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You take your phone everywhere, and let’s face it— it’s difficult to imagine life without it. So, be sure you’re taking advantage of all of the benefits of owning a smartphone. Check out these 5 apps that you may not be using that can save you money.

Check in Apps – Foursquare and Yelp are all the rage for reviews and checking in, but did you know that you can actually score free food and discounts by using these apps? Some restaurants offer Foursquare and Yelp specials and others just give out a free beverage or appetizer. This fad isn’t just limited to food either. Create an account today to see what all the hype is about.

Barcode Scanners – Apps like RedLaser allow users to scan any item, anywhere, to see if they can find it cheaper at another store. You can even use this app to order the item you’re looking at online and have it delivered to your home or schedule an in-store pickup. This app also offers user reviews and other fun features.

Redeemia – Looking for a good deal on a restaurant or day spa? Redeemia searches through discount sites like Groupon, Living Social, Wowcher, and other comparable deal sites until it finds you the best closely related deal. You won’t ever skip over a hot discount if you utilize Redeemia’s database.

Low Gas Prices – Apps such as GasBuddy allow users to search their nearby area for the cheapest gas prices, saving them much-needed dollars when filling up their tanks. Best of all, this app enters users who report updated gas prices into a weekly drawing for $250.

Travel Destinations – If you’re on a road trip or get caught in a storm, apps like Kayak can have you hundreds on hotel rooms by showing you the best deals around. This app is also great for scoring cheap flights, booking last minute rooms, and has many perks such as currency conversion and car rental information.

Isn’t it time you took full control over the technological benefits of your phone? What are your favorite free apps? Will you be downloading any of these? Share your suggestions in the comments section below.

No other season says “road trips” quite like summer. The wind in your hair, the sound of the engine going, and your arm hanging out the window are staples of hitting the road, and you should be able to enjoy them without going broke. Here are a few ways to get going for less.

Plan it out: As always, a little planning goes a long way. Whether you’re going to the grocery store or driving across the country, take some time and map out your route online. It’ll help you find the shortest or most efficient way to get there, and you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing you’re taking the best path.

Take it Easy: It might be fun to put the pedal to the metal, but it takes its toll on your wallet. Revving the engine up gets your car accelerating faster, but it does so by burning more gasoline. Drive at a moderate pace, and accelerate slowly but steadily. Use your cruise control as much as possible. It’s easier on your car and more fuel efficient to remain moving at the same speed, instead of bobbing and weaving around the speed limit.

Go Synthetic: Switching to synthetic oil may only improve your fuel efficiency by a few percent, but its money saving effects go deeper than that. Sure, it may cost more than natural oil, but it lasts much, much longer. Throw out the old adage about needing an oil change every 3,000 miles. That may have been true in the 70s, but things are different today. Check your owners manual for a more realistic number. You might be surprised how much further you can go.

Check ‘em: Tires are literally where the rubber hits the road, but they often get overlooked when it comes to saving money. Invest in a tire gauge, and make sure your tires are properly inflated. Under inflated tires will drag down your gas mileage, and are easily fixed. The same is true about your air filter and fluid levels, too. Take the savings even further by learning to do some basic maintenance yourself. You might be surprised how much you can do.

Read Your Owner’s Manual: Nothing sets you back like having to repair your vehicle, but unfortunately most people don’t know how to take care of their vehicle. Educate yourself by reading your owner’s manual, which will teach you proper care and maintenance of your vehicle.   You’ll also learn about the specific needs of your car now, which can save you time and money down the road.

Vacation time is just around the corner, so get your car in top gear and get going!

As the weather heats up, your house faces a whole new set of challenges from mother nature. Although you spent all winter trying to keep your house warm, the tables are turning and soon you’ll need a cool place to chill out. Here’s help in beating the heat without racking up a huge energy bill.

Thermostat: Because it’s how you regulate the temperature of your house, the thermostat is the first place you should look when trying to reduce energy cost. Invest in a programmable thermostat so you don’t waste energy cooling your house when no one is home. Make sure no lamps, televisions, or other heat-producing appliances are near your thermostat, as they may bump up its heat reading and cause your air conditioner to work harder than it has to.

Also consider bumping up the temperature one degree per day until you find the maximum heat at which you can still be comfortable. You might be surprised how warm you like it, once you adjust to it.

Cooling Down: You can’t fight nature, so you may as well have it work for you. Open your windows at night to let in cold air, and then shut them in the morning to keep it in. To get a breeze going, open windows on the side of your house facing the wind and the opposite side to create natural ventilation.

Also consider investing in ceiling fans. Fans can make a room feel substantially cooler, and require much less energy than cranking up your air conditioner. They can also function as a design element, so think of it as giving your room a new look, too.

If you do need to cool your house further, set the thermostat for the end temperature you want, not a cooler one. It won’t cool your house any faster, but it will cost you more. It is a good idea to have your air conditioning inspected once a year, to make sure it’s operating in peak condition and not wasting you any money.

