The Branded Daily Digest

Tag: money tips

  • How to Save Money on Everyday Expenses

    How to Save Money on Everyday Expenses

    Reaching a savings goal goes by much faster when you try saving money on everyday expenses. No matter what you’re saving for, setting aside extra money every month is hard without a set plan. To start, take a look at your last bank statement and make a list of all of your monthly expenses. What’s costing you the most? While expenses like your mortgage or rent are difficult to cut down, there might be ways to save on others.

    Use our money budgeting tips to learn how to save money fast so you can reach your savings goal!

    Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions

    One of the first ways to start saving money on everyday expenses in your life is by canceling unnecessary subscriptions (or downgrading them to cheaper plans). Ask yourself if your monthly subscription for a new pair of underwear is worth it or if you really need Disney+ in your life. If you don’t need a brand new pair of underwear every month or rarely watch Disney+, cancel that subscription!

    Work Out at Home

    Even if you belong to an inexpensive gym that only costs $10 per month, that’s still $120 per year that could be back in your wallet. Working out at home is free if you’re creative enough. You would be surprised how many free workouts are online and how many free fitness apps can help you train. Look into  Nike Training Club, Ladder, Crossfit: Beyond the Whiteboard and Freeletics to begin with. You don’t even need to purchase weights – everyday items around your house can stand-in.

    Working out at home will save you the cost of a gym membership, as well as gas and any post-workout drinks or snacks you typically splurge on.

    Cancel Cable and Home Phone

    Canceling cable and your home phone can save you lots of money every month. It costs significantly less to pay for the internet and a few streaming services to watch the same programs. Here’s a related money budgeting tip: If you have any friends or family members living with you, split the cost of streaming services to save even more.

    Shop Around for Internet

    While you’re in the process of canceling your cable and home phone, it might be a good idea to look for a new internet provider as well – or at least tell your current provider you’re doing that. Often, when you tell an internet company that you’re leaving for their competitor, they will offer you a discount to stick around. You can then use this quote when you’re on the phone with your provider. They would rather save a customer by giving you a discount than lose you altogether.

    Explore Other Cell Phone Carriers

    You should also look at other cell phone carriers. Making the switch to a different carrier can save you money; you might even get a free or heavily discounted phone out of it. If you have a cell phone carrier in your area that also offers home internet, you might be able to score a bundle deal. Shopping around at different companies is one of the easiest tips for saving money on everyday expenses!

    Sign Up for Reward Programs

    Do yourself a favor: Create a junk email address so you can subscribe to every reward program you find. Often these reward programs will send you exclusive coupons and deals that are only available to members. Pay attention to your inbox during your birthday month for freebies. In the meantime, search your inbox for emails from a particular company when you want to buy something from them. At the very least, all these emails will help you stick to saving money on everyday expenses.

    Look for Coupons, Discounts and Sales

    Before you go grocery shopping or make any retail purchase, do your research for coupons, sales and discounts. If you’re committed to learning how to save money on everyday things, looking for deals is essential. Browse coupons and sales at your local retailers or check out coupons.com and retailmenot.com to find sales, coupons and discounts. Also, check to see if the store you’re shopping at has an app with electronic coupons.

    Use a Rewards Credit Card for All Purchases

    You can earn a great deal by using a rewards credit card on all of your purchases. Rewards credit cards offer you a certain percentage of cash back, points, airline miles or some sort of return whenever you use them to make a purchase. Search for rewards credit cards that will offer you the most cash back for your purchases. Some credit cards offer a higher percentage back on certain categories like grocery stores and gas. Do your research and apply for a credit card that will give you the most cash back for your typical purchase, and remember to use it responsibly. To avoid paying interest and losing money in the process, pay off your credit card debt every month.

    Compare Prices

    Most stores will price match if you can find a better deal at a different retailer. There are plenty of websites that make it easy to price compare any purchase you want to make. Whether you plan to shop online or in-store, price matching is an easy way of saving money on everyday expenses.

