Gas Buddy

Anyone driving a motor vehicle in the United States has experienced pain at the pump lately. Luckily, help is just a click away on your smartphone thanks to some great applications designed to steer you to some serious savings.

According to the American Automobile Association, gas prices are rising at an average of two cents a day. With Americans driving three trillion annual miles in their cars, those with smartphones like the DROID 4 by Motorola or tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 are poised to save the most on the price of fuel.

You find a number of highly-rated apps for your iOS or Android device (data rates may apply for download/use). Here are a few that can help get you back on the road and give your wallet a break.

VZ Navigator: Updated every 60 seconds using 1.8 billion traffic probes offering turn-by-turn traffic directions and detours, VZ Navigator helps drivers discover the most efficient ways to get to their destinations, avoiding wasted fuel. It also shows local gas prices (including distance from current location and address) without initiating a search.

Gas Buddy: Locates gas stations near you and shows current gas prices.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

While summer is always the big travel season in the United States, Americans are changing the way they take vacations. For example, look at the new partnership between Groupon and Expedia. They're following the increasingly popular deal-of-the-day model and offering significant discounts on travel packages that can include airfare, hotels, activities, car rentals and more.

That's not the only way to get to your destination for less, though. Try using these 9 thrifty travel tips to save some money on your next vacation.

1. Discover Off-Peak Destinations
With nearly four-million square miles of land area, the U.S. is a big country. This means there are nearly unlimited places to travel. Destinations in California, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, are some of the most popular spots, but they're also the most expensive. If you think outside the box, you'll find some really cool locations to have a unique vacation without the crowds.

2. Shop at Auctions
Is your heart set on luxurious accommodations, but your bank account doesn't match up? The auctions at travel sites like LuxuryLink.com can help you find accommodations, spa credits, meal vouchers and free drinks for as much as 65 percent below the typical retail price. Auction king eBay also offers a variety of discount vacation packages in their travel section. Read more

Imagine a future where nearly everyone owns a small computer that serves as a video camera, a camera, an alarm clock, a GPS and just about everything else you want in a handheld.

Well guess what -- the future is here. The smartphone technology for creating videos has become so popular that Cisco is closing down its FLIP video camera division.

The price tag on these wonder devices can be steep, but with a huge number of features, smartphones are making other tech gadgets obsolete. These are just a few of the ways you can use your smartphone to save some money.

Replace the Gadgets

1. Digital Camera
The idea of the smartphone camera replacing the point-and-shoot camera probably makes photography purists cringe. Camera-phone technology has come a long way and, in many cases, the picture quality is keeping up with digital cameras. Read more