Money

4 of the Best Apps to Help Manage Your Holiday Budget

Reader’s Digest Canada

‘Tis the season for celebrating-and spending. These free downloadable apps can help you stay on budget this holiday.

1 / 5

Smartphone Apps that Can Save You Money This Holiday

Celebrating the season shouldn’t send you into the red. Download these free apps to help you manage money through this most wonderful (and expensive) time of the year. App-y holidays, indeed!

2 / 5

Best Holiday App for Sending Good Tidings: Red Stamp Cards

Platforms: iOS and Android

This app lets you choose a holiday card template and electronically deliver it to loved ones. Add a photo, change the colour scheme and compose customized greetings that can be shared via email, text message and Facebook.

3 / 5

Best App for Finding the Biggest Holiday Sales: Flipp

Platforms: iOS and Android

Flipp uncovers great deals on gifts and food by bringing local weekly flyers to your screen from hundreds of stores, including Walmart, Loblaws, IKEA and Toys “R” Us. Save ads for on-sale items, and the app will notify you when those deals are about to end.

4 / 5

Best App for Tracking Your Holiday Spending: Santa's Bag

Best App for Tracking Your Holiday Spending: Santa’s Bag

Platforms: iOS

Handy for cash-strapped gift givers, Santa’s Bag allows you to set a spending limit, store shopping lists and monitor whether you’re exceeding your budget. You can enter information such as what stores you’ll need to visit and how much an item costs.

5 / 5

Best App for Filling Up the Tank: GasBuddy

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry

For most of us, holiday car travel is inevitable. With the option to sort by price or distance, this app displays gas rates geographically, allowing you to fill up-for less-before hitting the road.