    Shop Generic, Used or Refurbished

    Instead of paying for fancy brand names or buying everything brand-new, consider purchasing a generic product next time. Often, generic products are almost identical to the brand name; they just don’t come with the hefty price tag. You can also learn how to save money by shopping around for used or refurbished items. If you need new toys, clothes, furniture or even electronics, there are many resources to help you buy these used or refurbished. Check out refurbished sections on electronic company websites, or browse thrift stores, consignment stores and apps like OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Buying used is also more environmentally friendly – so save the planet while you’re saving money.

    Eat and Drink at Home

    If you spend a fortune every month at restaurants, bars and coffee shops, just making the switch to eating and drinking at home will teach you how to save money fast. Instead of going out for drinks with friends, invite them over and make the cocktails yourself. You can buy a bottle of wine for the price of a glass you’d get at a bar or restaurant. It also costs significantly less to brew your own coffee and make your own meals – why not give it a shot and save even more money?

    How to Save Money Fast: Take Online Surveys

    If you’re looking for another way to save money fast on top of our money budgeting tips, getting paid for doing surveys is perfect. When you become a member of Branded Surveys, you can take market research surveys for big companies and get paid for your opinion. There’s no limit on how many surveys you can take or how much money you can make. We even offer additional opportunities to earn points fast by referring your friends, participating in weekly challenges and daily polls, or taking advantage of service offers from our partners.

    Once you reach 1,000 points, you can redeem them for rewards like cash or free gift cards. Whether you want to use the cash and gift cards to help pay for your everyday expenses or put the cash directly into your savings account, taking online surveys is an easy way to earn money fast. You can take online surveys anywhere and anytime. They’re fun to complete and easy to do!

    Sign up with Branded Surveys today to start earning and saving!

  • Grindtime: The Best Side Hustles of 2020

    Grindtime: The Best Side Hustles of 2020

    Whether you’re trying to pay off debt, save for a down payment on a house, or just want extra spending money, taking up a side hustle this year can give you extra cash in your wallet and more financial freedom. No matter what your skillset or schedule is like, there’s likely a side hustle idea that is perfect for you, whether you’re as busy as a student or parent. Discover some of the best side hustles of 2020 and start earning more now!

    Tutoring

    If you’re an expert in a particular subject or have an advanced degree (and the patience to teach others), tutoring online or in-person might be a good side hustle for you. If you want to become an online tutor, try signing up to be a tutor on websites like tutor.com or Chegg. You can often earn an average of $20 to $25 per hour through these companies. As a bonus, online tutoring occurs from the comfort of your own home.

    If tutoring in-person sounds like a better fit, browse ads online or market your tutoring services – put up flyers around college campuses or ask friends and family if they know any students who could benefit from a tutor. If you love teaching about your favorite subject and helping students succeed, tutoring is a rewarding way to earn extra cash.

    Drive for Uber/Lyft

    If you have a relatively new car and a clean driving record, earn extra cash by driving people around town. To become a driver for Uber or Lyft, you need to be at least 21 years old and pass a car inspection. Your vehicle must be reliable, less than 10 years old, and you must have in-state car insurance, license plates and driver’s license. You’ll also need to pass a background and driving record check. Once you’re approved, turn on the app and let the ride requests flow in.

    Remember that Uber and Lyft aren’t paying for your gas, insurance or your car payments. You’re still on the hook for those. However, if you work at peak hours with surge pricing, this side hustle can pay off in the end.

    Freelance

    You’ve got a pretty much endless selection of side hustle ideas to try. Look into anything from graphic design to website design, writing, editing, audio production, video editing or social media management. There are a few ways to find freelance work in these areas. To start, visit freelance websites like Fiverr to find gigs, or search for companies hiring freelancers on job websites.

    Don’t forget to try finding clients on your own. Put out the word that you’re looking for freelance work and market yourself to friends, family and local businesses. Freelancing is a great way to earn some extra cash – as well as build up your portfolio.

    Become a Virtual Assistant

    Business owners, especially those with online businesses, usually have hectic schedules. This means they neglect tasks like answering emails or posting to social media. This is where virtual assistants come into play. Busy business owners will hire a virtual assistant to help them out with various tasks they just don’t have time to get to.

