Tag Archives: smartphone

3 Apps to Keep College Students’ Budgets on Track (Guest Post)

Posted in college, getting better grades, school by

As a college student, you’ve got a lot on your plate: tests, papers, classes, jobs, your social life. It’s easy to let mundane activities like paying bills and grocery shopping fall through the cracks. But you can’t ignore these basic tasks. Before you know it, you’ll find the negative domino effect in action if, say, you forget to pay your electric bill or neglect to make your Internet payment.

Taking control of your finances will allow you to handle academic essentials with ease and peace of mind.

Thanks to rapidly evolving technology, you can enlist smartphones and tablets to manage your everyday life, which will help you make the most of your college experience.

A college student on campus with smartphone

1. Toshl Finance Expense Tracker

Never miss a tuition or car loan payment, and stay in good standing with your landlord with this mobile app, compatible with iOS, Blackberry, Android and other platforms. Maintain consistent and accurate control of your checking account with this free app (or upgrade to the Pro Version for additional features) by creating budgetary guidelines for your spending, then adhering to those guidelines by monitoring your spending. You can rest easy because you know where your money is going.

2. OurGroceries Shopping List

Keep a healthy diet by making sure you don’t come home from work or class to an empty refrigerator. Planning ahead with this free Blackberry and iOS-friendly app will help keep your body trim. An empty fridge can lead to ordering takeout, which is bad for your wallet and your waistline – so making sure you buy healthy and cost-saving groceries with the help of this app will keep you on track and guilt-free. You can also enter in your favorite recipes, favorite ingredients, special trademark seasonings and decadent dessert items reserved for special occasions. Easily edit your grocery lists from your mobile device, laptop or desktop computer, then use your smartphone or tablet while shopping to adhere to your list. Create multiple grocery lists to plan for holidays and birthdays well in advance.

3. ValPak Local Coupons

A free app to save you money is a great double deal. As a college student, what better way to keep your expenses in check than to find useful coupons for everyday items? Just like the bulky envelope that once came in your mailbox, this app gives you the best local deals around. Find deals on dining out, grocery items, laundry essentials, clothing and more with this Blackberry-friendly app.

By creating a healthy budget structure with your mobile phone, you’ll get much more out of your college experience.

Post by Max Cruise
Max is a technology educator at his local community college. He loves nothing more than teaching the next generation about digital trends, and he writes about these trends often.

Now that your budget is under control, make sure you’ve got your grades covered too.  Order your copy of The Secrets of Top Students today!

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6 Great Apps For College Students (Guest Post)

Posted in college, education, getting better grades, technology by
Great apps for college students

Great apps for college students

Mobile devices like smart phones and tablets have become thoroughly integrated into the educational community. Whether or not professors use these devices, a growing number of college students have access to them. In the eyes of many, such devices are little more than distractions for students – but, on the other hand, their utility cannot be denied, and they’re not going anywhere! Here are 6 apps that can be particularly helpful for college students.

1. iStudiez Pro Think of this app as a student planner for a new generation. iStudiez Pro allows you to input everything about your academic schedule – classes, class locations, homework, deadlines, etc. You can check into the app to keep track of your week, and receive automatic updates when deadlines are approaching. The app also allows for coordination with extracurricular events, helping you to keep your whole college life in order.

2. Evernote This is a great note-taking app that can sync across all of your devices for easy access. With Evernote, you can take notes, take pictures of whiteboards and lecture photos, and even record voice reminders and notes to listen to later. It may be an adjustment at first, but you may find it’s an easy and convenient way to take notes and keep track of lectures.

3. ShareFile ShareFile is an advanced file sharing and cloud computing service used frequently in business environments. However, the services available in this app are becoming increasingly useful for students, as more and more of the college experience occurs online. Use this app to send and receive communications efficiently and securely, and take advantage of the cloud computing for incredibly convenient data storage. With access to a cloud network, students can store work online instead of on devices, meaning it’s accessible from any device that can access the Internet – a very convenient perk on a college campus.

4. Amazon Student E-books are becoming quite popular for students, as they often amount to cheaper alternatives to big, expensive textbooks. These electronic books can be purchased through various providers, from Barnes and Noble online, to Amazon, to the iBooks library. However, Amazon Student offers students another way of making textbooks more affordable – it allows you to scan barcodes of textbooks, and then performs a search to find those books wherever they’re cheapest. Additionally, you can use the app to sell back used textbooks to Amazon in exchange for gift cards!

5. IFormulas This is a pretty straightforward app, but for students toiling away in math and science courses, it’s pretty handy. Basically, it provides an incredible library of over 380 mathematical formulas that can be useful for various classes and applications. Of course, you don’t want to get caught using this app during a quiz or exam in class – but as a handy reminder, or even study tool, on your own time, it can be quite useful.

6. iTunes U This is a pretty revolutionary app that allows you to access and download legitimate course material from top colleges all over the world. Depending on your specific need or area of study, selection can be limited, but the app can also be a phenomenal reference tool. Of course, the notes from your own courses should be your priority, but if you’re looking for extra research, clarification of material, or even support for a paper or project, iTunes U might be worth looking into.

Want to improve your grades?   Order your copy of The Secrets of Top Students today!