Coupon apps save time, money

Old school.

Long gone are the days of clipping coupons from the weekly mailer. Sure, you can still find good deals there for your favorite products, but it's a time-consuming process that often feels futile since coupons expire so quickly. These days, more and more consumers are turning to smartphone apps to find savings on their regular shopping trips. Not only is it a more environmentally friendly way to shop and save, since there's no printing of paper, but users say it's convenient too, since we're never without our smartphones.

Consumers such as Elvira Gomez have jumped on board this digital trend. "I don't have to clip," says Gomez. "I don't have to cut, I don't have to remember to put them in my car or in my purse." A working mom of three girls in Northern California, Gomez turned to coupon clipping to save money during the economic downturn a few years ago. But soon after, the tedium forced her to stop. "You're spending more time clipping than you are really saving," she says. A friend recently suggested she try a new app called Ibotta, and her fervor and enthusiasm for coupons returned.

According to data from Nielsen and Booz & Co., of the 50 percent of U.S. consumers who own smartphones, a third are using their mobile technology in a grocery store. Usage covers everything from researching products, making lists, finding recipes, and of course, searching for deals. Startups like ... [Read more]