Must-Have Cell Phone Apps for Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday is  just a few days away and I am sure some of you will be out there in full force for the busiest shopping weekend of the year.  Why not use your cell phones to make your shopping easier  the Black Friday chaos with these Black Friday apps.

7 Black Friday Apps

1. Store & Parking Navigation — Making a detailed list of everything you need from Black Friday sales is a great first step. Finding everything in a timely manner is your next challenge, and some retailers are making that task a little easier. Both Target and Walmart have store maps and product finders that navigate you directly to the products on your list. Since you also want to find your way back to your vehicle, download one of these five apps to help you with that, too.

2. Shopping List & Wallet Organization — Losing track of your list, receipts and other shopping essentials is a recipe for overspending on Black Friday. The OneReceipt app will keep your wallet clutter free by turning your paper receipts into digital files while the CardStar app ensures you have access to those loyalty points fast at checkout. Santa’s Bag (iPhone) or Christmas Gift List (Android) will keep your gift list and your holiday budget at your fingertips so you can stay on top of your spending.

3. Black Friday Deal Summary — Keeping track of all the deals and promotions on Black Friday is pretty much impossible, but the experts at Dealnews have you covered. Their Black Friday 2014 app keeps track of all the deals and details store hours and opening times. Pay specific attention to the analysis of Black Friday deals and duds so you know what to buy and what to skip.

4. Cheapest Price Check — According to a survey by Microsoft, nearly half (46 percent) of Americans will research Black Friday sales and promotions online before hitting the stores. This is a smart move, one that should be repeated in-store as you discover new deals. RedLaser and ShopSavvy are two great options, each offering an easy barcode-scanning function that pulls up all the local and online sellers of the product you’re looking at, as well as their prices. You should also download Amazon’s Price Check to ensure the product you’re looking at isn’t better priced by the online retailer.

5. Deeper Doorbuster Discounts — Black Friday deals can be enhanced by retailer coupons, but who has the time or capacity to keep track of all those paper slips? Download the Coupon Sherpa mobile app for instant access to additional savings to hundreds of retailers. Do yourself a favor and load the coupon before you enter the store, since some buildings don’t have the greatest reception and you don’t want to be fumbling with your phone at checkout. You can also use the app to refuel for less and save money at nearby restaurants.

6. Rewards & Cash Back — Wouldn’t it be great if someone paid you to shop on Black Friday? Some apps will do just that. Shopkick rewards you just for visiting certain stores, scanning certain products and even completing such normal shopping activities as trying items on in a fitting room. Rewards turn into gift cards to your favorite stores. Instead of cluttering your friends’ Facebook feeds with banal status updates, use the Swagbucks app to take surveys, watch videos and participate in polls, all of which earn you points that you can also turn into gift cards.

7. Price Tracking — Savvy shoppers know not everything is a good deal on Black Friday. However, it can be tempting to complete as much holiday shopping as possible during the weekend, which can lead to missed savings. Instead of picking up those items that are a measly 15-percent off, use the SnapUp app to document the product and price. The app organizes all your desired items and then pings you when there’s a price drop. PoachIt also sends you price alerts and notifies you when coupon codes become available.

Thanks to  Andrea Woroch for the list of Black Friday apps is a nationally-recognized shopping expert for Kinoli Inc., who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. From smart spending tips to personal finance advice, Andrea transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers.

Disclosure: NYC Single Mom was not compensated for this post.