Budgeting in order to save money can be a tedious task that’s often daunting and overwhelming. However, thanks to mobile technology and gamification, keeping to budget has never been so fun and easy. For those who aren’t familiar with the term “gamification,” it simply means the implementation of gaming concepts, such as competition, challenge and reward, into an arena that does not innately hold them–in this case, that would be financial management. Below are five ways you can save money using the latest and greatest tech out there in the market.
- Groupon
The activity of grouponing is a guilty pleasure for good reason, however you should definitely not feel guilty for doing it because it could save you money in the grand scheme of things. Not only do you get to spend money in a sensible manner and rewarded for it, but the entertainment factor of searching for the latest deals on everything from clothes, events to fitness classes, makes it a win-win situation. As mobile commerce becomes increasingly prevalent, the Groupon mobile app proves to be quite handy with its push notification feature and social sharing functionality to further save.
- Level Money
Level Money, known as “the mobile money meter,” makes budgeting your funds easy and fun. It shows you exactly how much you can spend in a visual manner so you can better track your progress in budget management. The visual engagement makes the app irresistible to users thus encouraging continuous interaction and monitoring. It provides you with a sense of accomplishment when you haven’t popped the budget bubble, working to help you save money in a highly engaging manner.
- Amazon Local
With the Amazon Local mobile application, searching for savings is made an adventure. It uses your location and preferences to present local deals to you and allows you to buy instantly right from the phone or tablet. So not only are you saving money on the gas you would have used to shop, you’re viewing some of the best deals around you to get the best bang for your buck.
- Mobile Education
Aside from the literal money saving apps, there are many mobile gaming apps that help lead to cutting costs in the grander scheme of things. Serious games, games that serve a purpose to educate, are becoming very popular for students and professionals to learn in a more efficient manner. Some of the best processors for gamification in mobile devices are coming into play in terms of providing highly immersive and effective mobile education. For instance, those in the medical field can partake in simulated operating room scenarios with mobile virtual reality technology. It helps medical students and professionals to practice techniques in a low-cost manner and can actually lead to avoiding mistakes that would end up costing way more if made.
- Foursquare
If a lot of your money tends to go towards eating out, the Foursquare app could help you save on the gluttonous hobby. Users play the game by checking-in to the restaurants they dine in. Each check-in gives you points and levels you up to various statuses like “Mayor,” which leading to more savings. It’s hard to avoid eating out when it’s your top habit, so you might as well make it a game and goal to save money while at it.
It’s time to take advantage of life-changing tools mobile has provided. The emergence of gamification in budget management via mobile device is an innovation worth investing in. Utilize wisely and your money flow should be all a go.
