Lately, I've been trying a lot more apps for my iPhone. Many are similar, so even after looking at descriptions and ratings, it's still hard to choose just one. Because all these apps are free, it won't cost a cent to try all of them until you find the ones that suit you best.
List Ease
This app has three parts: grocery list, pantry inventory and coupons.
I use the grocery list the most. You type the name of an item and a screen appears asking how many you want, whether it's bottles, boxes, etc., and price per pound and category. (The last two are optional, and if you don't choose, they will be automatically chosen for you.)
This way, you'll have an organized list at your fingertips, with no paper list to lose.
My Pantry lets you list staples, such as salt and ketchup, and how much you have left of each. It will categorize the items and let you know when it's time to buy more.
The third portion is for grocery coupons. They're categorized, but I don't think they did a very good job of it. For example, Bertolli Entrees are listed under "Bakery" and cereals are listed under "Baking Products," but I guess you'd get used to it eventually. There are lots of good coupons, so it's worth a try.
Red Laser
This app allows you to scan an item for the best price, whether in-store or online.
There are also "Deals of the Day," specifically listed for your area, with the number of specials per store, a section for your lists, a place to record your loyalty cards, scan QR codes and share them, and more.
Coupon Sherpa
There are Hot Deals, and you can set the categories for online and in-store coupons for discounts or freebies with purchase as well as other deals.
You'll also find a link to Gift Card Granny, a free app where you can purchase discounted gift cards.
GasBuddy
GasBuddy allows you to find cheap gas by city, state or ZIP code. When you search, a long list will appear for the area you've selected with price, name of station or store, address and distance to that location. (The only variable you'll have to calculate is the cents-per-gallon discount you accumulate from grocery store purchases, good at designated stations.)
Next week
Free apps for finding museums, parks and more.