Stop Inside Heat: Heat can come from inside your home as well as outside, so do what you can to keep the core of your home cool. Cook on a grill outside or in your microwave instead of using the oven or stove to eliminate the biggest perpetrators. If you do have to run heat-producing appliances like the dishwasher or dryer, wait until night to do so. Or, try air-drying your clothes and dishes for even further savings.

It’s important to light your house, but incandescent light bulbs produce a massive amount of heat. Use natural daylight whenever possible, and switch to more efficient bulbs that produce more light with less energy and heat.

Lastly, turn your hot water heater down to 120 degrees. It’s one of the biggest users of energy in the house, and you won’t need water hotter than that during the summer months.

With these tips you’ll be able to keep cool without having to break the bank. So sit back, pour yourself some iced tea, and take it easy in comfort.

Spring break is the time when people want to go to the best places irrespective of how expensive the trip might end up being in the end. But who wouldn’t want to spend less money and not exceed the budget?

Here are some top destinations for Spring break where you can not only have the time of your life but also save money while doing so-

Jamaica: Home to so many music festivals, if you are looking to drink and party, this is the place for you. It is also an amazing place to go if you want to enjoy a variety of beaches. And if you are looking for adventure, well you could climb the 700-foot cascading waterfalls of duns River Falls. The best part about going to Caribbean and Mexico though is definitely the fact that ‘APPLE VACATIONS’ could give you 3 all-inclusive nights starting at $581.

Cancun: Yes, that amazing deal mentioned above would make your trip to Mexico totally worth it. After all, it is surrounded on three sides by lagoon, bay and sea. Again, if you are seeking adventure, Cancun is naturally situated in subtropical jungle perfect for exploration so you could just hop on a jet ski or charter a boat for some deep-sea fishing and spend a leisurely day at sea. Besides, I am sure everybody has heard college students talk about going to Cancun for Spring break. It’s just THAT great!

The Big Island, Hawaii: Hawaii super sale on ‘APPLE VACATIONS’ has a brilliant offer of 3 nights starting at $752. So if you want to enjoy the dazzling lava show of Hawaii’s volcano to the island’s flowing waterfalls and lose yourself amidst nature’s true wonders, you should definitely choose to travel to The Big Island.

Panama: Another brilliant place to spend the vacation is Panama. It offers a variety of world-class attractions. So if you don’t feel up for going to Caribbean, you can still find similar types of beaches at this place. It is also a top destination for adventurists, eco-tourists history buffs, beach lovers, families and romantics.

San Jose: Okay enough with the beaches! If you’re looking to go to one of the most cosmopolitan cities of Central America, San Jose won’t be a disappointment. It is such a diverse vacation experience that you are guaranteed to not regret it. You could use the ‘Enjoy the Life of Luxury on an All-Inclusive Luxury Vacation’ deal and make the most on whatever trip you decide to go to.

Don’t hesitate to create a memorable Spring break or even celebrate a romantic occasion and check out our coupon site to save  with Apple Vacations!

When it comes to weddings, even the best of us can get a little carried away. It’s supposed to be your “special day” and you want it to be perfect. The bad news is that weddings are notoriously expensive. The good news is that they don’t have to be. Here are some great tips for keeping you in the black as well as the white:

1. Personal Electronics: Rather than hiring a band or a deejay, do what a lot of people are doing nowadays and take advantage of your extensive collection of music. Opt for using your iPod or laptop with rented speakers. You’ll save a lot of money on a deejay, and you’ll be sure that all of your favorite songs will be played.

1. Vintage Clothing: You can find a lot of great deals online when it comes to vintage wedding dresses. If you’re not into the traditional wedding gown, you’ll have your pick of affordable dresses. Try searching out EBay Etsy or specialty vintage shops.  The same goes for men. Consider eschewing a tux in favor of a suit and you will save a bundle.

1. Two in One: Rather than having to pay for everything separately, find a venue that offers catering, or is beautiful without the need for decoration.  Some places will include both and this is a great way to save money on food delivery costs as well as decorations. Most importantly, it cuts down on the stress of having to deal with several different companies.

1. Guest List: Speaking of menus, keep your guest list short. You will be tempted to invite everyone you’ve ever met, but just consider the cost per plate (even with buffet). Stick to the people who are most important to you. Those are the ones who will be there to remember it with you later.

1. DIY: Whenever possible, do it yourself. This includes invitations, place cards and decoration. You can save a lot of money just making your own invitations, and there are great online printing services from which to choose. This also allows you to be a lot more creative with the style.

1. Never on a Sunday?:  Not anymore. By switching your wedding from a Saturday to a Sunday, you’ll receive a lot cheaper rate.

1. Combine your sites: Consider having your ceremony and reception in the same place. This is a lot easier on the guests, because they don’t have to worry about travelling. It can also save you the cost of booking two different places. Restaurants can be a great option because you can get food and plenty of seating. Consider having guests sit at their tables, rather than in rows for the ceremony.

Weddings can be extremely expensive, even when you have the best of intentions, but following these tips will free up just a little more money to celebrate the real treat: that wonderful honeymoon.

Getting in shape can be hard.  First, there is the temptation of all the delicious foods available all year round. Second, not everyone has the time or money available to spend at the gym.
Here are some tips to get in shape this Spring without breaking the budget: