Saturday, March 24, 2018

What's on My... Phone? 20 of My Favorite Apps

* This post contains affiliate links. Please refer to my disclaimer for more information.


Be honest with yourself for a minute: your entire life is on your phone. From your favorite music to your bank account, any information you could ever possibly need is right in your pocket.

Every so often, I decide that it's time for me to do some "spring cleaning" on my phone... getting rid of the apps that I never use. So which apps are the keepers? It's a tough decision sometimes, especially with new ones coming out almost weekly, but these 20 apps are my ride or die.

Spotify

I don't think I could go a day without listening to music. From when I wake up, to while I'm at work, to when I (occasionally) go to the gym, Spotify is my jam... literally. Play that song that is stuck in your head on repeat or let Spotify suggest playlists for you, it always seems to know what I need to hear. For the record, Spotify Premium is definitely worth the (small) investment to be able to save playlists and access exclusive content.

Mint

I'm one of those people who anxiously checks my bank account waiting for transactions to be posted so I know exactly how much I have at all times. I love Mint because I can see all of my bank accounts in one app, it's hella secure, and it allows me to make budgets (and annoys me when I don't stick to them). Plus, the app is very clean-looking which makes it easier to understand.

Ibotta

Cash back for grocery shopping (and tons of other places)? Yes please! Add rebates on the app, go shopping, and when you're done, take a picture of your receipt. The best part is that Ibotta pays in cash, or gift cards if you so choose. I've had the app for six months and I've already earned over $100 back. 100% recommend. Get a $10 welcome bonus when you sign up using my referral link here.

LastPass

Can never remember your millions of usernames and passwords? It's ok, me too. LastPass is seriously a lifesaver. With a secure way to store all of your important information and capabilities to access information from multiple devices, LastPass is definitely a keeper.

Venmo

Do you have that friend that you lend money to all the time and they never remember to pay you back? With Venmo, there really is no excuse. Use it to easily send rent/utility money to your roommates, chip in for that work team lunch, or say thank you to that friend that always is picking you up Starbucks. All the money stays in your (secure) account until you transfer it (safely) to your bank. The best part is when you forget you have money in that account, and realize it when you least expect it.

Planoly

Ever wonder how some people on Instagram have the perfect aesthetic to their feeds? They probably use an app like this to plan it all out. Planoly is my choice, because I love the interface. It's easy to plan out photos, captions, stories, save hashtags, and post directly from the app. Makes you want to be an "instablogger" now, doesn't it?

Aftership

If you're anything like me, you have a bad habit of online shopping. Aftership is a great free app to track all of your purchases in one place once you have a tracking number, no matter the shipping method. You can even turn on notifications so that you know when (and where) it was delivered.

SheReadsTruth

I'm definitely not one to force my religion on anyone, but if you have been following me for a while, you know that I am very in-tune with my faith. I love having this the SheReadsTruth app on my phone because it's more than just a devotional. It's a community. The app makes reading the bible relatable and convenient (and also aesthetically pleasing). If you're looking for a guide into faith, this is a good one.

MoviePass

Would you believe me if I told you that you could see one movie every day for the low price of $10/month? MoviePass is my new obsession and the app is how you "check in" to theaters and get your ticket. Fair warning, when you sign up, it takes about 2 weeks to receive your physical card in the mail, which is required to pay for your ticket. But the app is great for picking out my next flick.

Scannable

For those of you that work on the go, Scannable is perfect for you. It's so simple to use, just take a "photo" of your document, and the app does the rest, making it look like it was actually scanned. Textbooks, signed forms, photos, you name it! You can even save as an image or a PDF, and save or send, right from your phone. I don't think I would have been able to get through college without this app.

Bitmoji

Want to add a little personality to your text messages? Have you been wondering what those little people are in Snapchat? Yep, they are Bitmojis. You can design them to look almost exactly like you or not. They have a ton of friendly, cute, and sassy expressions, which are perfect for every message. I don't think I can have an actual text conversation anymore without them.