    A virtual assistant might help the business owner write emails, create simple website graphics, prepare reports or respond to messages on social media. Usually, the tasks aren’t too time-sensitive and can be completed at night or on weekends. This side hustle is perfect for people who like assisting others and possess the skills a business owner needs to accomplish small tasks. 

    If you want to work as a virtual assistant, try searching for jobs online or look for your own clients to work with. Even finding several clients who only need a few hours of work per week of help can add up to a large chunk of change.

    Help People With Random Tasks on TaskRabbit

    If you want to help people with various tasks, TaskRabbit is the side hustle idea you’ve been searching for. When you sign up to become a “tasker,” you set your own rate and take on jobs like assembling IKEA furniture, lifting heavy furniture, cleaning, home repairs, painting, delivering things, hanging TVs and much more. Once you set your rate, TaskRabbit members can hire you to perform the services you offer.

    Pet Sit/Babysit or Companion Care

    If you like caring for others, working a side hustle as a pet sitter, babysitter or companion is the perfect opportunity. You set your own rate and make yourself available for whatever hours you like. Sign up to become a companion, pet sitter or babysitter on websites like care.com or find your own clients to take care of. These types of side hustles are fun ways to make money, and you might even make friends with those you’re caring for.

    Sell Baked Goods

    Do you have a knack for baking? If so, you might be able to turn your baking hobby into a side hustle. First, try selling your baked goods to friends and family. Ask them to help you spread the word of your services. From there, look into selling your baked goods at a local farmers market or to local coffee shops. Before you get started, make sure to look into any local Cottage Food Laws about selling baked goods. You might have to obtain a special food selling license before you can legally set up shop.

    Sell Arts & Crafts

    Turn your hobbies into a side hustle! Whether you love to paint portraits of animals, knit sweaters or build custom furniture, turn your arts and crafts talent into a side hustle by selling your creations. You can sell them on websites like Etsy or Amazon Handmade or try selling on local websites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or even NextDoor. Once you get a few orders, momentum might pick up and leave you with a flourishing new business.

    Sell Ad Space on Your Vehicle

    One unique side hustle idea that doesn’t require much effort on your end is selling advertisement space on your vehicle. As long as you’re fine with a company’s logo and contact information displayed on your car, this is a perfect way to make extra money. Usually, companies require that you live in a highly-populated area and spend a decent amount of time driving to qualify. Use a site like Wrapify to find an advertising opportunity for your vehicle.

    Photography

    If photography is a hobby of yours, your skills might earn you extra money and make for a perfect side hustle. You can sell services taking portraits of families, sell prints of your photos or sell stock images. If you want to sell prints of your images or photography sessions, creating a website with your services and prices listed is a great place to start. You can even sell licenses to your photos on your website if people want to use them as stock photos. There is also the option of making money from stock photography by submitting your photos to stock websites like Shutterstock. For every download of your picture, you will make a small profit.

    Teach Music Lessons

    All those years spent in band class as a student don’t have to go to waste: Put your musical talents to work in a side hustle teaching music lessons. Advertise your music lessons online or put up flyers around town to gather some students. Help make the world a little more musical while making some extra money on the side in a fun way!

    Teach Yoga or Other Fitness Classes

    If you’re a certified yoga teacher, personal trainer or another type of fitness instructor, try picking up a side gig sharing your knowledge as a side hustle. Feeling ambitious? Create your own class and use a local park or beach as the class location. It’s a perfect way to squeeze in some exercise and earn money from doing it.

    Take Online Surveys

    The last best side hustle of 2020 to try out is taking online surveys for money. Earn money by voicing your opinion on an online survey taken from the comfort of your home. Big brands use online surveys for market research to improve their businesses. 

    If you want to start a new side hustle in 2020, consider taking online surveys. Sign up for Branded Surveys today to get started!

  • Can Online Surveys Help Pay Off Debt?

    Can Online Surveys Help Pay Off Debt?

