LIFE HACK
Shop Smarter
Does it feel like time speeds up in December? Use these apps to shop smarter and save time this season.
Save money—automatically
Before you shop online, Ebates should be your first stop. Just follow the links in the app to the hundreds of participating stores (including Sephora, Macy’s, Expedia, and Walmart) to earn cash back on your purchases. Every three months, your rewards will be mailed to you by check or deposited into your PayPal account.
By allowing Paribus to scan your email account for receipts, the service will track your online purchases and automatically request a price adjustment should an item goes on sale.
If you’re planning to hit the mall this holiday season, download Shopkick to earn points for just walking in to a store, scanning items or receipts, or making a purchase with a linked credit card. Points can be redeemed for gift cards to Best Buy, Target, Starbucks, and others.
Give great gifts fast
You’re probably already using Amazon to do your holiday shopping, but don’t overlook the lesser known Amazon Prime Now app. If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber living in certain zip codes, you can have electronics, toys, and more delivered to you in as little as one hour.
For a super-quick way to send gift cards, look to Gyft. The app lets you purchase e-gift cards to hundreds of stores via Apple Pay—and send them to your loved ones in an email or text message.
To send a more complete package—literally—try Hintsy. In addition to offering a thoughtfully curated selection of goods, Hintsy has chic wrapping-paper options and will type-press a personalized message onto a card.
Track down impossible-to-find presents
When you’re looking for clothing or an accessory from a specific designer, start your search on ShopStyle. The app scans hundreds of online retailers and bubbles up results in seconds.
And how many times have you seen a photo of the perfect sweater on Pinterest but couldn’t figure out where to buy it? Post the photo to The Hunt and the community will help you find it or something similar.
Streamline your shipping
Live in New York City, San Francisco, or Chicago and have a truckload of packages scheduled to be delivered when you’re not home? Download Doorman, which lets you schedule their arrival at a more convenient time.
For those living in the San Francisco Bay Area with packages to send, Shyp can be a huge time-saver. The service will have a courier pick up the goods from you, box them up if needed, and send them via the the lowest-priced carrier.