Filed under: News, Apple, iPhone, Mobile, Lists
5 ways to save money with an iPhone
On 12/28 I am eligible to switch phones and am rationalizing an iPhone purchase, which is all the more difficult as I just read David Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. The book advocates saving money and paring down expenses, so the $30 monthly data plan would definitely be in the con column. However, after reading 33 things you don't need if you buy an iPhone, I'm thinking I'll definitely come out ahead in the long run. Below are some of my favorite GPS- rather than purchasing a stand alone unit, like Tom Tom, there's several apps in the App Store that will help with turn by turn navigation.
Camera - since my husband borrowed and never returned my Canon PowerShot, I definitely "need" a good camera. And while the iPhone's camera is not like my SD850IS, it's a decent enough point and shoot. Plus, I'll be "saving" money and don't even get me started on the convenience of not having to carry multiple devices.
Books - now that there's a free Kindle for iPhone app, I can cross the Kindle off my wish list. I can also rationalize that I'll save money on gas by not driving to the library or a bookstore, since I can download free books via Stanza or Google's Book Search portal.
White Noise Generator - this has to be my absolute favorite way to save money and get to sleep fast. Rather than spend $50 on a sleep machine that makes noises so you can block out out the silence of a still room, you can spend .99 on Ambiance, which gives access to 500 free sounds to help you fall fast asleep.
Pedometer - yah sure I could buy the $29 Nike + iPhone Sport Kit for the iPhone to track my workouts, or I could SAVE money by downloading RunKeeper Free which uses the GPS in the iPhone to track how far you go, how long you take and how much you burn.
A quick tally of all my "savings" shows I'm definitely on track to save seriously big this year. What are some of your favorite ways to "save" with an iPhone?
I don't know if this is a labor of love or merely the brainchild of four very gifted games designers, but Level Up is a really weird mash-up of gaming elements that you have probably never seen in a Flash game before.
Let's start with the premise itself: Groundhog Day meets Memento. The game experience revolves around 'days': you explore the world and the clock slowly ticks towards the evening. You bounce around picking up gems and talking to the denizens of 'Level Upland'. Eventually you feel tired and head back to ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Redditor said 6:45PM on 12-11-2009
Droid offers all that in a better way, cheaper, larger screen, way better camera with FLASH. I'm not sure that all the apps are there, but alternatives should be available or at least webapp alternatives, it's possible to have a cheaper plan too.
Why an iPhone again?
Reply
Butters said 4:54PM on 11-21-2009
Except the Droid only has 256mb available for apps and games. I have iPhone games that are bigger than that. So therefore the Droid doesn't!
JoePalma said 5:43PM on 11-21-2009
Let me explain something about linux. There are way to do everything that from a windows mindset are impossible. You can do what is called rooting. You have the main executable on the root partition, and all the other files symlinked from a microsd card. That 256mb limit is basically a joke if you know what your doing.
gonintendo said 11:19AM on 11-22-2009
always consider that apps are usually 5-8mb TOPS. the android app devs are really efficient. Once you root it, you can save your apps to an sd card.. even more space!
n3rd said 3:07PM on 11-22-2009
seriously
android has unlimited storage space with swappable microsd cards as well...
unlike your static 16 gb of memory...
rooting of course is a must.... but once you do that, any android phone beats the iphone hands down, unless the only thing you plan on doing with your iphone is listen to music, in which case, i concede that the iphone is a better mp3 player than android phones, but only in that one case.
Jon said 12:15PM on 11-23-2009
Even without rooting, only the main executable need be in main memory. Supporting files (images, textures, music, sounds, all the stuff that takes up lots of space) can be on the SD card. My Droid Eris came with an 8GB one. Plenty of space for me so far.
fikhl said 4:05PM on 11-21-2009
Most (if not all) of the features mentioned above can be had on a MUCH cheaper phone.
And come on! Are you seriously comparing iPhone's camera with a point-and-shoot?!
