Top 6 Apps for shopping shopping shopping

Isa Jones

It’s 2014 and somehow, shopping this time of the year is still a giant pain. You spend too long on parking garages hoping for a spot, fight the crowds in the malls and stores, deal with the fact that the one thing you need is inevitably sold out. But, it is the age of smart phones, and thankfully, there are apps to make shopping a little easier. Here are five to thank the retail gods for.

Amazon Price Check

Ever have the experience of seeing something you want at the store, looking at the price tag, and immediately thinking “I can get this cheaper on Amazon”? Well, if you download the Amazon Price Check app, you can scan the barcode, or just take a picture of it and suddenly get all the information on the product Amazon has. That includes prices and reviews. So you can decide, on the spot, whether to click “buy” on Amazon or buy in the store.

ShopSavvy

Not only does ShopSavvy notify you of sales at your favorite stores, you can use the barcode scanner to make sure you’re getting the best deal. It’s an app dedicated to saving you money, and it’s a beautiful thing.

Smoopa

Smoopa is great if you want a specific item, but just aren’t willing to pay the current price. You can compare the price to other stores (and other store websites) and set price alerts to let you know when the price drops so you can snag it right when it goes on sale. Never feel the heartbreak of buying something and then seeing it on sale for much cheaper at the next store again.

shopkick

What if you got paid to shop? With Shopkick, you can earn rewards for dropping cash at your favorite stores. Hundreds of stores are partnered with Shopkick, and when you walk into one, just open the app and you’re eligible for reward points, which you can exchange for giftcards, aka free money.

tophatter

Tophatter won’t just help you shop, it is the place to shop. It sells apparel, electronics, and makeup (three amazing categories of items) through 90-second flash sales. Open the app, see what’s on sale that minute, and score some great deals and indulge your guilty pleasure side with those sudden purchases.

Flipp

Remember the ’90s when tons of flyers would come in the mail and you would spend your morning browsing through them for weekly sales? Well thankfully those are gone, but with Flipp, you can easily browse your favorite stores to see what’ll be on sale, clip virtual coupons, and save some green on your shopping. l