Save money at the supermarket with your smartphone

If you’re the owner of a smartphone you can count yourself lucky the next time you head to the grocery store. By downloading and using certain smartphone applications, you can easily save money at the supermarket by cutting coupons, comparing prices and organizing your shopping lists.

Cut and store coupons

Couponing is a great way to save money on groceries, but it’s hard to clip and keep track of loose coupons. Smartphone application developers have responded to consumers’ desire to save money by creating a variety of applications designed to help you use coupons without the hassle.<!--more-->

If you regularly shop at a particular grocery store, you may want to see whether that store currently offers a mobile application or web service designed for couponing. For instance, Meijer offers the Meijer Find-it app that will help you locate specific items within the store, view available coupons and “clip” them from your iPhone. Similarly, if you’re able to access the Safeway website from your mobile device, you can view and “clip” coupons, then add them to your club card – when you swipe your card at the checkout stand, you automatically get credit for your clipped coupons.

If you tend to shop at a variety of grocery stores, check out Coupon Sherpa as an easy alternative. This iPhone application enables you to download coupons with barcodes to your phone. When you get to the checkout, you simply let the cashier scan the barcode to receive your discount.

Compare prices

Have you ever wondered whether you’re really getting the best deal available when you buy your groceries? With a few simple smartphone applications, you’ll never have to wonder again. First, download the Apples2Oranges application available for the iPhone. This sweet app allows you to compare two similar items (say, a 12 oz. bottle of pasta sauce offered for $2.50 and a 16 oz. bottle of pasta sauce offered for $3.50) to quickly determine which option is the better deal.

Then, you can compare prices at several different stores by using the RedLaser application available for iPhone and Android. This application allows you to scan the barcode on any item. It will then provide you with pricing information on that item at a number of local stores, ensuring that you’ll always find the best deal.

Organize your shopping lists

Studies have shown that the more time you spend in a store, the more money you will end up spending on items you may not need. By keeping your grocery list accurate and well organized, you can avoid making impulse purchases that ultimately add to your bottom line. Even without downloading a special application, most smartphones offer to-do list functions that you can use to create a grocery list. If you’d rather use a high-tech application, check out Grocery iQ. This application is available on iPhone and Android and it allows you to build grocery lists by scanning barcodes, organizing foods by aisle and marking items as frequently or recently purchased. You’ll never forget an item or make a purchase twice when you stay this organized.

Article by Laura Williams