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PennySaver wants to make sure you have all of the apps that can you increase your savings, so for this installment in our Save Money Monday series, we’re going to highlight even more free apps, designed to help you save money.

Cell phones are as common as wallets these days and, with the right app, may actually come to replace the wallet in the future. This is because a cell phone is no longer just a phone but also a mini computer that operates as a digital toolbox, helping you through your day to day activities. Most of these apps are free to download and use and many have been developed for your convenience, primarily to help save you money. Below are a list of some of the best free cell phone apps on the market that will keep a few more dollars in your pocket.

iSlick

If you want to find a specific gadget or piece of technology that was too expensive when it first hit the market and may have now gone down in price, you have to download iSlick. This free app allows you to search every retailer out there for the gadget and it’s price, both in-store and online. It will also allow you to price watch all the new gadgets and pieces of technology and give you updates whenever these prices go down, so you can be on top of every new technological trend. Available for download on your iPhone/iPad, Android and Nook.

Google Voice

Google Voice is a free app from Google that does a number of incredibly helpful things. It allows you to send text messages with just your voice, and also allows you to get text transcriptions of your voicemails for free. You can also opt to keep your actual number from showing up on people’s caller IDs if you are placing a business call from a personal line and vice versa. But the place Google Voice saves you the most amount of money is through international calls, which allows you to do so with a transparent, flat rate. So if you’re travelling around the world, you’ll be able to talk to whoever you want without spending an arm and a leg.

Onavo Extend

If you are trying to get the most you possible can out of your smartphone plan, then downloading the Onavo Extend app will help you to use as much data as possible without having to pay for it. This app compresses emails and downloads, allowing you to get as much as four times the data plan you signed up for. It does this by diverting the data coming down to your smartphone through cloud-based servers, so that all the content that comes to you has already been compressed. So if you’re trying to save money on your cell phone bill, this is the perfect free app for you.

AirBnB

This free app from the popular website, AirBnB allows travelers to find rooms in the place they are visiting that are cheaper than any hotel imaginable and often in a better location. AirBnB allows people with apartments or condos to list their places online for travelers to stay in at a fraction of the price a hotel would cost. This app allows you to literally find the open AirBnB places near you and contact them to see if you can get a room. Available for download in the App Store and Google Play.

Spotify

The music app that is totally free and allows people to listen to even more music than they knew existed may be one of the best on the market. Spotify has changed the music industry again, much like Pandora changed it. While you won’t own any of the music for free through Spotify, you’ll be able to listen to more than 15 million tracks total whenever you want.

PennySaver wants to keep you ahead of the curve, so for this installment in our Save Money Monday series, we’re going to highlight some free apps that will help you save money.

Using your phone as your own personal pocket computer has become the new trend these days, as the quality of cell phones and wireless internet has allowed these gadgets to be the most helpful tool in your daily arsenal. Because of the handiness of these phones, a slew of applications, better known as apps, have been created and can be downloaded for free which will help you get the best possible deals on a number of different products out there or keep track of finances, among other important things.

Below are some of the most helpful free apps for your phone, for you to use when you’re out shopping for that next great deal or that will just help you save money.

RedLaser

Redlaser is a free app that allows people to compare prices on products across a number of different stores so you can find a better deal. You can simply scan the item you wish to compare with your phone and the app will respond with prices from competing stores in your area and across the internet. In some cases you can buy the product directly from the app. This is most helpful if you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind going from store to store to find a particular item. The RedLaser app is available for iPhone, Windows Phone or Android systems.

GasBuddy

Hate paying the high prices for gas and always on the lookout for that off brand gas station with the best possible gallon prices? Well release that portion of your brain from ever having to do that again with the GasBuddy free app, which allows you to find the cheapest gas in your neighborhood when you need to fill back up. Prices are constantly updated by the app’s users, so the prices are usually pretty accurate, even if they are changing on a daily basis. Users are encouraged to do this by being eligible to win $250 for every gas price they report. GasBuddy is available for download on both iOS and Android platforms.

