Money Monday: 8 Apps for Smarter Shopping

Mobile apps that you can use to get a handle on your budget.

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Shopping Smarter - According to a recent survey by Adobe Systems Incorporated, consumers are increasingly turning to their mobile devices for shopping assistance with 67 percent reporting money-saving offers as the most valuable characteristic for shopping apps. Here, consumer savings expert and public speaker Andrea Woroch of Windsor, Colorado, highlights eight apps that you can use to be a smarter shopper. — Bridget McCrea(Photo: GettyImages)

How Can Someone Avoid This Trap? - By having a vision of the life that you want to create for yourself and who you want to be, and then by financially supporting that journey. Even if you’re not 100 percent clear on that vision at this moment, just think about what you want to create and what you want for yourself, and then decide whether (or not) the things you’re spending money on are truly part of that vision. (Photo: Apple)

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iSpending - iSpending tracks and categorizes your purchases for a better understanding of where your money goes. These detailed spending reports show you when shopping gets out of control and highlight the areas in which you need to cut back. It is free and compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.(Photo: APPLE)

One Receipt - OneReceipt lets you turn all your paper receipts into digital copies for less paper clutter. It also provides easy access to receipts when returning or exchanging items, so you always get the full refund. It’s free and available for iPhones.(Photo: APPLE)

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One Receipt - OneReceipt lets you turn all your paper receipts into digital copies for less paper clutter. It also provides easy access to receipts when returning or exchanging items, so you always get the full refund. It’s free and available for iPhones.(Photo: APPLE)

Coupon Sherpa - Coupon Sherpa is a popular mobile coupon app that provides digital coupons for hundreds of stores and restaurants. You can browse discounts available in your area and create a "favorites" tab for easier access to your preferred destinations. This app is free and compatible with iPhone and Android devices.(Photo: Coupon Sherpa)

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Coupon Sherpa - Coupon Sherpa is a popular mobile coupon app that provides digital coupons for hundreds of stores and restaurants. You can browse discounts available in your area and create a "favorites" tab for easier access to your preferred destinations. This app is free and compatible with iPhone and Android devices.(Photo: Coupon Sherpa)

Photo By Photo: Coupon Sherpa

Amazon Price Check - Amazon Price Check lets you scan a bar code, snap a picture or type a product name to check prices instantly on millions of products. “Should you find a better deal at Amazon or one of their online merchants,” says Woroch, “you can complete a secure purchase directly from the app at that moment.” It is free and available for iPhones.(Photo: AMAZON)

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Amazon Price Check - Amazon Price Check lets you scan a bar code, snap a picture or type a product name to check prices instantly on millions of products. “Should you find a better deal at Amazon or one of their online merchants,” says Woroch, “you can complete a secure purchase directly from the app at that moment.” It is free and available for iPhones.(Photo: AMAZON)

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BuyOrNot  - BuyOrNot provides access to over 14 million consumer reviews. Found a product on sale but not familiar with the brand? The BuyorNot app helps you make informed decisions based on other consumers' positive or negative feedback.This app is available for the iPhone at the iTunes store for free (normally 99 cents) for a limited time.(Photo: APPLE)

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BuyOrNot  - BuyOrNot provides access to over 14 million consumer reviews. Found a product on sale but not familiar with the brand? The BuyorNot app helps you make informed decisions based on other consumers' positive or negative feedback.This app is available for the iPhone at the iTunes store for free (normally 99 cents) for a limited time.(Photo: APPLE)

Photo By Photo: APPLE

Decide - Decide's app never leaves you wondering if you bought at the right time. Applying historical pricing data, the app shows you if the price on a certain good is being offered at its lowest price and recommends buying or waiting based on this information. This app is available through the iTunes store for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and has memberships starting from $4.99.(Photo: APPLE)

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Decide - Decide's app never leaves you wondering if you bought at the right time. Applying historical pricing data, the app shows you if the price on a certain good is being offered at its lowest price and recommends buying or waiting based on this information. This app is available through the iTunes store for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and has memberships starting from $4.99.(Photo: APPLE)

ImpulseSave - ImpulseSave is an app for your shopping conscious. It enables you to set up a free, FDIC-insured savings account that links to an already existing checking account. “Each time you consider spending $10 or $20 on unnecessary goods,” Woroch points out, “you can opt to save that money instead by depositing it into your account.” It is available for iPhone and Android use and requires a $10 minimum to open a savings account.(Photo: ImpulseSave)

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ImpulseSave - ImpulseSave is an app for your shopping conscious. It enables you to set up a free, FDIC-insured savings account that links to an already existing checking account. “Each time you consider spending $10 or $20 on unnecessary goods,” Woroch points out, “you can opt to save that money instead by depositing it into your account.” It is available for iPhone and Android use and requires a $10 minimum to open a savings account.(Photo: ImpulseSave)

dealBoard - dealBoard is the best remedy for beating daily deal fatigue. Aggregating offers from all the daily deal websites into one single app, you can quickly browse top deals or create a profile to highlight personal interests for a customized feed. It’s free and compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. (Photo: dealBoard)

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dealBoard - dealBoard is the best remedy for beating daily deal fatigue. Aggregating offers from all the daily deal websites into one single app, you can quickly browse top deals or create a profile to highlight personal interests for a customized feed. It’s free and compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. (Photo: dealBoard)

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Give Them a Try - Experiment with some or all of these apps to see which ones serve you best and fit your lifestyle. Having these tools at your fingertips may just keep you from overspending on that luxury item or buying something that’s being offered at a lower price by a different merchant.This article has been prepared for informational purposes only. The accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed and is subject to change. Since each individual’s financial situation is unique, you need to review your financial objectives to determine which approaches might work best for you.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)