Your smartphone can be a powerful money-saving tool if you know where to look. From sneaky subscriptions to missed discounts, small habits on your phone can quietly drain your wallet. In this column, I’ll share easy smartphone tips that can help you save real money starting today. Let’s get started.

Find and Cancel Unused Subscriptions

Subscriptions are one of the biggest hidden money leaks. Many of us sign up for free trials and forget about them – until we’re charged month after month. Many subscriptions you signed up for are managed directly in your phone’s Settings app.

To review and cancel your phone’s active subscriptions:

• On iPhone, open Settings > tap your Apple ID at the top > Subscriptions.
• On Android, open the Google Play Store > tap your profile picture > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions

In addition to your phone’s built-in tools, consider using downloadable apps that let you track all your subscriptions in one place, including those billed outside the App Store or Google Play. Apps like Trim by OneMain and Rocket Money can scan your spending, flag recurring charges, and make it easier to spot and cancel subscriptions you may have forgotten about.

A quick review can easily save you tens, or even hundreds, of dollars a year.

💡 Pro tip: 

If you’re unsure you’ll keep a subscription, cancel the free trial right after signing up. In most cases, you’ll still have access until the trial ends. It just won’t auto-renew.

Set Price-Drop Alerts When Shopping

If you’re not in a rush to buy an item, let your phone watch prices for you and alert you when it’s time to buy.

Amazon Deal Notifications

We’re usually quick to turn off push notifications, but some are actually worth keeping – and Amazon deal alerts are one of them. These notifications can let you know about Lightning Deals, Prime Day discounts, and price drops on items Amazon recommends based on your browsing and purchase history.

To turn them on, open the Amazon Shopping app > go to your Profile tab > tap Settings (gear) > Notifications > Deals and recommendations, and enable the alerts you want.

💡 Pro Tip:

Amazon often highlights price changes for items in your cart or saved list, making it easy to spot a good deal. Simply add the item to your cart and tap Save for later.

Google Shopping (and Flights)

When you search for a product on Google and open the shopping results, you can turn on price tracking to get notified when the price drops. Google can send you a push notification in the Google app and an email when a better price becomes available.

As a bonus, the same feature works for travel. On Google Flights, search for a route or specific flight, then toggle Track prices to receive alerts when fares go up or down.

Use Wi-Fi Calling and Messaging Apps to Save on Data

If you’re paying for a high data plan or worrying about roaming charges, you may be paying more than you need to. With Wi-Fi calling and internet-based messaging, your phone can handle calls and texts using Wi-Fi instead of your cellular plan. And the best part? Wi-Fi is everywhere – at home, at work, in coffee shops, airports, hotels, and even many public spaces.

To turn on Wi-Fi calling:

• On iPhone, open Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling > turn it on.
• On Android, open Settings > Network & Internet (or Connections) > Wi-Fi Calling and enable it (the exact path may vary by device).

You can also use apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Google Meet to make calls and send messages over Wi-Fi, even internationally, without using your mobile plan. Using these apps is especially helpful when traveling, and is a smart way to avoid roaming fees, a topic I covered in a previous Techspert column.

💡 Pro Tip:

If you’re often connected to Wi-Fi, check with your carrier about more affordable options. You may be able to downgrade your data plan and save money every month.

More Money-Saving Smartphone Tips Worth Mentioning

Here are a few bonus tips to stretch your budget even further:

• Stop paying for apps you can replace with free built-ins. Smartphones already include many powerful tools at no extra cost. If you only use one feature of a paid app, check your phone’s built-in options first – for example, your camera can scan QR codes without a separate app.
• Save on your data plan by turning off background data for apps you rarely use. This ensures those apps refresh and fetch updates only when you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
• Lower your insurance costs with driving score apps. Many major insurance companies offer apps that track safe driving habits and reward you with discounts.
• Enable spending alerts in your banking apps to keep a closer eye on purchases and catch unexpected charges early.
• Save money by trading in or selling old devices instead of letting unused electronics collect dust.

Got a tech question that just cannot wait? Join the Everything Tech and Ask a Tech Expert groups on the Senior Planet Community platform to ask any tech questions you might have and discuss technology trends with other like-minded individuals. You can also call our free Senior Planet Tech Hotline at 888-713-3495.

Mark Your Calendar

January 28 is International Data Privacy Day, an annual event to raise awareness of data privacy and promote best practices…and protecting your online accounts starts with strong password practices! Join Senior Planet on January 28 for a webinar on Passwords, Passkeys and More. Registration is required for this Zoom session. 

Want more privacy? Here is a link to our tech tip video playlist on limiting app tracking on your iPhone and your Android smartphone. (The playlist has two videos, one for iPhones and one for Android phones.)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUmiB6tNUzFXtEEAXskXSExlxMvsbm8pC

Your Turn

Have a money-saving smartphone tip of your own? Share it in the comments below.

Techspert Jonathan is Senior Planet’s Sr. Digital Community Relations and Product Specialist and a former Senior Planet San Antonio technology trainer. He is also an iOS developer with a background in Information Systems and Cyber Security.

Have a tech question that’s got you stumped? Send your tech questions to Techspert Jonathan using THIS FORM. He’ll be tackling one question a month from readers.

The content on the Senior Planet website is intended strictly for general informational purposes and does not constitute an endorsement or warranty regarding privacy, security, app permissions, or changes in the app’s terms of service. Please scrutinize each app’s privacy policy, terms of use, data collection or other permissions before downloading or using the app.