Kayak

If you travel regularly, then the Kayak free app is a must have. Much like the bargain travel website, Kayak scans the web in search of the best possible deals on flights, hotels and rental cars from just about every site possible. It then curates them all down into one list for you to easily peruse. There are even alerts that you can set up on the app itself every time fares you have set it to watch go down, so you can buy them before they sold out or the price goes back up. You can download the Kayak app for your iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, iPad or Kindle Fire.

Amazon Price Check

Ever been at a store and wanted to know the price of something that is not marked? You have to find a clerk, have them do a price check, wait… this can take forever. However, with the convenient Amazon Price Check app, you can know exactly what a product costs immediately by scanning the bar code. This way, you can know what a product costs and then compare it through another great free app (listed above) to see if it is worth buying at this location. The Amazon Price Check app is available in both the iTunes Store, App Store for Android, and on Google Play.

Zipcar

The free Zipcar app will allow you to use the sometimes convenient zipcar service in a big city when you just need some wheels for a short amount of time. This is perfect for people who live in a big city where it is impractical and expensive to own a car. After you secure a membership (which is around sixty dollars per year) you have access to this free app that will allow you to find the zipcar locations nearby, so you can go pick up your car for an hourly rate and hit the road. This is so much cheaper than a rental car and sometimes even cheaper and always more convenient than public transportation. Get the Zipcar app for your iPhone or Android device.

In today’s shaky economy, we need to cut corners wherever we can. Some things are easier to do without than others, however, utility bills are something few people can get away from. Having heat, lights, and running water are all things most of us don’t want to live without. But when we use these things without thinking, utility bills start to stack up pretty quickly.

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Fortunately, a little mindfulness can go a long way when it comes to keeping those costs under control. For this special March Money Saving Madness installment of Save Money Monday, PennySaver is highlighting some money saving tips to help lower your utility bills.

Light bulbs

By now, a lot of people have already made the switch to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs), but it is surprising how many people are still filling their sockets with the same type of bulb Thomas Edison first discovered. While the incandescent was certainly a good idea in its day, CFLs are a much better one. While CFLs cost more initially, you’ll see the savings on your electricity bills almost right away because CFL bulbs put out the same amount of light while using a fraction of the energy. They also don’t need to be changed as frequently and often last many years as opposed to the few months you’ll get out of the old fashioned bulbs.

In addition to these savings, there is an added perk because CFLs don’t hold heat the way the other bulbs do. This means they are safer for your family, and won’t overheat your house in the summer months.

Manage Your Heat Settings

For years we’ve heard that wintertime thermostats should be set no higher than 68, and summer settings should rest at around 78. If you’re too cold or too hot grab a sweater or a cool drink of water. But, although it’s a good place to start,  managing your heat goes beyond turning down the temperature. Programmable thermostats are all the rage these days, and for good reason. They allow you to set your indoor temperature even lower when you are gone all day or are on vacation. You can set it up to go back to a more comfortable level when it’s closer to the time you get home.

Proper insulation in your home also goes a long way when keeping the outside from invading the inside. Use weather stripping and apply caulk around cracks and crevices where unwanted air tries to get in.

A little work on the outside can help too. Homes that have a lot of shading from trees and shrubs block off excess heat and cold which will help keep bills under control. Painting your roof white not only gives your home character, but homes with a white roof use up to 40% less energy than those with a black roof. That extra coat can also serve as a weather sealant and increase the life of your roof.

Ease up on the Appliances

A lot of people use their appliances more than they really need to. They may heat the oven for smaller dishes that could be just as easily made in a toaster oven or even the microwave. When appliances are used, energy efficient appliances with an endorsement from Energy Star are preferable. Not only do they use less energy and lower your bills, but you may also be able to get a tax credit for making the investment. When appliances aren’t in use, they should be turned off or even unplugged. Electricity will still cost you, even when the appliance is dormant.

Watch Your Water

With water it is easy for people to either use too much, or to make it too hot. There are some who keep their water heaters set as high as 180 degrees, but 120 degrees is a more energy efficient temperature that will still allow you to take effective showers and get your clothes clean in the washing machine. If you head out of town, turn your water temp down even further.

Shower times should also be kept short in most cases. A long shower can be a treat, but it shouldn’t be an every day luxury. Clothes can also be washed in cooler temperatures most of the time and will get just as clean.

Just follow these money saving tips, and it’ll help keep the bite out of those pesky utility bills.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive, and doesn’t only have to be about store-bought gifts. PennySaver has compiled some DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas just for you, in the event that you didn’t have time to shop for something, are on trying to spend Valentine’s Day on a budget, or just prefer to gift something that you made yourself.

DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

• Create an ‘I Love You’ Book

  Time to unleash your crafty and creative side! The ideas for this gift can be endless. All you need to do is create a book telling your significant other how much you love them. It can be small, it can be comically large, it’s completely up to your imagination. Here are some great examples to get you inspired.

  • ’52 Things I Love about You’ done using a pack of playing cards and 1 inch binder rings. You can make it as basic, or elaborate as you see fit.
  • Photo Love Story using index cards and photos to tell your love story.
  • ‘I Love You Because…’ Book from Wahetver Dee Dee Wants. Great way to tell your significant other why you love them.
  • The Envelope Book from Oh Hello Friend Blog to help your significant other get through their day.

• Coupon Books

  You might remember doing these as a kid. Creating coupon books for your parents on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, redeemable for you doing the dishes, or other household chores. The same gift would also make a great Valentine’s Day gift as you get older. You can still keep the coupons for the occasional hand with the household chores, but you can add coupons redeemable for foot massages, homemade dinner, car-wash, or even a kids-free day coupon! Some cute examples are:

  • Elegant Coupon Book using free printable templates, cardstock, and other office/craft supplies you probably already have at home.
  • Non-Corny Valentine’s Day Coupon book from Kind Over Matter
  • Packaged Coupon Book that’s abstract, and different from the usual coupon book format. This one’s more structured, and reminiscent of a fold-out wallet.
  • Vintage Coupon Book for the vintage-lover in your life.
  • Ticket-themed Coupon Book from Mommy by Day Crafter by Night. You can download the coupons with text already printed on them, or blank to add your own coupon text. They look similar to theater/movie tickets, and you can paste them on card stock to personalize them further.

• Love Notes in a Jar

  This one is pretty self explanatory, and not much to it. If you already have empty jars laying around you can use those, or purchase some mason jars or small jars at your local craft store. You can create thin strips of notes, or larger notes, notes in circles or notes in square, folded or flat. You can hand-write them or have them printed. The possibilities are endless, but the outcome is the same. You have a beautiful jar full of love notes and sweet sayings for that special person in your life that they can enjoy at home or at work.

• Scrapbook of Dates

  If you collect or still have receipts or movie stubs from your dates, then this is the perfect DIY gift idea for you. Create a scrapbook of sorts, or a stub diary for your sweetie. Highlight the special moments you shared, and include cute anecdotes of the times you spent together.

Buying gifts are great, but nothing shows how thoughtful you are, more than dedicating time to making something yourself, and your wallet will also be happier!

The Holiday season is in full swing, and PennySaverUSA.com wants to help spread the joy. We’re happy to announce our special limited time holiday icons and packages that you can add to spruce up your online classified ads placed on PennySaverUSA.com

You can choose to just add a single Holiday icon to your online classified ad, or you can get the premium package, which includes an icon, border and premium listing.

For the single icons, you can choose from a Santa icon, snowman icon, or Christmas tree icon, each priced at $5 (pictured below).

If you want to opt for the premium package, in addition to premium placement, you get a red border around your ad, and a sleigh icon in the corner (pictured below). The price on the premium package ranges from $22 – $52.

If you were planning on placing a classified ad in the next few weeks, give into temptation, and add a cute icon or package to your online classified ad, and give it that extra oomph!

Everyone needs a getaway, but vacations typically involve a huge expense. If you don’t have a lot of disposable income, you might forgo an annual trip. But rather than pass on the opportunity to enjoy a little relaxation and fun with your family, consider these tips from PennySaverUSA.com, to help you save money on vacations.

Stay With Family or Friends

This is probably one of the easiest ways to save money on a vacation. If you’re going somewhere that you have friends or family you can stay with, instead of paying $100+ per night, you can stay with friends or family for free. Even if you’re only staying with them for a portion of your trip, you’re still saving a considerable amount of money overall.

