Shopping savings with smartphone

Editor's note: This is a transcript of the audio file.

Clipping coupons and making shopping lists can definitely help you save when you're shopping. But if you want some real savings, pull out your smartphone. I'm Clark Palmer with your Bankrate.com Personal Finance Minute.

Tech-savvy, price-conscious consumers have hundreds of mobile phone applications to choose from. Amazon Price Check shows you whether better prices are available online while you're shopping in a store. The app allows you to scan item barcodes with your phone's camera.

ShopSavvy, Google Shopper and eBay's RedLaser are comparison-shopping apps that are similar to the Amazon app, but they show prices charged for a particular item across the Internet and at other local stores. And if you can't find a store selling the item you want, apps like Goodzer can help you source almost any consumer item, whether it's in a chain store or a mom-and-pop shop.

You can also use retailers' branded apps. But while they may offer you the latest deals, they won't tell you about competitor's prices.

To find quality apps, look at reviews in the app store. If there are several hundred reviews or more and the ratings are high, it's probably a good app.

For more smart spending tips, visit Bankrate.com. I'm Clark Palmer.