For years, people have needed to be mindful of their spending if they wanted to save money. But now there are a few web and mobile applications that make it easy both to save for the future and get discounts on current purchases.

 

Here are six of our favorites.

Acorns       

Acorns is an investment app that rounds up your spare change from credit and debit card purchases to invest in exchange-traded funds. The app requires a minimum $5 investment over a set period, rebalances your portfolio automatically, and offers an IRA for a reasonable monthly fee with commissions.

 

Qapital

Qapital is a money management software that helps you save more money by diverting funds from your checking account purchases into a goal-oriented savings account. The user creates a set of standards for what to do with the change from their check expenditures, such as directing Qapital to deposit the remainder change into an account earmarked for saving up for a vacation, college, a new automobile, or any other priority they establish. Taking charge of part of your financial planning and making it, in essence, automatic is the idea.

 

Shopkick

The Shopkick app offers rewards to shoppers for a myriad of behaviors, some more exciting than others. Users earn "kicks" for scanning products, buying and uploading a copy of their receipt, making online purchases, or sometimes simply walking through the doors of a retail establishment. These "kicks" can be redeemed as gift card value at major retailers and online destinations.

 

Honey

Honey is a browser plugin that searches the web for discounts after you've completed your online purchase. It works with items in your shopping basket, using coupon or code before you finalize your order. Because it runs in the background of your browser, it's always on and simple to use. There is no need to register; however, if you do, Honey's partners may provide extra savings.

 

Paribus

Capital One's Paribus is an online service that monitors several merchants for price drops on specific items and refunds the difference to customers who have paid full price. It also tries to obtain consumers' refunds for late deliveries, as well as reimbursements for things they wish to return past a store's cut-off date. Paribus is essentially a silent negotiator, working behind your inbox and taking all of the paperwork for refund requests off your plate.

 

Ibotta

Customers who use the Ibotta app may get discounts and rebates from particular merchants. After the user captures a photo of their receipt, connects with their loyalty card, or shops through the Ibotta mobile app itself, Ibotta issues rebates. Cash refunds instead of gift card points are displayed in the Ibotta app; you may receive cash through PayPal or Venmo as soon as your account hits $20. If you want to redeem for gift card points instead, that is also an option.

 

While there are many other money-saving apps available, these six are some of the best. All have different features and use cases, but each can help you save money in 2022. Try a few out and see which ones work best for you and your lifestyle.

 

What are your favorite money-saving apps?