Find Discount Hotel Rates

If it’s not possible to stay with friends or family, then always look for discounts when booking your hotel. Use online discount sites like Expedia.com, Priceline.com, or Hotels.com. You can get great savings up to 75%! You can also look for coupons and promo codes if you want to book directly with a desired hotel. Do an online search for a specific hotel followed by the words “coupon code” or “promo code”.

Book in Advance

Last-minute airline tickets are costly, but you can save money by booking plane reservations three or four months in advance. Use a comparison travel website to get the best deal, such as Kayak.com.

Do you NEED a Rental Car

Before you book a rental car, figure out if you really NEED one. Most hotels offer airport shuttles, and may also provide shuttles to nearby attractions. You can also opt to use public transportation. If you determine that you only need a rental car for certain days, check through your options when booking. See if it’s a better value to book for the entire length of your stay, or only for the days you’ll need to use the car.

Monitor Hotel and Rental Car Prices

Even after you’ve already booked a hotel or rental car, still continue to keep a close eye on hotel and rental car prices. Prices for both can fluctuate on a daily basis. Do book your hotel and rental car reservation early, but continue to check for specials or deals. If you find a better rate, cancel your previous reservation and re-book to take advantage of lower rates.

Plan a Cruise

Cruise vacations are an ideal way to save money, especially if you’re able to drive to the cruise port. Accommodations, entertainment and food are costly when planning a vacation. But if you book a cruise, you can enjoy all three for one affordable price. Book during the off-season or with a group to enjoy additional savings.

Eat Cheap

To save money on food, purchase an ‘Entertainment Book’ for the area that you’re visiting. These books can costs as much as $35, but with so many two-for-one deals, you can recoup your investment after two meals.

Cheap Vacation Packages

If you can’t book a cruise vacation, or an all-inclusive, look for packages that bundle attractions and offer discounts. Sometimes, you can get packages with tickets to multiple attractions, or that offer 2-for the price of 1, which will save you quite a bit of money.

Back to school shopping is an exciting time for children and a stressful time for parents. As the fall approaches, many parents’ thoughts are turning to how to save money on back-to-school items. The start of the school year can be tough on your household budget. School supplies seem to get more expensive each year and it’s amazing how quickly supplies lists can tally up into large expenses. Doing this for multiple children for years can put a strain on any family budget. Luckily, there are some easy ways to make the back-to-school purchase season less daunting.

If you are worried about your ability to pay for school supplies, this year, there are some surprisingly simple ways to help make the start of the school year easier.

Start at home

Begin by thoroughly investigating office supplies and school supplies you already have. We often have supplies tucked away that we may have forgotten about. Open drawers, and you’re likely to find a forgotten stash of #2 pencils, a random pack of erasers, or unused rolls of tape. Also, many school supplies such as pencil sharpeners used by older siblings, can easily be reused. Plain office supplies, such as white binders, can be redecorated with pictures and markers to be unique.

Think outside of the box

Parenting Magazine suggests doing basic school shopping at the grocery stores. You can easily browse circulars for bargains and coupons that might not be available in traditional school supply stores. In the same vein, hit the various end of summer sales for back to school clothes. Clothes for warm weather can be worn through most of the fall and can be used again come spring.

Buy Used or “Un-Used” Items

Search both the printed classified ads in the PennySaver, and back-to-school online listings at PennySaverUSA.com. Look online for common back-to-school items that someone may be trying to unload. Often, used items are simply products of which someone purchased too many. They may have never actually been used. Families that have children who have gone away to college, or who have completed their academic years, will often place items from their childrens’ room on sale in the fall. It’s the perfect opportunity to purchase reduce price books, toys and furniture that are in near perfect condition, for considerably less money than if you were to purchase new in store.

Shop Online

Everything seems to be online now, even back to school shopping. Look for online offers and savings. Many stores and companies email discounts or post coupons and deals to their blogs during this time of year.  Some companies and website even offer online freebies for back-to-school items. Sign up for our Free Friday Newsletter, to never miss out on another freebie again. Rather than heading straight for the nearest retail location, do some surfing online first. You will be surprised at how much you can save.

When you are ready to start looking for savings on back-to-school purchases for your student’s list, there are a number of ways to save money and keep your family budget in check for the coming year. These tips will definitely help you start on the right foot.