    Do you have an immense amount of debt? Whether it’s from credit cards, student loans, auto loans or a mortgage, living in debt can hurt your credit score and your financial stability. Increasing your earnings through a second job or side gig is one way to help pay down debt and secure your financial future — which begs the question: can online surveys pay off debt? 

    At Branded Surveys, we pay our members to take surveys that help big brands conduct market research. If you’re committed to paying off your debt, look into online surveys that pay cash to help you increase your earnings.

    Can You Really Make Money Doing Surveys Online?

    Yes. Even better: anyone can sign up to take online surveys that pay cash. At Branded Surveys, we award our members with high paying surveys and grant points after they complete surveys, which they can later exchange for cash or gift cards.

    To get started, you will first need to create a Branded Surveys account to become a member. During the sign-up process, you’ll fill out personal demographic information, which our Survey Matching Engine uses to match you with surveys.

    Once you’re matched with a survey and are cleared to take it, you can begin. Make sure to take your time and answer each question honestly to receive your points at the end. Once you’ve finished the survey and submitted it, the company will look it over; once it’s approved, you’ll receive your points. Every thousand points are equivalent to $10 in cash or a $10 gift card.

    You can also earn points with us by advancing through our loyalty program, Branded Elite. Each user begins as a Bronze member and can advance to Silver by earning at least 600 points and then Gold with at least 2,100 points. The higher your badge, the more bonus points you can earn in challenges.

    We also offer bonus points for taking daily polls, referring friends, service offers and social media. The more surveys you take, the more points you can earn and the faster you can pay off your debt!

    How Do I Receive Cash From Online Surveys?

    Once you earn at least 1,000 points, you can withdraw and exchange them for cash or gift card rewards. If you’re trying to pay off debt, opt for a cash payment through our convenient Branded Pay (exclusively for US residents) or PayPal options. 

    Before you receive your payment, we must approve the points you withdraw. This process can take up to two business days. After it’s approved, you can choose your reward, which will take up to three business days to reach you.

    Taking online surveys allows you to get paid as often as you like; all you have to do is earn at least 1,000 points. Use this extra cash to chip away at your debt – you’ll have it paid off in no time!

    Are Online Surveys That Pay Cash Worth Your Time?

    If you’re looking for an easy way to make extra cash without having to clock in, wear a uniform or commute, then yes, online surveys are absolutely worth your time! Taking online surveys offers the convenience of earning money whenever you want – and as long as you have an internet connection, there’s no need to wonder “Can you really make money doing surveys online?” Take them while you’re waiting for an appointment, riding a train or even watching TV. You can take as many as you like – we don’t impose any limits on you.

    Tips for Taking Online Surveys

    Before you get started taking online surveys that pay cash, check out our tips to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. 

    Take Breaks: It might feel tempting to take as many surveys as you can, but this isn’t a great idea for your health – eye strain is a real risk when you’re glued to a screen all day. Give your eyes a 20-second break every 20 minutes by looking at something 20 feet away. Known as the 20/20/20 rule, this practice can help prevent eye strain and the headache that comes with it.

    Don’t Overshare: Never give away personal information like your Social Security number or other confidential information. Answering questions about your favorite commercial, however, are fine. 

    Take Your Time: If you speed through all your surveys, there’s a good chance your points won’t be approved – you might even end up looking like a bot! To ensure you receive all your survey points, take your time and answer each question honestly.

    How to Pay Off Debt With Online Surveys That Pay Cash

    Once you start doing surveys for money, you can use that cash to pay off your debt. If you have a lot of debt, you might wonder where exactly you should start. Go through all your different accounts and start with the one that has the highest interest rate. This will save you more money in the long run! Every time you earn money from taking online surveys, put that money toward that account.

    Once you pay off one account, move on to the account with the next highest interest rate. In the meantime, make sure you’re not racking up new debt. 

    If you’re ready to start tackling debt head-on by taking online surveys, get started by signing up for an account with Branded Surveys today!

