Making a List, Checking It Twice: Practical Apps Help With Holiday Gift Planning and More

A savvy shopper can always use a little help getting organized and finding the best deals, especially during the holiday season—which is right around the corner! Fortunately, I’ve found some wonderful apps, available for both Android and iPhone, which make it easier than ever to save time and money, and make your shopping trips relaxing and fun all year round.

Google Keep is my go-to for capturing unique ideas and keeping them organized in a thoroughly modern way. I use it to create notes and shopping lists right on my smartphone, then organize them by categories, add photos or drawings to the list, and even share them by text or email. I can set reminders, and check off tasks as I complete them. And by using Google Keep, I’ve emptied my pockets and purse—they’re no longer overstuffed with hastily scribbled, easy-to-misplace handwritten lists!

Another app offering unbeatable modern convenience is Flipp. It’s a one-stop shop for all of your local circular ads and coupons, which you can search by store, brand, or category. You’ll never miss out on the best deals—Flipp even sends reminders about expiring deals, new offers, or any updated specials at your favorite stores. You can also scan your loyalty cards to keep them all in one handy spot, then use the cards and any coupons you’ve saved at the checkout counter just by showing your phone.

Have you ever found an item in a store and wondered if you should buy it now, or wait to see if there’s a better deal out there somewhere? The ShopSavvy Scanner provides the perfect solution. It lets you scan barcodes, then compare prices on the item at other retailers, including online options. If you choose to save items that you scan, you can purchase them through the app or get an email reminder to shop for them later on. You’ll also get an alert if the price drops on anything you’ve scanned and saved.

Stay ahead of the game, and enjoy all the best deals whether you’re out bargain hunting on Black Friday or shopping online from the comforts of home. These apps deliver the convenience of having your shopping lists, loyalty cards, and coupons together in one place, plus give you the ability to find the best price on almost anything you’re shopping for—right from your smartphone. That’s a deal you simply can’t beat!

28 Thoughts on "Making a List, Checking It Twice: Practical Apps Help With Holiday Gift Planning and More"

  1. stephan gizzo says

    I’m having issues activating my SIM.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for reaching out to us, Stephan. I took a look at your account, and I’m pleased to see that you were able to activate your SIM card without any further issue. If we can answer any questions you have or make any adjustments to your plan, we’re available at 888-345-5509 at your convenience. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  2. Judy Kader says

    Can I use my present phone number?
    Thank you! –

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Absolutely, Judy! Just make sure to keep your previous account open until we’ve confirmed that your phone number has been transferred to our service. It’s fast and simple! If we can answer any questions about the number transfer process, just give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we will be happy to assist you! We appreciate you reaching out to us, and we hope you have a great day!

      • Carolyn Henderson says

        When you take pictures are they saved.

        • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

          Thank you for asking, Carolyn. With Google Keep, you can add photos you’ve taken with your phone to a particular note or card. Otherwise, the other apps don’t require any photographs. If we can answer any other questions you have about using these apps or your phone’s camera, please give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we will be happy to assist you. We appreciate you taking the time to comment today!

      • Carolyn Henderson says

        Does this plan have data?

        • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

          Thank you for asking, Carolyn. We offer a variety of data plans, suiting everyone from the casual user to those who want to be connected 24/7! You can view the options here on our site. If you would like to add one to your current voice plan, you can do that from the My Account section, or we can assist you with it over the phone at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  3. Lillie Pichon says

    How do I receive the $20

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      It’s quite easy, Lillie! For a current customer like yourself, all you need to do is add a line of service to your account to receive the $20 credit. This is a great time to add a tablet, Wi-Fi Hotspot or to switch your home phone number to your plan. We’re happy to help you get started! Just give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we can recommend the perfect device for you. Thank you for posting!

  4. Cheryl says

    Thank you. I appreciate the info and look forward to testing all three.

  5. jim beckwith says

    If we add two lines does that mean we get 40?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s exactly right, Jim! It’s a great time to add a friend or family member, or even a new tablet just in time for the holidays! We’ll apply the credit automatically to your next invoice. We’re happy to help you get started at 888-345-5509 if you like. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us, and we hope you have a great day!

