Do you tell yourself every year that next year you’ll be more organized about holiday planning and better at sticking to a budget for gifts? Get those to-do lists and expenses under control with these handy apps.
Get organized
Giftster (FREE; Apple & Android) provides an online registry for everyone on your list. Your family and friends can create their wish lists and view yours, making gift giving easier than ever.
The Santa’s Bag (FREE; Apple) list-managing app allows you to track how much you’ve spent and view how many gifts you have left to buy. There’s even a countdown to Christmas!
Things ($19.99 & up; Apple) is a productivity-management app that will help you organize your crazy schedule as you prepare for the holidays. You can group your tasks by urgency or project. The app also can sync your to-do lists across all your devices with Things Cloud.
Save money
Ibotta (FREE; Apple & Android) lets you unlock cash-back rebates that you can redeem by submitting a photo of your receipt. You’ll be earning real money, not reward points, when you shop for groceries, clothes, medicines and more.
RedLaser (FREE; Apple, Android & Windows) allows you to scan barcodes to get product information and search for better deals on the same product at other stores in your area.
RetailMeNot (FREE; Apple & Android) compiles coupons and deals that will save you money at your favorite stores and restaurants. This popular app boasts thousands of well-known participating stores.
Shopkick (FREE; Apple & Android) helps you discover deals and rewards you with points for shopping at your favorite retailers. You can earn points by simply walking in to the store. Redeem these points, or“kicks,”for gift cards at participating stores.
Ariana Annunziato is a journalism major at Drexel University and co-op intern at MetroKids.