  • 12 Ways for College Students to Make Money Online

    12 Ways for College Students to Make Money Online

    It’s no secret that going to college is expensive. From paying for tuition to finding funds for books and housing, it’s no wonder that college students are broke. Balancing classes with internships can leave little to no time to make money. Fortunately, you’ll find plenty of online jobs for college students to make money that don’t require much experience. Learn how to make money online without compromising your grades.

    1. Start Freelance Writing

    One of the best online jobs for college students with no experience is a freelancing writing gig. If you can write grammatically correct sentences, you can likely make money as a writer. Freelance websites like Fiverr or UpWork let you apply to freelance writing gigs like blogs or website copy. Once you gain more experience, try finding your own clients. You can also look for freelance positions with marketing companies to gain steady, high-paying work. If writing isn’t your forte but you love grammar, there are also lots of gigs for proofreading and editing.

    2. Become a Virtual Assistant

    Juggling college, internships and a social life requires excellent organizational skills. One way you can put these skills to use is by becoming a virtual assistant. Business owners live hectic lives and often don’t have time to respond to emails or organize projects. As a virtual assistant, you would respond to emails, schedule meetings and handle other small tasks. These are easy side hustles for college students because they don’t often require experience, they have flexible hours and you can work on them from anywhere.

    3. Create YouTube Videos

    Yes, people can actually make a living creating videos and posting them onto YouTube. With no experience needed, you can transform your hobbies, creative ideas, thoughts or basically anything into a video, upload it to YouTube and potentially earn money from it. The more followers and views you have, the more money you can make in ad revenue. Although it can take a while to build up followers, it is possible for college students to make money from creating YouTube videos.

    4. Sell Design Work

    Students studying to become graphic designers or artists can use their skills to make money online. You can sell prints of your work or even have your designs printed onto clothing or other materials to earn money. If you’re already creating these design pieces for classes, why not make money from them? You can also make money by offering custom design services like designing print designs, logos or even illustrations. Not only will this help you make money while you’re in college, but it will give you the work experience you can use to help you land a job after graduation.

    5. Try Online Tutoring

    Online tutoring is one of the perfect ways to make money online for college students. It’s often extremely flexible in terms of hours, and you can choose which subjects you would like to tutor in. There are lots of different websites that can connect you with students who could benefit from your knowledge. Since it’s based online, you can work from anywhere, tutoring students around the globe if you so choose. Tutoring doesn’t require any experience, only knowledge, and expertise in the subject you wish to tutor about.

    6. Start a Blog

    If you’re still searching for online jobs for college students with no experience, think about starting a blog. All you need to do to make money from a blog is to find a subject you’re passionate about and write continuously about it. Once you launch your blog, you can make money from selling ads or using affiliate links to make small commissions on products you mention. The more people visit your blog, the more money you can make. Once your numbers are high, you can even reach out to companies related to your blog’s topic to see if they would like to sponsor a post to promote their company or the services or products they offer.

    7. Sell Arts and Crafts on Etsy

    Arts and crafts are a great stress reliever and creative outlet…and a great way to make money online. Etsy makes it easy to sell arts and crafts of all sorts to buyers around the world. Whether you work with oils and watercolors or prefer creating lotions, jewelry or custom furniture, there’s a market for you  to make money on Etsy.

    8. Create an Online Course

    If you have extensive knowledge about a particular subject, creating online courses is a great online job for students with no experience. Similar to tutoring, the only experience you need is extensive knowledge about a single subject. Whether you’re good at marketing, public speaking, writing poetry, painting, fixing cars or doing math, creating an online course is an easy way to make money online. Once you’ve created the course, keep up with your marketing efforts – it can provide you with lots of passive income over time.

    9. Become a Translator

    If you know a second language fluently, why not put your bilingual abilities to good use? Just like freelancing writing, you’ll find tons of online jobs for college students at home that require translating. You can find translation gigs or even steady work with international companies. Landing one of these gigs is easy as long as you can write correctly in both languages. You can even create your own translation samples to help you stand out more.

