SALTZMAN: Score deals over Black Friday with these apps

The holiday season is just around the corner, and for many, it’s a time of gift-giving and spreading cheer. But why spend more than you need to when shopping for presents for your loved ones? With the help of your smartphone, you can find great deals, get cash back, and even earn rewards while shopping both online and in-store.

As Black Friday (Nov. 29) approaches, retailers are gearing up for big sales, but many deals will be available leading up to and following this day. To help you navigate the shopping frenzy, here are five fantastic free apps that can help you save money and find the best deals this holiday season.

First up is Flipp, a Toronto-based app that aggregates paper store flyers and highlights the best deals from local retailers. With Flipp, you can easily browse through ads, clip items to your shopping list, and even track deals based on specific items you’re interested in. It’s perfect for finding deals on consumer electronics, household items, clothing, and groceries.

Next, Slickdeals is a popular app that shares the best deals on products, services, travel, and more. With a community of 12 million users, Slickdeals offers voted-on deals, deal alerts, coupons, and promo codes to help you save money on your purchases.

Rakuten, formerly known as eBates, is a cashback app that pays you every time you shop online through over 750 participating retailers. With Rakuten, you can earn up to 30 percent cash back on your purchases and get a $5 welcome bonus when you sign up.

PayPal Honey is a browser extension tool that searches the internet for the best prices and coupon codes across more than 30,000 websites. Honey will apply any available promo codes to your cart, helping you save money on your online purchases.

Finally, don’t forget about online marketplace apps like eBay, where you can find great deals on both new and gently used items. Local classifieds apps like Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Nextdoor are also great options for finding local deals and avoiding shipping costs.

By using these five apps, you can save money, find great deals, and make the most of your holiday shopping this season. So before you head out to the stores or start browsing online, be sure to download these apps and start saving today.