Reply
Butters said 4:55PM on 11-21-2009
The iPhone's camera is a point and shoot. You point and then shoot. Funny that.
kojo87 said 4:13PM on 11-21-2009
really? a white noise generator and a pedometer are that important to you? and you can't find a white noise generator on the internet? i almost feel like this article is sarcastic but i don't think it is.
my favorite way of saving with an iPhone? not ever owning an iPhone.
Reply
btdown said 4:22PM on 11-21-2009
oh boy..this writer seems like a wacko.
Reply
lars said 4:23PM on 11-21-2009
I must disagree about the camera. Yes, the 3GS camera is better than the prior ones. It is still a very, very poor excuse for a camera. I have a 3GS and I've been very disappointed by the camera (not the phone). I carry an ultra compact point-and-shoot for my camera needs, when I don't carry around my DSLR. The 3GS camera is sort of "ok" in excellent light, but that's it.
Reply
Butters said 4:53PM on 11-21-2009
C'mon guys, if you don't like the iPhone the skip this article and read something else. Dolores simply asked what money saving apps you like on your iPhone. If you don't intend on answering that then go and hate some where else.
Reply
sitruc said 1:28PM on 11-22-2009
It would have been better as an article on "5 ways to save money with a mobile phone."
Man said 5:04PM on 11-21-2009
Paperweight it can hold down papers in an office with a desk fan.
Reply
Mknapper1 said 11:37PM on 11-21-2009
Plus it saves you 20% off pizza hut if you use the pizza hut app :D
Reply
blaszta said 5:19AM on 11-22-2009
Don't forget you don't need PSP or any portable gaming device or an iPod or any other mp3 player if you have an iPhone.
Reply
Chris Carey said 10:48AM on 11-22-2009
I'd agree those are some dumb reasons. Some good reasons are.
1. Ditch the texting fees by adding textfree
2. Stop buying news papers and get news apps
3. Find AAA discounts which are everywhere with their app
4. Comparison shopping will save you tons with ebay or other shopping apps
5. RedLaser will help you scan the products you may buy and get a better price
6. QIK app installed phones (including jailbroken 3G) do a nice job of capturing video and sending to Youtube or Facebook
7. Accufuel saves on gas
8. Directv app saves you time and helps you utilize you record shows you ordinarily be paying to miss.
9. Pandora or LastFm connected to your car will beat up on sirus for radio
10. Lastly being connected in a way where you can easily (without phone frustration) get info is priceless after all time is money. When you need info the iPhone is there mostly without compromise, it won't crash often, and there will likely be less bugs. It will just work, the Droid may have a nice feature set but ultimately it can do less, less reliably.
Reply
Saint Seminole said 12:54PM on 11-22-2009
I only know of one way to save money with an iPhone. Don't buy one. I know I'm getting older, but I could never seriously consider spending $300 or $400 on a telephone, even if it has tons of "bells and whistles" (some of which cost extra).
Despite the hype, it's *not* a good replacement for a camera, a computer, a browser, or an accountant.
But the real deal-breaker for me was AT&T's spotty coverage and poor customer service (if they couldn't give me decent service/coverage on my regular cell phone, surely they don't expect me to upgrade to one that costs 10x as much?)
Reply
montex said 4:46PM on 11-23-2009
The iPhone is not for everybody. And that's just the way I like it. Same thing for Macintosh computers - simply not created to be everything for everybody. If everybody had a Mac and an iPhone, then they wouldn't be special would they? There's nothing worse than the lowest common denominator (cough *windows* cough). Rest assured, there is something cheap and dreadful out there just waiting for you. ;-)
Jon said 12:41PM on 11-23-2009
@montex
You can't be special without buying something from someone? And this is why I don't like Apple and their associated cult. I'd much rather have my "special-ness" determined by things that actually matter, rather than by my devotion to an organization whose primary concern is getting me to give them all my money.
If the iPhone is the phone that best meets your needs, then by all means get it. If you can save a little money by getting one, all the more power to you. If another phone better suits your needs, then get that one. (In my case an Android phone suits my needs much better than an iPhone.) But think for yourself. Don't just get a phone because someone tells you to.