Save Money
·
By the The Senior Tech Today Team
·
10 min read
5 Simple Apps That Help Seniors Save Money Every Day
Free tools already on your smartphone that cut costs on medicine, groceries, gas, and so much more.
Your smartphone is not just a phone. In the right hands, it is one of the most powerful money-saving tools ever invented — and it fits right in your pocket.
Think about what you spend in a typical month: prescriptions at the pharmacy, groceries at the supermarket, gas for your car, maybe a few things ordered online. What if there were free apps that quietly chipped away at every single one of those costs, handing you back real cash and real savings — without any coupons, without any hassle, and without you needing to be a tech wizard?
There are. And millions of Americans are already using them. These apps were designed with simplicity in mind — tap once to save, scan a receipt, show your phone at the pharmacy counter. That's genuinely all it takes.
In this guide, we'll walk you through 5 completely free apps, one at a time, with plain-English step-by-step instructions for each one. By the time you finish reading, you could be saving money on your very next shopping trip.
💊
80%
off prescriptions with GoodRx
🛒
$300+
avg. yearly cash back on groceries
⛽
25¢/gal
average savings per gallon of gas
If you take any prescription medication — and most of us do — GoodRx is the single most important app you can have on your phone. It searches every pharmacy near you and shows you the lowest possible price for your exact medicine, often saving people hundreds of dollars a month compared to what they'd pay without it.
It works at nearly every major pharmacy in America: CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, Rite Aid, and thousands more. You don't need insurance to use it — in fact, GoodRx prices are often lower than your insurance co-pay.
-
1
Search for "GoodRx" in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and tap Install. It is free and always will be.
-
2
Open the app and type in the name of your medication in the search box at the top. You can also type just the first few letters.
-
3
GoodRx will show you a list of nearby pharmacies and the exact price you'll pay at each one. Choose the lowest price.
-
4
Tap "Get Free Coupon." Show that coupon screen to the pharmacist the next time you pick up your prescription. That's it — the savings are instant.
💡 Real example: A common cholesterol medication that costs $180 at full price can often be found for under $15 with GoodRx. Always check before you pay.
Ibotta is like getting a little envelope of cash back every time you go grocery shopping. You shop at your regular supermarket — Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Aldi, and hundreds more — buy the things you already buy, and then scan your receipt with your phone. Ibotta deposits real money directly into your account.
No clipping paper coupons. No special checkout codes. Just shop, scan, and get paid. Members earn an average of over $300 per year in cash back — and first-time users typically receive a welcome bonus of $5 to $20 just for signing up.
-
1
Download Ibotta from the App Store or Google Play. Open it and create a free account using your email address.
-
2
Before you go shopping, open Ibotta, tap your store's name, and browse the cash-back offers available that week. Tap "Add" on any items you plan to buy.
-
3
Shop as you normally would. When you get home, open Ibotta, tap the big "Redeem" button, and take a photo of your receipt.
-
4
Ibotta scans your receipt automatically. Within minutes, your cash back is added to your account. Transfer it to your bank or use it as a gift card.
💡 Tip: Check Ibotta before every grocery trip — new offers are added every week. Even saving $5 to $8 per trip adds up to hundreds over a year.
Gas prices vary more than most people realize — sometimes by 30 or 40 cents per gallon between stations that are just a mile apart. GasBuddy uses your phone's location to show you a live map of every gas station nearby, with their current prices updated by real drivers throughout the day.
If you fill up your tank twice a month, using GasBuddy to find even 20 cents cheaper gas could save you $40 to $60 a year — with zero effort beyond opening an app before you leave the house.
-
1
Download GasBuddy from the App Store or Google Play. No account is required to use the basic features — just open it and it works immediately.
-
2
When it opens, it will ask permission to use your location. Tap "Allow." This is how it finds the stations near you — your information is never shared.
-
3
You'll instantly see a map with all nearby gas stations and their current prices. The cheapest ones are shown at the top of the list. Tap any station for directions.
-
4
Optional: Sign up for a free GasBuddy Pay card linked to your bank account, which saves an additional 25 cents per gallon at thousands of participating stations automatically.
