Apple iPads, iPhones, Androids and Blackberr(ies). Download the right piece of software and you can save hundreds of pounds in the stores you’d be in anyway.
Approximately 3m consumers used discount vouchers sent direct to their mobile devices last year, saving £1.7 billion. With this figure set to rise to £3.7 billion over the next 3 years, more and more retailers will be offering discounts to their customers via their mobile devices.
It’s not just stores, however, where savings can be made. Our list includes apps to save you money and phone calls, parking and more. As always, if you don’t need it or won’t use it; don’t spend. But if you’re buying anyway, you’d be mad not to save a few pounds.
1. Voucher Cloud
My personal favourite, Vouchercloud claims to have over 6,000 discounts available at any one time. The app finds your cur- rent location and displays the nearest offers available to you – great if you’re in the Bay looking for lunch. Discounts available at time of writing include 2-for-1 at Cadwaladers, 25% off at both Strada and Cafe Rouge and £10 off a £60 spend in Ikea. There’s also a ‘premium’ subscription service at £1.79 a month, but there’s no merchants in Cardiff Bay that require this. Free, available for iPhone, iPad.
2. Say no to 0870
This app is so useful when trying to call an elusive insurance company, bank or utility whilst you’re on the move. Many companies have lo-call 0845 or 0870 numbers to reach their call centres. This is fine if you’ve a land line to hand, but if you’re on the move calling these numbers from your mobile will cost up to 40p per minute. Avoid these charges by entering the number into the say no to 0870 app and it’ll try to find a geographic equivalent (like an 02920 prefix). It will then give you the option to call the number straight from the app, and as these geographic numbers are often included in your free calls allowance, you may get the call for free (or at least a lot cheaper). Some numbers aren’t stored in the app’s database, and you’ll have better results with numbers for the bigger companies. Free, available for iPhone, iPad.
3. 0800 Buster
Ok, sorry, this one isn’t an app, but this does mean that you can use it without a smart phone. Again, calling 0800 numbers form your mo- bile can cost an absolute fortune, so wouldn’t it be good if you could dial a geographic number instead to connect to the same line?That’s what 0800 buster does. Go to www.0800buster.co.uk and choose any of their ‘landline’ numbers and store it in your phone. To reach an 0800 number on the cheap (or free) dial this number, you will then be asked to enter the 0800 number you wish to call, followed by the hash key. The call is then connected, et voila! Free, no smart phone required.
4. *Spark
A new app for Android handsets, it customises the home screen of your phone to show a con- stantly updat- ed stream of news, sport, weather, headlines alongside updates from your contacts on Twitter and Facebook. It’s also the easiest way to find out about Groupon updates, the biggest of the group buying websites. Tell Groupon your location, and it’ll feed you the nearest, latest group buying deals. This one’s big in the states and has just launched in the UK, so we’ll have to wait and see if the same kind of offers (last minute theatre tickets, restaurant deals etc.) are fed through here. Free, Android and selected Nokia phones.
5. Jelly SMS
Not much of a saving as a big bundle of texts is generally included in most call plans. If you’re on pay-as- you-go however, this app allows users to send text messages around the world free, using your device’s internet connection. Free, iPhone, iPad, Android.
6. CardStar
All the data form a loyalty car is held in the bar- code. CardStar is designed to consolidate all of reward cards into one, allowing you to simply open the app and scan your phone at the re- tailer. This will allow you to free up your wallet space and ensure you don’t miss out on your points again. Free, iPhone, iPad, Android.
7. WiFi Finder
When you’re on the move and need to find a WiFi spot, this app can help. WiFi can cost up to £5.99 per hour in some locations, but this app will use your phone’s GPS to locate the nearest free WiFi hotspots to your current lo- cation. You’ll even get a map showing you how to get there! Free, iPhone, iPad.
8. Red Laser
This app is so much fun on a shopping trip. Red Laser allows you to scan the barcode of any item, it will then find the cheapest place to buy this product on the internet. I know this takes away from the retailer’s busi ness model, but it’s a great of saving an awful lot of money. Obviously, if the item cannot be found cheaper online, then you know you’ve got yourself a bargain. But I’ve stood in the middle of John Lewis on a busy saturday, scanning electricals, then using said store’s price match to get a dis- count. Now this takes a bit of nerve, but it’s definitely worth it! Free, iPhone, iPad.
9. Rightmove
The online estate agent group has an app that searches for property prices in your current location. It’s perfect if you’re in an area look- ing for a place to live but there are no estate agents at hand. The app lists a range of properties available for sale and to let, display- ing images and information for each property. There’s also options to filter results by price, number of bedrooms etc. Free, iPhone, iPad, Android.
10. Moneysupermarket.com
The mobile app from Moneysupermarket.com, a useful website in itself. It works in a similar way to Vouchercloud, in that it uses your de- vice’s location to show you hundreds of dis- counts from local businesses. Tap on the voucher, and it’s redeemable at the till, no printing required. There’s no sign up need- ed and no ‘premium membership’ option, which I love as all of these vouchers should be free anyway (the app developer gets a cut of the sale). It’s easy to navigate, having useful buttons for the newest and most popular deals, as well as those about to expire. The vouchers that you apply for are stored in your phone so that there’s no messing around when it comes to paying the bill. Free, iPhone, iPad.
