5 smartphone apps to help you SAVE MONEY

Your smartphone occupies a considerable space in your life today. From the moment you wake up to the minute you go to sleep, your smartphone is your one stop shop for all your needs like e-mail, news, navigation and of course, making the occasional call and sending a text message.

Social networking, reading news, uploading pictures or just managing your routine affairs, you smartphone is not only consuming your time and battery, but your money as well.

So here are 5 apps that will help you save money while taking care of routine work on your smartphone.

1. Skype on your smartphone

Making calls costs money, making video calls, even more. If you are someone who needs to talk over the phone a lot, then Skype on your smartphone is one of the best options to reduce call costs.

The app works over Wi-Fi as well as 3G networks.

So what's unique? Well, users can make free Skype-to-Skype video calls, and call phones at Skype rates on the move.

Users can also make free voice and video calls to anyone else on Skype, whether they're on an Android, iPhone, Mac or PC, as well as IMs to your friends and family.

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2. WhatsApp Messenger

If you are an SMS junkie, then there is no reason for you not to look at this app.

WhatsApp Messenger is a smartphone messenger available for all operating systems including Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Phone and Nokia phones.

WhatsApp uses 3G connectivity or Wi-Fi (when available) to message friends and family. The app lets you send and receive messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages.

The app is free for the first year that you download it but after that you need to pay $0.99 (Rs 53) per annum.

The app however is not free for iOS users.

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3. Mobile counter

If you are someone who needs to be connected to the Internet all the time on the go, then you need an app that will monitor you 3G data consumption.

We have seen instances where people have gotten hefty bills for their data usage. Not a pretty site!

Hence, we present to you data monitoring apps.

These apps monitor your data consumptions and warn you when you are about reach or cross your limit. You can also restrict the use of data on your device with these apps.

There are many apps in this field but we are going to recommend one app per platform for you to check out!

For Android users: Mobile Counter 3G, Wi-Fi for free

For iOS users: My data usage pro app for $0.99 (Rs 53 approximately)

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4. Tax calculator

There are two things certain in life -- death and taxes, the former may be unavoidable but we can certainly monitor the amount of tax we pay and do our best to reduce the amount of money that flows from our hands to the government.

Unfortunately a lot of people are unclear about the taxable amount and the calculation methods. Luckily, there is an app for that.

The taxation apps help users determine their tax liability and well, once you know how much tax you are going to pay, you may as well find a smart CA to save you some money!

For Android users: Income tax calculator app

For Windows Phone users: Income tax calc app

For iOS users: My Tax India app

All these apps mentioned here are free.

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

5. Account tracker

You check the cash balance in your bank account and all you can think is, 'Where did all my money go?'

Well if you are a spendthrift or just want to monitor your spending's, there is an app for that. These apps help you keep track of you expenditures and earnings and manage your money more effectively.

For Android users: My budget book app will cost Rs 102.85

For Windows Phone users: Account book app is for free

For iOS users: The Account Tracker app has a free version as well as a paid version for $2.99 (Rs 160 approximately).

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.