    10. Do Transcription Work

    These days, accessibility is more important than ever. This is great news for college students who want to make easy money at home. Working as a transcriptionist either transcribing audio files like podcasts or audio on video files is an easy way to make money in the comfort of your home. These types of jobs don’t require experience, only the ability to transcribe accurately while using correct grammar.

    11. Do Voiceover Work

    If you have the perfect radio voice, there are lots of online jobs for college students to make money working as a voiceover artist. Many businesses need voiceover artists to simply record themselves reading scripts that will play over promotional videos. No experience is necessary, but it wouldn’t hurt to create a few sample recordings to make yourself stand out from competitors. As long as you have a good microphone at home, working as a voiceover artist is an easy way to make money online as a college student.

    12. Fill Out Online Surveys

    Another online job for college students to make money without experience is filling out online surveys. Anyone can sign up for an account to fill out online surveys for money from their participation. Here at Branded Surveys, we use our Survey Matching Engine to pair users up with surveys they meet the general requirements for. The software looks at each user’s profile demographics to determine if they’re a potential match for the survey.

    Once you’re paired up with a survey, you will take it, answering each question honestly. After the survey receives approval, you will earn points for your time. You can then redeem your points to earn gift cards or cash. You can take as many surveys as you like! We also offer other opportunities to earn additional points through daily challenges, polls and our loyalty program, Branded Elite.

    If you’re a college student who wants to begin earning money online, sign up for an account with us to start taking online surveys today!

  • Easy Ways to Save Money on Necessities

    Easy Ways to Save Money on Necessities

    If you’ve read any money-saving blogs already, you know to cut out that daily Starbucks and any magazine subscriptions. However, you may now be so careful on spending that you are only left with the major must-haves in life. But don’t worry, there are tricks to save money on those, too.

    Here are easy ways to save money on necessities.

    Evaluate What’s Necessary

    There may be purchases you consider necessary, but you could do without, like cable TV or a monthly gym membership. Figure out what are “needs” and “wants” by doing the following exercise.

    • Put together an outline with all your monthly expenses. Include everything – from your grocery bills and mortgage payments to the membership to your local yoga studio.
    • Group the expenses into categories, from most to least needed.
    • From there, evaluate the different expenses. Ideally, you should cut out the least needed products and services. Next, examine the remaining expenses and find ways to save on those. Read on for ideas on how to do just that.

    Negotiate for Lower Prices

    Most people take the first price quotes they are handed. Instead, try to negotiate. Let’s use your cell phone or cable company as an example. 

    First, call competitors to get a variety of rates. 

    Then, call the company you currently use or want to use. Let them know the other price quotes you received and let them know you may move your business to one of these other companies. Very often, the provider will offer a new, lower rate to keep you as a customer.

    Examine Your Heating Bill and Home’s Insulation

    If it gets cold in winter, don’t simply crank up your heating.

    • First, put on warm clothes and layer up with extra blankets.
    • Then, if you still need to turn on the heat, take note of how effectively it’s working. You may be paying large sums of money to heat your home, only to have it drifting away. It may cost money to have insulation installed, but it will cost far less in the long run as you’ll be paying less in heating bills. Call a local home repair and insulation consultant; most will come out for free to do an inspection.

    Buy in Bulk

    Whenever possible, whether it’s nonperishable food items, toilet paper or socks, purchase items in bulk. It may seem crazy to buy 30 paper towel rolls at once, but if you’re going to use them eventually, you’re saving money in the long run.

    Use Coupons

    Many of us see a coupon for 75 cents off and think that it’s too much trouble to use. Think about it this way. If you use eight coupons per week that are worth 75 cents savings each, that’s over $300 saved per year!

    Use sites and apps to help you track and use coupons, like Push Pin and Grocery IQ. They let you build grocery lists, share them and utilize coupons for your grocery needs.

    Learn Budget Tricks to Grocery Saving

    Grocery stores are a marketing mind trap. From the placement of items on shelves to the positioning of expensive candy, find out how to hack the grocery store by reading our blog: 6 Ways to Save Big on Groceries (#3 Doubles Savings!)