Lyft

Driving downtown (or anywhere really) can be a hassle, especially when you live near a big city. I'm seriously so thankful that apps like Lyft exist. This way, I don't have to deal with parking, traveling is a little less stressful, and calling is a car is as simple as opening an app. Whether you're planning on drinking or not, it's always nice to know you'll get where you need to go. Also, as a (side hustle) driver, I prefer Lyft to Uber because it offers more bonuses for driving, and I have talked to plenty of my own drivers that would agree. If Uber surges are too high and you're looking for a new way to get around town, feel free to sign up using my code "VICTORIA448111".

Bumble

Dating in today's day and age is honestly one of the hardest things ever. I go through phases where I'm totally interested and then I'm just bored... and this happens a lot. Bumble is the one "dating" app that I refuse to get rid of because I love being able to have control of the conversations. It allows me to be so much more picky when it comes to the men I chose to invest my time in. Also, for when I get bored with dating men, Bumble offers a BFF and "Bizz" option to encourage me to expand my girl gang and network. It's the only app (so far) that does this and that's why I love it so much.

VSCO

VSCO is my go-to editing app for all my photos. Use preset filters or manually edit the brightness, saturation, and all of the other components of the photo right in the app. All your edited photos save to your gallery.

Target

This app is a necessity for anyone addicted to Target, like myself. I frequently use this app to check if my store has something in stock to make sure a Target-run is completely necessary, and it usually is. Also, Cartwheel is now integrated with the regular Target app so there is an easy way to store all your coupons and scan them, and your Target RedCard, at checkout.

Ebates

If you're like me, you do a lot of your shopping online to avoid interacting with real people. Ebates is probably my favorite "cash back" app, and I've earned over $100 back since I started. Download the app on your phone and when you are ready to shop, search for the store in the app and click "shop". It's that easy. (There is also a Google Chrome button you can download, which reminds you when you are shopping on your laptop.)  Cashback percents vary per day and per store, but it's always worth it when you are saving money. If you're new, feel free to sign up using my referral link here.

ClassPass

Are you interested in-studio workouts like yoga, barre, or spinning but don't want to commit to one studio membership? I found ClassPass when I moved to Columbus and it's opened my eyes to so many different types of workouts. Booking is easy, right on the app. There are always new classes to discover, so you're never bored. Definitely worth a try, right? You can get $30 off your first month by using my referral link here.

Drop

I will never complain about new ways to save money. Recently, a friend recommended that I try out Drop. The best part is that there are no receipts to scan, simply link your credit cards, pick your five favorite offers, and the app tracks your points for you. You can spend your points on gift cards for places like Amazon, Starbucks, or even airlines and hotels. Get 1,000 free points when you sign up with my referral link here.

Achievement

Achievement is one of those apps that I put on my phone and completely forget that I have, but is a great one to keep around because I get paid for moving. Hook it up with your Apple HealthKit or other fitness apps and it will track and give you points. When you get enough points, you get cash. I will admit that it takes time to accrue enough points for a payout, but it's always a nice surprise. If you want some bonus points, use my referral link here.

HQ

If you're really into trivia, this is the app for you. My coworkers convinced me to download it and now it has become part of our workday routine. At 3PM EST and 9PM EST (and occasionally other random times) you can play LIVE trivia and potentially win CASH. Have I won anything? Nope. But it's still fun. My referral code is "victoriawerth", if you wanna download it and send a life my way.

Like I said at the beginning of this post, with phone technology growing rapidly, I'm sure in a couple weeks I'll have twenty new favorite apps, but for now... here ya go! If you've managed to read this whole post, I hope you aren't judging me based on my choices.

What are your favorite apps? I'd love to know if we have any favorites in common.

1 comment :

  1. This is such a great roundup of apps! I need to check SheReadsTruth and Ibottta out! I've heard amazing things about Ibotta and why not get some $$ back for shopping.

    ReplyDelete