While some phone apps help you save money, others encourage you to spend more.Changing how you connect to this type of app, by deleting it, avoiding downloading, or minimizing your interaction with it can help you reduce your spending.
Subscription-based applications
Many apps offer services in exchange for subscription, and some users may be tempted to register for one and get a subscription to enjoy these services.
However, an automated subscription makes users continue to pay for these services, unlike a subscription that is automatically canceled at the end of its use.
Behavioral psychologist Susan Wencheng recommends that you stay away from apps that require subscriptions in the first place, or use apps that help you get rid of those apps. WinSync suggests, for example, setting up alerts to remind you when a free trial expires.
You can also set up alerts twice a year to remind you to review all your ongoing subscriptions, streaming services, and more.
Shopping apps
Finding good shopping offers makes consumers feel at ease, she added. Psychotherapist Kate Yarrow interviewed shoppers to learn how they felt when they took advantage of a good show, and confirmed it was like winning a race or getting a pay raise.
Some apps, like those from some stores, provide you with good offers in your smartphone, but attractive notifications can encourage you to shop more.
In this case, it's best for you to delete retail apps from your phone or at least turn off app alerts, according to WinSync.
In this way, you will avoid continuous notifications about shopping offers.
This is one of the good savings habits people use to save money effectively.
Moreover, you can uninstall such apps so as to avoid keeping up with tempting offers.
If you are able to control your shopping preferences, you can download these apps and take advantage of discounts that help you save money, but it is also important that you have good control over your sources of spending.
For example, check your credit card details regularly to confirm your estimated spending budget.
Social media applications
Ads promoting certain products on social media, whether those offered by retailers or friends, may prompt you to purchase items that you would not otherwise have purchased.
Since the deletion of social media is out of the question for many, it is unlikely to get rid of these applications.
Instead, Kate Yarrow stressed the need to reject the shopping offers that appear on your Facebook and Instagram accounts, which always seek to target you by appearing frequently.
Rewards apps
Reward program applications, whether launched by grocery stores, airlines or coffee shops, typically work in the same way. The more people spend money, the more rewards they get.
Casey Taylor explained that it is similar to the game; when using Starbucks, for example, the customer wins stars that he can use later to get rewards. If he is a permanent user of these products, he will be able to save money and get a free coffee or snack using the stars he collects.
For her part, Taylor sees this as an innovative solution to save money, but she stressed the need not to be driven by the reward system, which will inevitably lead you to spend more money during the process.