Yes! I am one of the millions of crazy people that get up before dawn to hunt down the super Black Friday deals.
If you’re like me and preparing for the upcoming Black Friday chaos, I’ve compiled a list of some great mobile apps to assist you in navigating the chaos. I’ve downloaded and tested most of the apps below and so far they’re all great tools to add to the Black Friday tool belt. All the apps listed below are free or have a free (lite) version, so download away!
- Get all the Latest Black Friday Ads with TGI Black Friday App
TGI Black Friday lets you scope out previews of the hottest deals before they’re available in your local news sources. The app allows you to search thousands of Black Friday deals from all major retail stores as well as create a personal shopping list.
Convert Paper Coupons to Digital Coupons with SnipSnap App
The SnipSnap app allows you to convert a printed coupon into a digital, mobile format, which you can easily search and retrieve on your smartphone. All you need to do is snap a picture of the offer (direct-mail piece, newspaper, or otherwise) and the app works its magic to scan all of the printed text and images. Once scanned, you can not only redeem, but also set expiration-date notifications and in-store reminders. Bonus: The app even allows you to search through thousands of coupons in the SnipSnap database to find the exact deal you’re looking for.
Macy’s Black Friday App
“New this year, an iOS-only Black Friday enhancement to Macy’s official mobile app will offer customers a digital tool to help plan their shopping strategy in advance. Created in partnership with eBay, the app will preview Black Friday specials, allow shoppers to create personal shopping lists that they can edit and share, and get push notifications on specials. In addition, the new Black Friday feature on Macy’s mobile app will allow customers to browse Black Friday specials specific to each Macy’s, helping them navigate their local store by sending the department name and floor for each special by store location. The app is available starting November 15th by downloading the Macy’s App at the Apple App store” (Source: Business Wire). Bonus: Starting November 19th, Walmart will again have a Black Friday local-store map available to view and print on Walmart.com and its local Walmart Facebook pages. But this year, customers will be able to view an interactive local store map on the Walmart mobile app and click on items to see the price, product description, and location in the store.
- What’s The Final Price with SalesTax App
As the name implies, this app helps you calculate what the item’s final price will be with the discount and tax applied. This is app is as simple as they come.
Get There Fast with FastMall App
If you’re headed to a new or unwalked mall this Black Friday, check out the FastMall app. This app has amazing features including: shake your iPhone for the nearest restroom, tell FastMall® where you parked and it will remember for you, and, turn-by-turn guidance inside the mall, from store to store, without using GPS! For those shopping local or stateside, I’ve checked and many of the surrounding malls are mapped with FastMall including Devonshire Mall and Great Lakes Crossing. Bonus: According to online sources, the app doesn’t require an Internet connection or GPS to operate the app, so say goodbye to any roaming fees.
Make Your Wallet Virtual with Lemon Wallet App
This app has many features including the ability to digitize your wallet which in the Black Friday world means lighter purses. The app allows you to take a picture of everything in your wallet, and creates a digital version allowing you to: store your cards in the cloud and always have a backup in case your wallet is lost or stolen.
Total It Up with Shoeboxed Receipt Tracker and Receipt Reader App
Whether you like to be organized, want to keep track of your spending or want an easy way to tally up your purchases for Canadian customs, try downloading the Shoeboxed Receipt Tracker and Receipt Reader app. This app allows you to scan your paper receipts and turns them into images that can be easily tagged and searched. Better yet, if you snap the photo properly (that’s the trick) it will even record the totals and automatically enter the date, payment type, and store. The app also creates and sends expense reports right to your smartphone.
Find Out What You’re in the Mood For with MoodFood App
After a long day of shopping, why not let Windsor’s Red Piston’s MoodFood app guide you to a nearby restaurant that matches your mood. Select a colour and MoodFood will seek out restaurant suggestions based on foods that best match the emotional response to your selected colour. For example, red is associated with energy, excitement and adventure.
Keep Track of Holiday Shopping with Santa’s Little Helper App
Santa’s Little Helper is a Holiday gift giving organizer. This app helps you plan, organize and budget your gift giving. The app helps you to keep your holiday spending in check and ensures you don’t forget anyone on your Holiday list. And, as a helpful reminder, it has a countdown showing how many shopping days are left until Christmas.
Tip: Many stores will use their social networks to update shoppers on deals and store hours so follow your favorite stores’ Twitter feeds and click the ‘‘Like’’ button on their Facebook pages.
Happy Shopping!