App-y New Year! Get Organized with These 8 Apps
As a modern parent, the pressure is always on to save more money, remember every sports game, be in-the-know about the newest social media networks, help with homework, protect your children, and on and on. There may not be an app for being the perfect parent, but you can use your smart phone as a tool to help you keep up with your fast-paced life. Verizon Wireless’ Ginger Daril shares eight apps to simplify your life and keep you organized in the New Year.
Money Savers
QBOT: Developed here in Arkansas, this app helps you rack up rewards at businesses around town, which include both national chains and locally-owned joints. When you visit your favorite participating spots, you simply scan the QR code to get points. After only a few visits of saving up points, you’ll get a discount or a freebie. The upside: You can finally clear all those loyalty cards and punch cards out of your wallet or purse. Available for Android and iOS. Free.
Ibotta: “Cash, not coupons,” says the tagline of this mobile shopping buddy. Before shopping at your go-to stores—Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Whole Foods, Kroger and others—open the app and see what offers are available for certain products. The more tasks you complete, such as tweeting the deal, taking a poll or reading the nutritional label, the more cash you will add to your account. The earnings are unlocked once you buy the item, and your cash can be transferred to your PayPal account, or redeemed in gift cards. Available for Android and iOS. Free.
Organizers
Google Keep: How many times do you hear “Hey Mom, can you remind me to…”? Keep track of your family’s (and your own) thoughts and be notified right when you need to remember. This amazing app instantly syncs with all your devices—desktop and mobile. So any checklists, voice memos, snapshots and other notes can be annotated, color coded, stored and timed to be on your mind at the right time. Available for Android. Free.
Pocket: This digital age “storage cubby” allows you to save online content for later access. The next time you’re interrupted in the middle of reading an article, watching a video or online shopping, you can put the link in your pocket for your next spare minute. The app automatically syncs with all of your devices that have an internet connection. Available for Android and iOS. Free.
MyHomework: Students upload their personal class schedule and track projects, assignments, or tests by class and date. They’ll get reminders when assignments are due, and will be notified if any projects are late. Available for Android and iOS. Free.
Time Saver
ISIS Mobile Wallet: Save time at checkout with this app—it organizes your credit and debit cards, offers and loyalty cards, and allows you to pay with one tap anywhere you see the mobile payment symbol (20,000 locations nationwide and counting). Plus, the app is safe and secure with PIN-protection and a remote locking ability. Available for Android. Free.
Usage Monitors
FamilyBase: Protect your children and monitor their mobile phone usage with help from this app (available to Verizon customers). Parents can see who their child texts or calls the most and when, though content remains private. Block contacts you don’t trust, and see what apps your child is using. And when all else fails, you can give your child a time out by remotely disabling the phone for up to 30 minutes. $5 per month.
Safely Go: Help discourage distracted driving in your family. Simply turn on the app every time you or your teen is behind the wheel. An automatic response will be sent to all incoming text messages notifying the sender that you are on the road. The driver can choose to receive calls and texts from three VIPs, but all other numbers will be blocked while the app is turned on. Available for Android. Free.