Many mobile phone users are reluctant to purchase their first smartphones due to high price tags and ever-changing technology. However, if you can muster up the courage to put down money for one, rest assured there are several ways your new device will save you money. The seamlessly endless app markets have ways for all of us to save on gas and groceries, find broadband deals, and even locate items for cheaper at another location or online. App developers from around the world are delivering what the customers want, major savings. Here are some of the best smartphone apps to save time, energy, and most importantly, money.

ShopSavvy

Very few thought that there would come a day when impulse purchases could become affordable. ShopSavvy is one of the most powerful money-saving tools available to shoppers of all types. This app utilizes the camera of a smartphone to scan the barcode of nearly any item imaginable and then bring up a list of competitors. Users can then decide between ordering a cheaper item off of the internet or opting to cross the street and shave a few dollars off their purchase. While this may make grocery shopping just a little bit more tedious, it could potentially save thousands over the course of a year.

Gas Buddy

After downloading Gas Buddy, it may seem like this app and the smartphone were created to be the perfect match. Gas Buddy has built up a huge community of loyal fans that update gas prices around the world. With a simple tap of the screen, users can find the cheapest gas prices in their town, within a set distance, or along their trip. When it comes to filling up a tank, each time that this app is used could potentially save drivers a few dollars on every trip. Over the course of a year this could come out to hundreds of dollars in savings at the gas pump. Subscribers who upload valid prices also put themselves in a random drawing for fun prizes, including cash.

Grocery IQ

Grocery IQ has digitized the world of coupon clipping. Much like the barcode scanner of ShopSavvy, this app will instantly turn any smartphone into a coupon book. Users simply need to scan the food items around their house as they run low, Grocery IQ will then create a grocery list and find corresponding coupons for local stores in the area. Another useful feature is the ability to email this list to a spouse or roommate who can print the list as well as the coupon codes just before the next shopping trip.

Groupon Mobile

Groupon has mastered the art of savings and made it exciting for the impulse shopper. Groupon updates deals daily for local shops, venues, and even international trips. The savings are as much as 90% for high-end restaurants and spas. Groupon accomplishes this amazing feat by working closely with various businesses to release limited deals to the public. If a certain amount of customers purchase the deal off of Groupon, the deal is on. If not enough customers opt to make the purchase, no one loses any money.

TheFind

TheFind combines the best parts of Grocery IQ and ShopSavvy in one amazing app. Users simply scan the barcodes of any items that they wish to purchase. This program will then search the internet for any discounts. TheFind works with nearly every style of product and service from getting an oil change to searching out local broadband deals. Subscribers can also print or download coupons on the spot, saving as much as 50% just before a purchase is made.

Money Mailer

Last but not least, the local deal finder Money Mailer. This app works much like having a membership card to a local business. Money Mailer has worked with countless retail stores to offer subscribers small discounts on everyday purchases. Smartphone owners simply open the app to let the cashier scan their personalized code on the screen and the discounts are applied automatically.

Blake Sanders is a tech writer at broadband comparison site Broadband Expert. With a knack for mobile phones and wireless internet, Blake also delivers industry news and information on how to get broadband deals.

Note: Photo courtesy of williamhook via FlickR Creative Commons.