7 Ways Technology Helps You Save Money

The pace at which new applications, software and digital devices are being created every day is stunning. While it’s hard for everyone to keep up with the changes technology is bringing about, we can’t deny that these applications have made life more convenient for us – they save us time, make choices available and speed up processes. Lifesavers, truly! Lately, these applications have also been helping us save a lot of money on everyday things.
Let’s take a look at a few applications that help you save big bucks on everyday simple things:

1. Voice Over Internet Protocol Services

Hey, it’s just a fancy term for online services that allow you to make phone calls through a broadband internet connection for free – such as WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, Google Voice, etc. Some of these services even allow you to chat for free, especially if it’s a domestic call.

Now, no more timing your calls or dealing with the complicated plans your phone service provider doles out to you. You can reach out to your loved ones and talk to your heart’s content without a care in the world.

2. File Sharing Apps

Gone are the days when emails and USB drives dictated your file sharing needs. Free file sharing apps and software are here! They make file sharing a breeze, and some of them come with zero restrictions on the size of the file. A few popular ones are ShareIt, Xender, Pushbullet and Dropbox. The best thing about these applications is that you don’t need to spend a single penny on any of them, and they also make file sharing possible from anywhere, even while on the move. Xender and Pushbullet are available for Android and iOS users and also have browser extensions that can be used on PC. Dropbox is a free software that gives you 2GB of storage to share files with other Dropbox users and sync your files online and across your own computers. The software provides a folder on your computer where your files can be stored, and you can access them from any of your other computers or mobile devices. Additional storage can be bought starting at $9.99 per month.

3. Free Book-Reading Apps

There is no sincerer love than the love of books. But buying and storing these wonders may not be as affordable as it sounds. Besides, a physical book that you would like to read may not always be within your reach. But fret not bibliophiles – here are some amazing apps that won’t cost you a dime. Download apps like Goodreads, Overdrive, Shelfie, LibraryThing, Scribd, and get access to a treasure trove of amazing books. While some apps allow you to manage, catalogue, and rate books, some have amazing features too. Goodreads allows you to see what books your friends are reading. Most of these are free apps, but Scribd has a minimal charge every month. For $8.99 per month, you can get access to every book that Scribd has the rights to. Not a bad deal for a one-time investment, isn’t it?

4. Custom Music Playlist

Move over CDs and portable MP3 players! Create custom playlists with Mixtape.me for free and share it with your friends. The next time you’re throwing a bash or are in the mood for some new music for free, check this site out. While you won’t have access to the actual files, you can test out some tunes and later buy the ones you really love! There are some cool Android apps, such as HABU Music, My Playlist Maker and PaceDJ, to create playlists as well. HABU Music is not just a regular app. It has a pretty impressive amazing feature – it does not just create a random playlist. It gauges the mood of all the songs and creates a playlist accordingly. PaceDJ is a great app as it creates playlists based on your heart beat per minute! Cool stuff, huh?

5. Video Streaming

If not for the internet, or we’d be at the mercy of the myriad broadcast satellite television providers that dominate the industry. The internet not only gives us options to choose from but also and gives us the freedom to choose through video streaming services such as Netflix, Showmax and Amazon Prime. You can Sign Up with any of these for free for a month, after which you need to pay a minimal subscription. If you compare the costs of streaming services versus broadcast service providers, video streaming is way cheaper even with your internet charges including.

6. Virtual & Augmented Reality

Have a furniture that’s too big for your drawing room or doesn’t go with the rest of the decor? Frustrating, isn’t it! Here’s some good news for impulsive shoppers – technology now lets you use virtual and augmented reality (AR) to remodel your rooms without leaving your house.

Some such apps that allow you to place items in your house before you actually buying them are Apple’s Roomle, Foschini’s @home AR app, Wayfair’s ‘View In Room feature. Some of these apps may cost you a bit but imagine the money they are helping you save on unwanted furniture.

7. Online Money Transfer Apps

Digital evolution has made banking and money transfers hassle-free and faster than what it was before. All digital money transfer service providers have apps that can help you transfer money anytime, anywhere, even on the go. Western Union, Remitly, WorldFirst, Transferwise and InstaReM are some of the major players that save you time and transport costs of travelling to a physical branch. However, InstaReM is probably one of the best of the lot as it doesn’t charge you FX margins, nor does it have any hidden costs, which are typical of all other service providers.

Awesome huh? While some of these apps and services may cost you a bit, they make up for their value over time and continued use. What are you waiting for, guys? Check these apps out and save more so that you can #DoMore.