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As you go through your day, you may use apps for email, Facebook, text messages, photos, games and more. But what apps do you use in your daily life to save you time and money?
You may not think to use apps for your daily life but you may be missing out on discounts and rewards even though you’re one of the store’s best customers. You may be running into traffic congestion or public transit delays that could have been avoided with an app.
You may not realize that local apps can offer discounts, rewards, convenience and more as you go about your daily life. Local apps can also help you navigate, helping you use public transportation and avoid traffic snarls. Local apps may make your life more rewarding and convenient.
[important]Check out the BIG Wonder of Tech news at the end of this article! [/important]
Stores
Your local stores may have their own specific apps or may participate with general apps that give you discounts and rewards. The next time you’re out and about look for signs that your favorite stores have apps to help you shop. Usually these apps are free so try downloading them to see if they’re helpful.
Check the store website or ask a clerk or manager if the store has any apps that may be useful to you.
Target — Cartwheel
Use Target’s Cartwheel app to get extra savings throughout the store. Download the app then scan barcodes of items before putting them in your cart.
Included items have a Cartwheel discount of 5-30%. If an item isn’t included, Cartwheel may suggest similar items that do have discounts.
If the item does have a Cartwheel discount you can add it to the app. Fill up your Cartwheel app with offers and the app will generate a code for you to get your discount at checkout.
Update => Cartwheel is part of the Target app now.
Note that Target’s Apple Watch app shows the code so you can keep your phone in your pocket/purse at checkout.
Cartwheel is available free for:
Google Popular Times
Trying to find whether the lines will be long at your favorite restaurant or coffee shop? Check out Google which added a feature last week to show you the most popular times at busy establishments.
Search for a place using your Google app on your Android device or the Google website using Safari or Chrome on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. Scroll down to “More information” on the location card for the business. You’ll see a graph with the busiest times (historically) for that place.
Google has graphs with hourly traffic each day of the week for millions of businesses around the world.
Belly
Just because a retailer is local doesn’t mean they don’t have a reward app. Belly is a rewards app used by stores and restaurants to reward their loyal customers.
Open the Belly app at a participating retailer and scan your code on the store’s iPad screen. You’ll earn points for each visit you can redeem for rewards.
Belly works with both large chains and small local shops. Check out the Belly Locations page to see which retailers use Belly near you. Find stores such as:
- 7-11
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe
- Cozi Swirl
- Sarge’s New York Deli
- Johnny Rockets
- Edible Arrangements
and many other local retailers.
The Belly App is free for:
Wawa
Wawa, a convenience store based in the Philadelphia area, has a very handy app that gives you rewards and lets you pay for items using your phone. Download the app and register for an account. You can load the app with funds using a pre-paid gift card or you can link your credit card to the app.
Use the app to pay for items at Wawa (other than gas) and earn rewards. You can also use the app to find out nutrition information, locate a store, check in on social media and check gas price.
The Wawa app is free for:
Bonus: Store employees seem to be exceptionally well trained on this app. They are eager to help customers and seem to understand how to use the app for payment and to redeem rewards.
Starbucks
Starbucks mobile app lets you pay for your purchase and earn rewards. You can use the app to place your order in some locations.
Starbucks also has an Apple Watch app you can use to see your reward level and pay for your purchase.
Starbucks app is available free for:
Transportation
Getting from Point A to Point B can be easier in your daily life using apps. See transport maps, have your tickets handy and view schedules from your mobile device.
Amtrak
If you ride the rails, Amtrak app is extremely useful to make and change reservations, see schedules and have your ticket handy for the conductor. Download the Amtrak app and search for train times to plan your trip. You can purchase your ticket on the app and change your reservations on the go.
Check on train times and see possible delays from the app. Get information about stations to learn about elevators, restrooms, lounges, Wi-Fi, station hours and more.
Log in with your Amtrak account and have your ticket ready on your screen even if you used another method to purchase your ticket. You never have to worry about printing or losing your ticket when you use the Amtrak app.
Tip: Take a screenshot of your ticket to have it handy in case you don’t have an Internet connection on the train.
Amtrak’s app is available free for:
Local Rail
Check out your local rail service for apps to see transport maps, train schedules, service updates and more.
In the Philadelphia area you can use the SEPTA app to see train schedules, plan your route and see the location of your train. You can see which train is the next once to arrive at your station.
Also check out:
- Tube Exits to navigate the London Tube,
- NYC Subway Apps For The iPhone article at App Advice
- Routesy Free Bay Area San Francisco Muni, BART & AC Transit
- TripView Sydney & Melbourne (with an Apple Watch app included)
Traffic Apps
Traffic apps can make the difference between you getting stuck in a massive traffic jam and you arriving at your destination on time. Whether apps alert you to road construction, accidents, weather conditions and more.
Check out these traffic apps:
Waze – a crowd-sourced traffic app that gives you real-time traffic information.
Google Maps to see real-time traffic information and get directions to your destination.
=> Don’t miss: Google Maps Traffic – The Answer to Your Traffic Nightmares
Do a search for the best traffic apps for your area:
Also check to see if your area has any traffic camera apps. Want to see traffic conditions for yourself? Traffic cameras can show you real-time images of roads in your area.
Check out PA Traffic Cams for views of Pennsylvania roads.
Other Local Apps
News — Apps from your local news station can alert you to changing weather conditions, traffic incidents and breaking news that might affect you. Your favorite news broadcast might not have your favorite apps. Check the apps for all of your local news stations for features and ratings to see which one fits you best.
Museums — If you’re a member of a museum or other attraction, check to see if there’s an app to help. You may be able to learn about current and future exhibits, opening hours, special events and more. The app might serve as your membership card and give you access to member functions.
You may be able to see previews of exhibits from the app. Check out this list of museum apps from About.com:
Your Thoughts
Which local apps do you find useful? Do you use local apps in your daily life? What apps would you recommend to people in your area? Share your thoughts and favorite local apps in the Comments section below!
* Main Street image courtesy of Justin Brown via Flickr and Creative Commons
** App screen image courtesy of Jim Trottier via Flickr and Creative Commons
BIG Wonder of Tech News
Big news for The Wonder of Tech! I will be a regular guest every month on the Internet radio show Going Home with Tony on Blog Talk Radio. My appearance on the show as a guest in June went so well that the hosts, Tony and Claudia Scimeca, invited me back every month for a 15-minute Tech Talk segment.
I’ll be a guest the first Thursday of each month, starting this Thursday, August 6 at 6 pm EDT/5 pm CDT/ 3 pm PDT, about halfway through the show. You can find out more and listen to the show on the Going Home from Tony page.
Congrats, Carolyn, wonderful news about you becoming a regular at Tony’s and Claudia’s Going Home With Tony. I will try to listen this coming Thursday (if I fall not asleep before as it is midnight in Switzerland by then!).
Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for your support! If you can’t stay away, feel free to listen to the podcast. You can catch it on iTunes, Going Home with Tony on iTunes, or on the Blog Talk Radio website, Going Home with Tony on Blog Talk Radio.
Great, thanks for the link, Carolyn, very helpful – have a great day!
You’re very welcome, Barbara!
Hi Carolyn Ma’am
Good list of Apps. Yes, I use local apps in my daily life, and my favorite app is Google Maps. However, there is one other app that is my favorite is HERE Maps by Nokia but that is not in the list above. GPS and navigation apps are very useful for travelers. I would like to share HERE maps which happen to be a very popular GPS navigation app.
Regards,
Mohit