(StatePoint) Back-to-school season means more errands, more chores and more scheduled activities. It also means a dent in your wallet.
But you can recapture some of your free time and save some money along the way by turning your smartphone or tablet into command central. Here are some smart smartphone strategies for families as they head back to school.
• Say cheese: Be sure to capture all those toothy grins on camera! It doesn’t take much effort to go beyond posting your first day of school favorites to social media.
You can order prints, photo cards, canvas prints and other personalized items from your phone, Facebook, or Instagram using the Walgreens mobile app, even turning your photos into personalized school supplies to send your kids to class in style. Prints will be ready within an hour and many other personalized photo products can be picked up the same day.
• Be in touch: Have all the most important numbers you may need on speed dial: your children’s schools, doctors, babysitters, coaches and other caregivers.
• Save time scoring deals: Back-to-school supplies like pencils, pens, notebooks and more can add up, especially if you have multiple kids heading to the classroom. Consult your current store of supplies and create a needed shopping list.
Then, scour deals with ease by virtually “clipping” coupons from your mobile device through tools like the Walgreens mobile app.
“With a few clicks of the thumb I was able to order most of the items on my school supplies list within minutes during my lunch break,” says lifestyle blogger Janise Burrafato of “Mama in Heels.”
The database has hundreds of offers in searchable categories helping you save time and money during a busy, expensive time of year. What’s more, the app lets you use your mobile device as a point-of-sale device with Apple Pay and Android Pay, allowing you to skip long back-to-school lines and get on with your day.
• Get help: Doing it all on your own can be tough, but that’s what families are for. However, this year you can skip the traditional chore wheel. These days, apps can help you incentivize the completion of household duties and assign different tasks on an age-appropriate basis.
For more great tips that will have you prepping like a pro this back-to-school season, follow along with “Mama in Heels,” “Katie’s Bliss,” and other lifestyle bloggers using the #MyWalgreensApp hashtag.
With the right apps and strategies, everything you need to plan, prep, and navigate the back-to-school season can be found on your mobile device.
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Photo Credit: Janise Burrafato, Mama in Heels
