In a tight economy, people are constantly looking for ways to save money, spend smarter, and earn a few extra dollars on the side. One of my friends, Eric Johnson, a technical trainer and supervisor in Des Moines, Iowa, uses several smartphone apps to make extra money by buying and selling merchandise online.

Eric is a savvy shopper, and he uses several smartphone apps to keep up with the latest deals (and sell merchandise to other people). Just like eBay used to be a popular way for people to make money by buying and selling merchandise, these smartphone apps are offering more efficient ways for people to find what they need – and for other people to earn a profit in the process.

Read the full post on Want to make money? Use these apps for a garage sale from your couch!.

Most Americans have credit cards or debit cards, and these little pieces of plastic have made it easier than ever before to make purchases and payments without using cash or checks – but now as more Americans are using smartphones, a new company called Dwolla is introducing a new way to pay.

Dwolla is a new online payment network that makes it possible for people to make purchases (and send money to friends or family) using a smartphone. Using Dwolla, you set up an online Dwolla account (from within the Dwolla website or mobile app) that connects directly to your bank account.

Read the full post on How Dwolla is giving people a new way to pay.

Smartphones are everywhere, and most smartphone users wouldn’t know how to live without them. Smartphones help us stay in contact with friends and loved ones, find our way around, and navigate the little challenges of everyday life. But did you know that your smartphone can also help you save money?

Smartphone apps and social media tools are offering many unique new ways for people to save money, often on everyday purchases that they’re already making. You might be surprised at how you can unlock the potential of your smartphone to help you save more money and have more fun at some of your favorite retail destinations.

Read the full post on These 4 social media smartphone apps can save you big money on everyday shopping.

In the past few years, smartphone technologies have transformed the way people interact with their everyday lives, making it easier to connect with friends, be productive on the go, and access information about anything, anywhere. But one of the even more recent exciting developments has to do with the way that smartphones can improve our personal health and wellness.

With mobile and location-based apps, smartphone users now have the ability to track their personal athletic performance, measure their results and try to improve over time. One of the apps that runners use to run faster, longer and smarter is called RunKeeper. I interviewed a friend of mine who uses RunKeeper, Max Lambert, a consultant in Houston, Texas, for his thoughts on how RunKeeper has been beneficial to his life as a runner.

Read the full post on 3 surprising ways the RunKeeper app can improve your fitness.

By Devin Polaski, digital content manager

Let’s face it; whether you like it or not, the whole world turns and listens when Apple announces a new product. And most of us have, or know somebody who has, either an iPad, a Mac, or an iPhone, so Apple’s announcements usually mean a lot money is about to leave our wallets.

Yesterday Apple had what some call a misfire, and others say is a triumph. If you search the news on their latest announcements, there are a slew of angry Apple fanatics battling with people of the opposite opinion. In short, there’s a lot of noise, so I’ll sort it out for you.

Read the full post on Are the New iPhone Announcements Confusing? Here’s the Super-Skinny Explaining It.