This week I want to talk about money saving apps for your phone. There are just about millions to choose from, most should be free or only about $.99 to buy, but it is hard to know what is worth having cluttering up your dash!

This week I want to highlight the apps I use (and the ones you like!) and see if there are any that can help you save some money! I have found that the apps I use, have paid for the extra service fees for having Internet and a data plan on my phone.

Red Laser – LOVE this app! We have used it, I can’t even tell you how many times. Shop smarter. RedLaser Barcode Scanner searches for low online and local prices from hundreds of thousands of retailers. Features product results from Google, eBay, Milo, Shopping.com, Buy.com, Half.com, and TheFind!

We use this in the store to make sure that we are getting the best price. Recently we were shopping for Sperry shoes for my daughter, the store sis not have her size and they were a little pricey. We scanned the bar code on the box and found them for $20 less online and in her size! This app can be found for iPhone and Andriod. It is free.

Card Star – This app allows you to put ALL of your store loyalty cards on your phone so you can loose those annoying key chain fobs! All you do is type in your card number and the cashier just scans your phone, so there is no fumbling with trying to find the card! You can also add your library card, fitness club and any other card you scan and use! This app can be found for all iPhone and Android phones. It is free.

Stay tuned tomorrow, I will have more money saving apps for you!

A few weeks ago I posted the information below about fraudulent coupons below. I am still getting quite a few emails from readers that know people are using them and what should they do about it.

This is a hard one.

All you can really do is point them in the right direction. Show them this blog post or print off the CIC information sheet below.

After that if they choose to continue to steal from the store that is on them.

Now, here is another issue that I think needs to be addressed. A few people have said that they have been told the $6 Schick coupon from Coupons.com is fraudulent. They have even talked to corporate at Walmart and they said it was. This is a comment from a reader:

“I called customer service at the corporate headquarters who told me this coupon was fraudulent, they had flagged the coupon, and would no longer accept it. They cautioned me to be very careful when using Internet coupons as many are counterfeit or are a fraud.”

If I was to be told this at the register and embarrassed in front of people I would be furious. To be told it on the phone is bad enough, but they are not giving the entire story when they say things like this. Fraudulent is a word that is being tossed around a little too much. This coupon came from Coupons.com the MOST legit site to print coupons there is. I am sure they would not be happy to hear that they are being accused of fraud.

This is what I believe is going on.

This coupon is COMPLETELY legit, if YOU printed it off your computer from coupons.com. Someone decided to photo copy this coupon (which YOU CAN NOT DO!!!!) and once it is copied THAT particular bar code is what is fraudulent. Not the legit coupon YOU printed off! Because corporate and many store managers do not know anything about coupons, or the lingo, or how to read the reports from the CIC they assume falsely that ALL those coupons are fraudulent. Not the case.

What to do if they refuse your coupon saying it is fraudulent? Take a deep breath! Make sure you know where YOU got the coupon. Don’t take printable coupons from anyone and NEVER buy them. There is a phone number on the coupon that you can call and verify that it is legit. Call the manufacturer if you have to, to get confirmation that is is legit. Once you know that it is use it somewhere else. Never let anyone belittle you at a register. I would say, “Please do not accuse me of fraud or stealing, as I take that very personally. Let’s take a second to verify this coupon.” Be polite, step aside and call a manager. They will not want to spend the time to call and verify you will probably have to do that. Even if it is a $.25 coupon, I will take the time at this point in my life to feel better about a situation and to educate a cashier and manager if needed. Mostly because I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.

I have gotten a few emails this week regarding the above coupons. For some reason these are really making the email rounds right now. There are a few clues that should let you know that these are likely fraudulent coupons:

• They are “high value” – $3 off Oscar Mayer deli meat will likely make it free, at the most you might see $1 off.
• They are sent in a PDF format and do not come from the manufacturer.
• They just don’t “look” right.
• There are multiple coupons in the PDF from different manufacturers.

If you ever have any questions about coupons please go to the CIC (coupon information center) and look at the fraudulent coupon list and see if they are on there.

Here is the direct link to the Nestle coupon CIC info.

Thank you Lisa and everyone else that sent over these coupons this week!