    Cut Down on Shower Times to Save Money

    Bathing is a necessity, but showering for 30 minutes isn’t required to get clean. Cut down on showers to save easy money on your utility bills. Or earn more money from taking surveys for money.

    Take Care of Yourself

    Staying healthy doesn’t just feel good; being healthy saves you money. Getting sick can get expensive because of the doctor visits, medicine and time missed from work or school. Reduce your risk of getting sick and the costs that come with it by:

    • Washing your hands as often as possible, especially before handling food
    • Exercising regularly
    • Eating healthy and well-balanced meals
    • Taking a daily vitamin

    Look into Corporate and Member Discounts

    Many companies offer discounts to their employees or members. Your employer may offer you discounts on cell phone plans and gym memberships, things you’re spending on anyway.

    Another example is AAA. Being a member of AAA gets you discounts on everything from weekend trips to Disneyland tickets. Everyone needs vacation and getaway time; make sure to get yours at a discount.

    Select a Credit Card and Bank That Maximizes Your Money

    You have to spend money on necessities no matter what, so it’s important to select a bank and credit card that maximizes that money. Learn more about rewards credit cards in our blog: 3 Ways to Travel for Free (or Almost Free!)

    **Featured Image Credit Goes to: Startup Stock Photos**

  • The 12 Best Budget and Personal Finance Apps for 2020

    The 12 Best Budget and Personal Finance Apps for 2020

    2020 has the potential to be a great year, especially if you aren’t stressed about money.  Fortunately, with countless personal finance apps, saving money is easier than ever. If sticking with your budget is on your resolution list, the following apps can help you get your finances in line. Monitor your expenses, find discounts, and stay organized by turning your phone into a digital wallet. Also, be sure to track the income you earn from taking surveys for cash.

    Mint

    Securely consolidate your accounts, track how much money you’re spending and receive alerts when bills are due. You can also set reminders and personal finance goals, tag expenditures by category, and view your financial data as simple charts or Excel spreadsheets. According to Maniago, in the last three years, Mint users have collectively set more than 6 million financial goals and saved more than $40 billion.

    BillGuard

    Protect yourself against “grey charges,” such as hidden fees, billing errors,free-to-paid charges, scams and credit card fraud. Verify and flag charges to your accounts directly through the app. BillGuard will also alert you when a user has flagged a charge similar to one in your account. The app also functions as a dashboard where you can track your spending patterns.

    RedLaser

    RedLaser is a barcode-scanning app for price comparisons. Scan a product to find out what it costs at nearby retailers; you can also buy items directly from the app and pick them up in-store.

    ShopSavvy

    This barcode and QR scanner shows you product details and price comparisons so you can decide whether to buy in-store or online. Create lists of items you might want to buy later and set price alerts to find when a product has been marked down.

    TheFind

    Connect to TheFind with Facebook to set up a personalized shopping hub. Save your favorite stores and brands to your account and receive alerts when your favorite products go on sale. Use the mobile app to scan barcodes and receive price alerts, plus share scanned and searched items with friends.

    GasBuddy

    Find the cheapest gas prices in your area, both online and on the road.

    RepairPal

    RepairPal eliminates the guesswork of finding a good mechanic. Tell them your car’s make and model, and it’ll give you a repair estimate and recommend “Top Shops” in your area.

    RetailMeNot

    Receive coupons and discounts from retailers like Macy’s, Walgreens and H&M. Use the mobile app to take your deals on the go and see what’s trending; you’ll also get automatic alerts when there are promotions nearby.

    Trivago

    Trivago compares the cost of hotel rooms on booking sites like hotels.com and Expedia and lets you know which site offers the best deals. Browse user reviews and photos and filter search results according to price, amenities, distance and star category.

    Skyscanner

    Skyscanner compiles prices from more than 1,000 airlines for the best deals on flights, hotels and car rentals.

    HotelTonight

    Hotels offer steep last-minute discounts on unfilled rooms, and HotelTonight helps you score those savings in 150 locations.

    Appsfire

    Hate paying for apps? Use this curated service to find the best app deals, receive personalized recommendations, and set up price alerts for paid apps you’d like to purchase.