How free apps make you spend

While some apps help you save money, others have a way of encouraging you to spend more.

Changing how you connect with these types of apps by deleting them, not downloading them in the first place or limiting your interaction with them can help you rein in your spending.

Subscriptions

Many subscription services and boxes have corresponding apps. And you may feel inclined to sign up for a subscription if you can easily manage your membership from an app.

To save, stay away from subscriptions and their corresponding apps in the first place. Or use apps to fight apps. For example, set up alerts to remind you when a free trial is expiring — before you’re charged.

Shopping

Deal-centric apps, such as those for certain stores, bring those feelgood bargains straight to you via your smartphone. Notifications particularly increase the temptation, so it may be better to turn off alerts or delete the app.

But if you’re disciplined, you can keep the apps. Take advantage of the savings within shopping apps, but also monitor how much you’re spending in them.

Rewards

Rewards program apps, whether for a grocery store, airline or coffee shop, typically function in much the same way. The more customers spend, the more rewards they unlock.

But be careful not to let climbing the tiers of a reward system lead you to spend more in the process.

With any app, one way to curb excess purchases is to simply be aware of the potential dangers. Pause and recognize your tendency to overspend before it happens.