GiftCardGranny

Walgreens' customers are no strangers to savings. And though the deals abound, shopping at this national drugstore chain just got cheaper as long as you tap into your smartphone.

Walgreens recently announced an arrangement with FourSquare -- the geo-based social media app where users update their location by "checking in" -- to offer customers a unique mobile coupon for checking in to any of their retail locations. With the largest FourSquare following of any retailer in the U.S., Walgreens' innovative program is exemplary of the increasing popularity of mobile shopping apps and the savings potential available to consumers who use them.

With over 300,000 apps introduced to the market in the last three years, there are lots of savvy-shopping and money-saving apps to flag. Read on for several top recommendations.

1. MyShopperApp
There are some great shopping-list apps out there, but this one takes the cake. MyShopper app allows you to keep tabs on spending before you actually spend by totaling the prices of each item on your list as you shop. You know the minute a product puts you over-budget, reducing the tendency for impulse buys. Read more

United Airlines recently announced their desire to exchange your unused gift cards from over 60 retailers for frequent-flier miles. That's great if you frequently find yourself up, up and away, but what about those who don't fly frequently?

Earth-bound consumers have a handy alternative that will exchange gift cards for cash with no muss and fuss. Websites like GiftCardGranny can turn your plastic into cash by purchasing your unwanted cards. The same website also allows you to buy discount gift cards for a wide variety of products and services at up to 35 percent off the face value.

The airline's parent company, United Continental Holdings, launched on Monday their unique MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange. Payments vary, depending on how much demand there is for each card submitted. Read more

Super Bowl XLVI kicks off in less than a week and in addition to soaring chicken-wing prices, delectable dip recipes and the season's best football, the big game brings with it some of the lowest prices of the year on electronics (save for Black Friday, of course).

If you've wanted to upgrade your big screen, enhance your surround sound or switch to a smartphone for instant play updates, now is a better time than ever. However, intercepting the best deals takes a smart shopping strategy.

Review this play-by-play buying guide to learn how to tackle super savings on game-day gadgets:

1. Do Your Homework
Research is key when making any purchase, so be sure to read product reviews to determine the best make and model for your needs. If you're in the market for a new HDTV, Lifehacker offers helpful advice on comparing specifications. Once you've determined what you want to buy, compare retail prices on sites like PriceGrabber.com to score the best deal. Read more

After an excruciating four months, most of us have put aside our lockout gripes and embraced the upcoming NFL season with the usual body-painted passion. Good news for a worried league, but will a fickle stock market and a sluggish job outlook still keep some folks tuned out? Tickets prices will remain largely static, but optimizing your viewing experience (both at home, or in the stadium) can still run you a pretty penny. To help you weed out the best bets, here are eight gadgets that should get you the most bang for your buck:

1. Binoculars: A must-have for any pigskin aficionado worth his or her salt, these come in especially handy for those stranded in the cheap seats. Don't miss a single play with a Bushnell H20, available at Amazon.com. There are cheaper models out there, but this waterproof and fogproof pair will lockout moisture and make sure you catch all the action, no matter the weather. [$72 or less]

2. Cameras: Smartphone snapshots might be all the rage these days, but there's no replacement for a quality photograph from a real camera. Fortunately, there are some top-notch, inexpensive models you can slip right in your pocket. Pick up a Nikon Coolpix with up to 16 megapixels at Target. Snag a discounted Target gift card from sites like GiftCardGranny.com and cut costs even lower. [$200 or less] Read more

Attention streaming movie marathoners: There are major changes coming your way. This month Netflix announced they'll be increasing their plan pricing. The trend of rising prices for streaming content is a growing one. Cell phone providers like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile are all planning to eliminate unlimited data plans in favor of tiered pricing. With experts predicting most cell phone users won't be hit by the changes for a few years, Netflix is taking most of the heat.

The Netflix Changes
Here are the basics of the Netflix changes. Instead of having DVD rentals and streaming movies priced together, each portion will be priced as a separate plan. For most users, this will increase the monthly bill by $6-10. Price changes will take effect September 1.

Customer Backlash
Understandably, cash-strapped consumers are not thrilled about price increases. The official blog post announcing Netflix's changes has generated more than 12,000 comments. Most appear to be current subscribers pledging to cancel their subscription.

More Than the Price
On the surface, $6 doesn't seem like an outrageous amount, but customers are hurt about more than the money. Many who've been with Netflix from the start feel their loyalty has been betrayed. Disgruntled loyalists would like prices to stay as they are for current subscribers with increased rates only for new subscribers. Read more

The summer travel season is finally in full swing. While gas prices remain high, many major retailers are taking steps to cut costs for disgruntled drivers. Wal-Mart is leading the charge, reducing their fuel prices by 10 cents per gallon for the summer months. The retail giant will offer discounted prices at gas stations in 18 states until September 30. Many other stores have followed suit with their own deals. Here's a list of other major merchants helping Americans save at the pump this summer.

CVS
The drug store chain is offering a free $10 gas gift card to ExtraCare Rewards members when they purchase $30 worth of select products. The promotion runs through August 28, so there's still plenty of time to cash in.

Kroger and Shell
The grocery chain has been offering discounted gas for quite awhile now, but their partnership with Shell has really turned up the savings. With 100 points on your rewards card, you'll get 10 cents off per gallon on a fill up at both Kroger and Shell stations. If you're not satisfied with that discount, Kroger also offers $1 off per gallon when you earn 1,000 points on your rewards card.

Kellogg's
Do you eat a bowl of cereal every morning for breakfast? If so, you're well on your way to saving on fuel. When you collect 10 UPCs from cereal boxes and mail them in, Kellogg's will send you a $10 prepaid gas card. Submissions must be received by December 31 and there's a limit of five cards per household. Read more