By Danny Sauter
16 January 2009

According to one survey from Miami University, over 60% of their students are using smart phones. Perhaps the most recognizable smart phone is the iPhone. Apple’s iPhone has sold millions of units, and have attracted a loyal following among the college aged and young professional crowd – in fact, one estimate pegs 50% of iPhone users as under age 30.

While the actual unit will set you back $199 or $299, depending on your size and color preference, there are quite a number of ways that the phones applications can help save you money and better track what you are spending.

Here’s a good start:

Mint. Mint is perhaps the best free option to track and manage your finances. Mint connects with your bank accounts and credit cards, and pulls this data together into a collection of smart, colorful charts and graphs that show you where your money is going. The iPhone app is free, and it allows users to manage budgets, track transactions, and analyze spending habits – all on the go. Plus, as the Ramen Noodles tab start to add up, Mint will alert you that your credit card balances are low. It’s like having your own personal financial advisor at your fingertips, just waiting to help save you money.

Stanza. Save money on books and have quick access to some of the world’s best literary articles and works. Sound like a good plan? Then download Stanza, the iPhone’s premier e-reader. Stanza allows you to access over 40,000 free books and works, and download many newer titles at a fraction of the cost of the bookstores. With textbooks already weighing you down, the free Stanza application is a welcome service.

Cheap Gas! Saving a few pennies on each gallon of fuel can really add up. Cheap Gas! is a simple, yet powerful, way to search for the cheapest gas in your area. Once your zip code is entered, a list of nearby stations and their prices are instantly displayed. This free application is the perfect tool; one that will help you save a couple of extra bucks when you finally take that road trip you and your friends have been waiting for.

SpeedTrap. While you are on that road trip, you want to be sure to avoid getting any speeding tickets. That’s why it might be a good idea to invest $0.99 to avoid a pretty costly ticket later on. The SpeedTrap application allows you to view the most common speed traps in your area, warning you and providing you alternate routes to avoid the men in blue. 

Graphing Calculator. Why spend almost a hundred dollars on a new graphing calculator you only need for one class? Try the free Graphing Calculator on the iPhone instead. It has nearly every essential feature of a more expensive calculator, and is even easier to use. It even allows you to take a screenshot of a graph, and e-mail it to yourself to view or print out. Who knows? Maybe it will make calculus a little less dreadful.

Amazon Mobile. At a store, product in hand, but wondering if there is a cheaper option somewhere else? Amazon Mobile may have the answer. The free application allows you to instantly check prices on the millions of items it carries, and even points to other sources if lower prices exist. 

Jobs. You need to make money to save money. The Jobs Application, a free service from CareerBuilder, allows you to easily search for available jobs in your area. You can also manage contacts, and viewing ratings and average salaries for each position. It may be the quickest and easiest way to find your next job or just a gig that brings in a couple extra bucks.

Danny Sauter, Miami University of Ohio