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Quiz: How Can You Save Money Using Your Smartphone?

Learn about the power and pitfalls of millions of free apps

Edward C. Baig,

AARP

En español

Published September 05, 2023

9 Questions

6d9cbe93-d0a5-4c6e-ad6b-4d60e1a3fb41

The handheld computer that you keep in your pocket or purse can be a treasure trove of information, much of it free, to help conserve your cash and keep expenses in check.

You don’t always have to spend money to save money, though discounts on purchases of goods and services are a great way to save. Some software available for Android smartphones and tablets in the Google Play Store and for Apple iPhones and iPads in the Apple App Store will point you to free goods and services.

Quiz: How Can You Save Money Using Your Smartphone?

[ {
 "question" : "In what way can a smartphone app potentially save you money?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Providing discount coupons.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Helping you prepare a household budget.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Giving cash-back rewards on some purchases or at some retailers.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above.",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "You may think that coupons or cash-back apps are the most sensible ways to get bonus bucks and not pay full price. But don’t overlook budgeting apps, which can help you work toward longer-term goals such as saving for retirement or your dream vacation.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "How can you save money on TV shows and movies?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Switch from cable TV to on-demand paid streaming services.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Use free apps with ads for TV with scheduled programming and video on demand.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Buy a digital antenna so you can watch free over-the-air TV.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above.",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Don’t dismiss free TV apps. They give you the flexibility to watch on your smartphone or tablet anywhere you’re connected. Many are available for your big screen at home, too. If you’re willing to sit through commercials, you have lots of choices for lower cost streaming — including Netflix, Hulu and Max — and free TV that operates on a schedule. But be cautious: If you cut the cable TV cord and load up on paid streaming services, you might not save money.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Which category of apps will almost never save you money?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Finance",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Gambling",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Travel",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Food and dining",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "While you may win and collect on occasional bets, remember that the “house,” the business behind a gambling app, almost always wins. Don’t look at any gambling app as a way to make or save money. If you like to play, think of your expenditures as entertainment and stop when you’re close to your budgeted limit.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "What percentage of apps in the major app stores are free?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "85 percent or more",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "60 percent to 85 percent",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "25 percent to 60 percent",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Less than 25 percent",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The overwhelming majority of software in the major apps stores is free, according to the BusinessofApps website and other app store sources. That means you don’t have to pay to download them.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: Free apps are always free.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "You may not pay to download them, but free applications usually have an associated cost, whether you have to put up with advertisements or share your personal data with marketing partners and other businesses.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "App makers need to pay their bills. How do they make money?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Selling subscriptions for premium content.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Displaying advertisements.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Sharing your data with marketing partners.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above.",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Companies don’t give away their hard work without expecting a payback. The ways that app developers monetize their opportunities vary, but you will have to give up some money, time or privacy — sometimes all three — so they can make a profit.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: Clicking on a link for an app in a text or email is always safe if you know the sender.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Absolutely not. Through phishing and other forms of fraud, scammers go to great lengths to craft messages tailored to you, and the senders of those messages seem real. Don’t click on any suspicious links or respond to the text or email. If you have any doubts about whether a message and link are genuine, contact the sender in a way that you know goes directly to that person or business, such as a phone call or through a website you’ve found in a search engine.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "How can you reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of fraud?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Limit an app’s collection of personal information to only data an app needs to function properly.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Download apps from reputable stores such as Apple’s App Store and Google Play.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Create unique passwords that you don’t duplicate across numerous apps and websites.",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above.",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Some apps need personal information to do what you want them to. It makes sense for a map app to have your location to give you directions. What doesn’t make sense is for a map app to ask to access your smartphone’s contact list. Downloading apps from the app stores associated with your phone can help keep rogue requests like that at bay. Apps have to pass standards before being accepted into the stores.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: Using an app is often better than going to a website.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Apps permitted in the Apple Apps Store and Google Play Store may be more secure than a website because developers must adhere to the standards to get their apps into the stores. You may also be able to access content stored in apps on your phone when you have no internet connection. And sometimes apps provide more personalization than you’ll get on a website.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Edward C. Baig covers technology and other consumer topics. He previously worked for USA Today, BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, and is author of Macs for Dummies and coauthor of iPhone for Dummies and iPad for Dummies. Follow him on LinkedIn; Threads; and X, formerly known as Twitter.