Apps to Ease the Holiday Season
You made it through the turkey and the food-induced coma that followed, so now it’s time to face the rest of the holiday season. Although the holidays are a wonderful time of year, they also can be stressful and overwhelming for busy moms and their families. In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) found that nearly half of all women in the United States experience heightened stress during the holidays. Fortunately, many mobile apps are available to help you keep the stress at bay.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
Holiday shopping is typically the most time-consuming to-do on the list, so finding ways to shop more efficiently is essential. Save time on comparison shopping with ShopSavvy (free for iOS and Android). ShopSavvy allows you to find the best local and online price for a product, simply by scanning the barcode. Shopkick (free for iOS and Android) gives you kicks (reward points) simply for walking into participating stores, such as Target, Macy’s, Old Navy and Best Buy. Just make sure to open the app before entering the store. Receive even more kicks by scanning and buying items.
Get Organized
With so many demands on your time during the holidays, staying organized is crucial. Cozi Family Calendar & Lists (free for iOS and Android), named the “#1 app for a better life” by the Today Show, is an essential tool for busy moms. It includes a shared calendar, shopping lists, to-do lists and a family journal. SignUpGenius (free on iOS and Android) is perfect for organizing a family potluck. All event information is in one central location, so you don’t end up with five fruitcakes at your holiday soiree. Springpad (free for iOS and Android) allows you to take notes and effortlessly share them. Plus you can save links and pictures from the Internet and record a voice memo.
Save Time and Money on Travel
For those whose holidays involve travel, check out Hipmunk and Just Landed. Hipmunk Flight & Hotel Search (free on iOS and Android) enables you to easily find the cheapest and best flight and hotel for your trip. It also recommends the best places to go according to your interests. Just Landed (free on iOS and Android) simplifies airport retrieval of all your friends and relatives visiting this holiday season. Simply type in the flight number to see the flight status, estimated time of arrival, and how many minutes you are from the airport. It will even tell you when you need to leave to be on time.
Plan the Perfect Meal
Epicurious (free on iOS and Android) enables food lovers to search 30,000 professionally created and tested recipes, make interactive shopping lists and view step-by-step cooking instructions. You also can access shopping lists at the store and check items off as you go, and get the recipe of the day sent to your home screen. For when you’re too busy to cook, Localmind (free for iOS and Android) tells you what the wait is at your favorite restaurant.
Armed with these helpful apps, you’ll have the tools you need to enjoy a stress-free holiday season. Now start making those lists… and checking them twice.
Overland Park mom Brenda Hill is the public relations manager for the Kansas/Missouri region for Verizon Wireless.