  6. Jim Kyle says

    My wife and I have phones with AT&T (originally with Cingular way back when!) and would like to continue using them and keep their individual numbers. At my local Target I didn’t find anyone knowledgeable about Consumer Cellular, and only packaged all-in-one SIM chips for AT&T phones. How can I go about setting up an account with you, sharing it with my wife, and obtaining SIMs for both phones?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Jim! Our SIM cards generally work best with unlocked GSM phones, such as those used previously with AT&T or T-Mobile. We’re happy to help you setup an account and to send you some SIM cards to try with your current devices. Just give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we will take care of the rest. We appreciate you taking the time to post, and we look forward to welcoming you to Consumer Cellular!

  7. Robert B. Telk says

    Can I use my home phone number on your cell phone?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Great question, Robert. In most cases, you can port your home phone number to our service, and use it with a cellphone if you like. Just be sure to keep your previous account open until we have confirmed the transfer. If we can answer any other questions about switching to Consumer Cellular, please call us at 888-345-5509. We will be happy to provide you with any information you need! Thank you for taking the time to post today, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  8. evelyn senn says

    I got a Dora 824 senior phone from you all. I do not like it. The battery time is short. I do not get a good signal. I can not get a signal in my house. I have to go outside. I have purchased 4 phones from you and I am not satisfied with any.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re very sorry to hear that the Doro 824 is not a good fit for your needs, Evelyn. If you like, we are happy to troubleshoot any issues you are experiencing with your signal and battery life if you call us at 888-345-5509. There may be updates that need to be sent to your device so that you can get a stronger signal. Thank you for posting, and we look forward to speaking with you soon.

  9. Harley says

    I have a Alcatel Pop 3. The camera will only take
    “selfies”. Not regular pictures. Help from your support team instructed me to reset my phones to “factury” wiping out att my data. Now I can’t use my phone at all. I get no help from the internet except to leave a message and recieve a reply within 5 days. I can’t make calls. Help for me is not good. Any other way to get help?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Harley. Our customer service team responds to emails as quickly as possible, but if you need help quickly, giving us a call at 888-345-5509 is always the best option. I reviewed your account, and I’m happy to see that our account advisor, Rai, was able to assist you with this issue. If it continues or if we can assist you further, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us again. We appreciate you taking the time to post, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  10. RAYMOND F. FALLON says

    Good Afternoon

    I would like to have a 2nd line added to my existing service. I wish to
    cut the cord on my Verizon home phone line. How would I accomplish porting that # over to my existing account.

    Thanks

    Ray

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We can help you with that, Raymond! You can do this in the My Account section of our site, just by clicking on the “+” sign to add a line. We can also help you over the phone at 888-345-5509, and start the transfer process. We’re also happy to answer any questions you may have or recommend a device. It’s that easy! Thank you for posting, and we hope you have a wonderful day.

  11. Don Rogers says

    My phone is freezing and hard to unlock for use. What can I do?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for reaching out to us, Don. We can help you troubleshoot the issue over the phone at 888-345-5509, so please give us a call. If possible, it’s best to call us from another phone so that we can power down or restart your device if needed. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to resolving this with you!

  12. Robert Arnold says

    Recently my wife’s phone has been inundated with calls from 401 area code, to the tune of 8 to 10 calls a day with no one on the line. All the numbers are different so you can’t block one number. I discovered an app called Hiya that solved the problem. You can block by area code so now all she hears is one ring. Plus, hiya also recognizes many spam numbers already and it also provides caller ID for numbers not recognized. Of course blocking an area code wouldn’t help someone that gets legitimate calls from those area codes but I don’t know a soul in Rhode Island so it’s a lifesaver for me. BTW, Hiya is completely free with no advertisements and no pop-ups.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for sharing your find, Robert! We always appreciate when our customers suggest apps that have been quite useful. We appreciate you posting!