easier.
1. SnipSnap
If you do happen to come across a coupon in the mail, or something in a circular catches your eye, forget about finding a pair of scissors to clip it. Use SnipSnap to capture all the details on your smartphone instead. This innovative app allows you to scan, save and redeem printed coupons on your mobile phone so you never have to carry a physical coupon around again. You can search for deals at all the popular retailers, and even restaurants, that you might be visiting this back-to-school season. It’s a convenient — and 100 percent free — couponing app for deal-seekers. This could be just what you need to cut costs on back-to-school expenses this season.
2. shopkick
Whether you’re heading to Macy’s for back-to-school clothes or Best Buy for those much-needed electronics, download shopkick to discover the latest deals and collect points just for walking in, scanning products and making a purchase. You can double up on the savings by not only securing the best prices on the items you need, but also earning rewards that you redeem for a gift card from one of your favorite stores. It’s a simple and fun way to shop for those back-to-school must-haves — the creators describe it as “your premiere shopping companion.”
3. PriceGrabber
This app is ideal for college students and teens shopping for furniture, clothing and electronics, as well as parents looking for the lowest prices on computers, grocery items and sporting goods. PriceGrabber allows you to subscribe to weekly specials across all categories and see a quick summary of the latest prices and reviews of top-selling items. Whether you’re in the market for a laptop or athletic wear, you can browse dozens of categories to comparison shop and make more informed purchasing decisions right from your smartphone.
4. Cartwheel by Target
If you’re heading to Target for back-to-school clothing, school supplies and snacks, make sure you download Cartwheel by Target to get a discount of 5 percent to 50 percent off the regular price of many popular items. The savings program has been around for a couple years, but has only recently become more popular as shoppers are realizing they can double up on the savings by using manufacturer’s coupons as well as Target in-store coupons. The app is free, and you can see all offers available by visiting the website from any desktop computer or mobile device. Claim your offers and then show the barcode to the cashier as you checkout.
5. Wal-Mart Savings Catcher
If you prefer to shop at Wal-Mart for back-to-school supplies, download Wal-Mart Savings Catcher and you’ll be able to confirm that you’re paying the lowest price in town. If the app finds a lower advertised price, Wal-Mart will issue you an electronic gift card difference. One of the key features of this app is you can just ask Google to scan your Wal-Mart receipt and show you the “Value of the Day” to verify pricing. You can also shop both online and in-store inventory right from your smartphone. Take advantage of free shipping offers available on eligible items throughout the season, and you won’t even have to deal with the crowds as you tackle that back-to-school shopping checklist.
From custom store apps to digital couponing apps, you can make use of several tools at your disposal when shopping for back-to-school essentials on a budget. Download any of these innovative apps — which are all available on iOS and Android — before you head out for school supplies, dorm room essentials, clothing and more this season.
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5 Apps to Make Back-to-School Shopping Easy on Any Budget originally appeared on usnews.com
