List: Some apps to help save you money and keep you in budget

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Earlier this year we ran a story   that talked about several apps available to help save you money, and now we're at it again. Instead of just coupon and frugal shopper apps, here is a list of several varieties of downloadable applications for Android and iPhone that can make your life easier while keeping your wallet a bit heavier.

Gas and Driving

• GasBuddy – for Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and iPhone. GasBuddy is fueled by user reports of gas prices and can help drivers choose the cheapest filling stations in their area. Don't have a smartphone? Get the information at nbcactionnews.com/gas.
• GasCubby -  is a premium ($4.99) app for iPhone that not only helps chart your gas-consumption but also logs gas prices, reminds you when you need an oil change, stores your VIN and license plate numbers and it supports multiple vehicles.
• Carticipate for iPhone and Carpool  for Android – These apps are designed to help track carpool efficiency and plan driver schedules.

Shopping

• GroceryIQ  - This app is not merely a coupon finder or shopping list app. It's both. It's ability to sync with grocery lists you make on the phone or on the internet, you can plan shopping by searching, scanning barcodes or even voice-activated features. Also, it's hard to beat the price – Free on both Android and Apple App markets.
• CardStar  - this clever iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Android app does not save you money directly, but it makes it easier to do something that you may already be doing. The app stores all the little barcode-strewn 'membership' or 'benefit' cards that are omnipresent in today's grocery, drug and electronics sores. Simply take a photo or manually enter your existing barcode and it is stored on your phone, never to dangle distractingly on your keychain or lay forgotten in a drawer again.
• Groupon  – This application for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and browsers is a mobile access point to the explosively popular Groupon.com. To the uninitiated, Groupon is a novel pay-for-coupon service that enables users to pay (usually half the savings value) for a coupon.
• Garage Sale Rover   - This app combines Craigslist and 'other sources' together to search for estate, garage and yard sales. It maps the locations and provides GPS-able addresses to the user. - Free for Android and iPhone.

Budget and Finance

• Mint  – is a very powerful (and free!) tool for Android and iPhone devices that facilitates financial management. This app has tools to allow the user to track their bank accounts, bills, set and calculate budgets, track investments, plan loan payments and more. In addition to all those features, Mint does it all with eye-pleasing and easy to interpret charts and graphs. A great addition to all the cost-saving apps is one that allows you to plan and manage all those new savings.
• Loot  – Loot is a free app available exclusively on Android devices. It is a digital ledger that a user can use to keep track of all their expenses. It is pretty much a battery-powered balance book, but it has the advantage of not being linked to your bank account or any personal information that could lead to identity theft if hacked.

While some of these apps just help the user more efficiently find deals, manage their finances or plan a budget, all of these can help in some way to ease the strain on the ol' pocketbook.

If you have tips or advice for ways that you use your phone or computer to help save you money or manage your money more efficiently, we would love to hear from you. Comment below or join the conversation on our Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/NBCActionNews