💡 Best habit: Check GasBuddy whenever your tank gets below a quarter full. You'll never pay more than you need to for gas again.
If you ever shop online — whether it's Amazon, Walmart.com, Macy's, Walgreens, or any of thousands of other stores — Rakuten quietly earns you cash back on every purchase, automatically. You shop exactly as you normally would. Rakuten runs in the background and deposits money into your account without you having to do a single extra thing.
Rakuten has paid out over $3.5 billion in cash back to members since it launched. New members also receive a $30 welcome bonus after their first qualifying purchase.
-
1
Download Rakuten from the App Store or Google Play, or visit Rakuten.com on your phone's browser. Create a free account with your email.
-
2
Whenever you want to shop online, open the Rakuten app first and search for the store you plan to visit (e.g., "Amazon" or "Walmart"). Tap the store name.
-
3
Rakuten takes you directly to that store's website. Shop and check out as usual. The cash back is tracked automatically behind the scenes — nothing else is needed.
-
4
Every three months, Rakuten mails you a "Big Fat Check" — a real paper check or PayPal deposit — with all your earnings. Many members receive $50 to $150 per quarter.
💡 Don't forget: Rakuten also works for booking travel, hotels, and rental cars. Always check Rakuten before booking a trip — the savings can be significant.
If you're 50 or older, an AARP membership is one of the smartest investments you can make — and the AARP app puts all of your member benefits in one easy place on your phone. From restaurant discounts to hotel deals, hearing aids to eye exams, prescription savings, travel perks, and entertainment offers, AARP has negotiated hundreds of exclusive deals specifically for people like you.
AARP membership costs just $12 a year — less than a dollar a month. Most members save that amount back within their very first week of using the app. Your spouse is also included in your membership at no extra charge.
-
1
If you're not already a member, visit AARP.org to join for $12/year. If you're already a member, just download the AARP app from the App Store or Google Play.
-
2
Sign in with your AARP username and password. Once inside, tap "Member Benefits" to explore hundreds of discounts organized by category.
-
3
Browse deals for restaurants, travel, health, entertainment, and more. When you find an offer you want, tap it to see the discount code or get directions to the location.
-
4
Simply show your AARP card or app at checkout — in-store or online — to receive your discount instantly. No coupons, no printing, no hassle.
💡 Hidden gem: AARP members get significant discounts on hearing aids, dental care, and vision exams — three of the biggest out-of-pocket expenses for retirees.
Here's the simplest way to use all five of these apps together without it feeling like work. Before any shopping trip, take 60 seconds to run through this quick checklist:
💊 Picking up medicine? Open GoodRx first and check the price.
🛒 Heading to the grocery store? Add Ibotta offers before you leave.
⛽ Car is low on gas? Check GasBuddy for the cheapest station nearby.
🛍️ Shopping online? Open Rakuten before you open any store website.
🏅 Going out to eat or traveling? Check AARP Perks for a discount.
That's it. Sixty seconds before you spend money. Done consistently, this simple habit can easily save a retired couple $1,500 or more per year — money that stays in your pocket where it belongs.
🎉 Your Smartphone Just Became Your Best Financial Friend
Five free apps. Five different ways your phone saves you money every single day — at the pharmacy, the grocery store, the gas station, and every online store you visit. None of them require any technical skill. None of them cost you anything. And all of them start working from the very first time you use them.
You've worked hard for your money throughout your life. These apps are simply tools to help you hold onto more of it. There's no age requirement on being smart with your finances — and now you have exactly the right tools to do it.
Start with just one app today. GoodRx is a wonderful first choice if you take any prescriptions. Ibotta is perfect if you're heading to the grocery store this week. Pick the one that fits your life best and begin there. You can always add the others one at a time.
You've got this. And your wallet will thank you.
Found This Helpful? Here's Your Next Step 👇
Did you know you can talk to your phone to open apps, make calls, and send messages — completely hands-free? Our next guide shows you exactly how, step by step.
Read How to Talk to Your Phone Next!
→
💸 Know a Friend Who'd Love to Save Money?
Share this guide — it could save someone you care about hundreds of dollars this year. Takes 10 seconds to send.