I am still new to Apps and figuring out how I can use them to simplify our lives. I am just as excited to read this article please welcome guest blogger,Jane Johnson, a writer for GoingCellular, a popular site that provides cell phone related news, commentary, reviews on popular providers like T-Mobile.
Today’s families are busy as can be! Between packing school lunches, getting kids to school on time, setting up an after-school nanny, getting them to hockey practice, and making sure they brush their teeth before bedtime…there’s hardly any room to organize the home.
Technology can help you tune into organizing your busy family with some smart solutions to help you stay on top of what’s important. Just look to your smart phone—iPhone, Android, BlackBerry smart phone, or almost any mobile device with T-Mobile broadband—for the following apps designed to help keep your house and your family on track with things like daily chores, grocery shopping, meal preparation, and much, much more!
1. Chore Hero ($2.99 – for iPhone)
Chore Hero is a real super power when it comes to assigning and tracking household chores. Simply name a chore and assign it to a family member, including kids (chores are a great way of teaching children how to be responsible and part of a family unit). When chores have been completed, the person assigned, simply indicates it on the app. Each chore completed redeems “chore points” so you can make household duties fun by making them into a weekly or monthly contest: the person with the most “chore points” is awarded title of “Chore Hero”!
2. ShopSavvy (Free – for Android)
Do you shop online because you are so busy? Well, ShopSavvy will deliver the cheapest price on any household, clothing, or grocery items’ barcode that you snap with your mobile phone. ShopSavvy is a great shopping wing man because it will tell you exactly where you can find those kiddie Crocs for rock bottom prices, as well as providing any additional savings details—like free shipping or monthly promo discounts. You know that with ShopSavvy, you’ll get the best price on shopping for your family every time.
3. Grocery IQ (Free – from iPhone)
How would you like a tool that lets you organize your shopping by aisle (so you don’t have to run back to the other side of the store for strawberry jam), print grocery lists and shopping coupons with a Wi-Fi connection, and synch your shopping list directly to your spouse’s phone so you can tag team your shopping excursions? There’s an app for that and it’s called GroceryIQ!
4. Family Wall (Free – from Android)
Family Wall is a totally free and secure cloud for your partner and offspring. It gives each family member private access to a central space where you can plan family events, organize holiday dinners, send messages or news to each other throughout the day, or let others know you’ll be working late. If you’re leaving town and the kids with your in laws, you can also use Family Wall to post important contacts, such as doctors, emergency contacts, and school contacts.
5. Cozi (Free – for BlackBerry)
Sign up for a free account and Cozi will keep your entire family organized. Just add individual family members as Cozi contacts and they will be assigned a color. The genius of this app is that it will synch all chores, to do lists, shopping list, and family events to everyone’s mobile phone calendars. This easy to navigate app allows you to keep tabs on your spouse, your kids, and reminds everyone of important family events so mom doesn’t have to keep writing it on Sticky notes in their lunches.
