Once again the vacation season has arrived. While we would like to dwell on the idea that the shopping experience is a fun and exhilarating experience, the truth is far different. From finding a parking area to long lines to forgetting someone on your list and having to start the process all over again, vacation shopping can go from festive to bah-humbug.
That doesn’t suggest you have to close yourself up at home and choose online shopping as your only option. I’ve selected some of my favourite apps that can make your shopping experience less stressful. Keep in mind that these apps cannot magically split lines or make front row parking spots appear, but they can save you money and time in other ways.
Find My Car
After 30 minutes of stalking shoppers as they leave the mall only to clash with other drivers, you finally find a parking area. Okay, maybe it is a quarter mile from the mall and someplace between Macys and Neiman Marcus, but that’s okay. FindMyCar remembers the position of your car so you do not have to. Just open the app and record your location. When you are ready to head back, the GPS will navigate you using turn-by-turn directions. If your parking area is metered, you can even set an alarm from the app to remind you to add more time.
My Retail No
You stand in line and see the lady in front of you has a coupon. Don’t worry! RetailMeNot collects data from over 50,000 online retailers and physical stores and stores their promotions in one place. Whether there is a sale or a coupon being delivered, you will have access to all promotions. The better part is that the geo app finds you and sends notifications if you’re in a store or nearby offering a discount.
Keep
This is a must-have app not only for vacations but life in general. As the name suggests, this app stores everything you need to remember in one place. From notes to checklists, to pictures Keep store them in an easy-to-arrange (and find) layout. The better part is that you can add storage on your tablet and computer for quick access to your notes anytime, anywhere.
Assistant
Especially on vacation, everybody can use a personal assistant. That Assistant the app comes with a cute cartoon avatar which you can customise. He’ll answer questions, reply to messages, and add events to your calendar. Whether you need to reply to texts or find a restaurant to relax in after a long day of shopping, Assistant can do it.
