3 Free Apps That Cook Up Savings

At some point, we all get tired of our go-to meals. For a family, going out to eat (or ordering in), two to three times a week can really add up.

According to restaurant industry analyst firms Acosta and Technomic, 51.8% of U.S. food spending went toward eating out. The average amount spent on food prepared outside the home kitchen per month totaled $144. Millennials tended to spend more ($202 a month), with 42% of their total monthly food budget allocated to eating out.

Who doesn’t enjoy someone else doing the cooking and the easy clean-up? Our wallets, that’s who.

Still, gazing into your refrigerator and pantry, trying to figure out a new spin on the same old chicken, can be a real struggle.

Check out the following three free recipe apps:

SideChef: There are step-by-step voice instructions! No going back to check the next step. There are also many recipes to choose from, as well as fun food facts and videos.

Tasty: This app will help anyone believe cooking is easy and they can make anything. The short videos are fun and easy to duplicate. You can even get recipe recommendations based on the time of day, day of the week, and major holidays.

Yummly: It’s easy to tailor searches based on your specific needs whether dealing with food allergies, vegetarian dishes or kid-friendly meals. The app learns your likes and dislikes over time and it shows in the recipe recommendations.

Happy cooking (and saving money at the same time)!

Article Source: Myriam DiGiovanni for Financialfeed.com

5 Money Saving Travel Apps

You’ve arrived at your destination, now what? Take advantage of having a smartphone and download these helpful travel apps!

WhatsApp – More than 1 billion people around the world use this calling and messaging service. The app is free, secure, and it allows you to interact with family and friends through voice or text without having to pay additional fees or charges. The app will run off your internet access, so as long as you have service – you can stay in touch with the important people in your life at no cost, no matter where you are.

Free Wi-Fi Finder – This app will help you find free Wi-Fi access in more than 50 countries around the world. Traveling is already so expensive, so why waste your data when you can use this free app to locate Wi-Fi, and connect on the go?

OpenTable – Using this app, you can make restaurant reservations at more than 33,000 establishments worldwide and also earn points which can later be converted into gift cards.

Hopper – Downloading this app can potentially save you 40% on your next flight. Just enter your preferred itinerary and wait to be notified. The app will search for deals and immediately inform you of the best time to book your trip.

Roomer – What if you make hotel reservations and your plans change? What if you can’t cancel and you’re stuck paying for a room you don’t need? Enter the Roomer app that connects those who have an empty (and paid for) hotel room, with travelers on the lookout for the best hotel rates. Just enter details on the room you’re trying to sell and the app promotes the room to travelers at a discounted price.

Happy, easy, and safe travels!

Article Source: Wendy Bignon for CUInsight.com