Smartphones may not be the most frugal choice. But let's face it, more and more of us have succumbed to their lure in our mobile society.

So why not put that pricey gadget to work for you saving time and money.

With the simple download of an app, you can save big money on any number of every day purchases, including gas, Internet fees, groceries, DVDs, books, toys, clothes and dinner out.

The potential for savings is even greater when you're traveling and unfamiliar with the retail terrain. Best of all, most money-saving apps can be downloaded free.

Here are a few of my favorite frugal-minded apps. All of them are free and are available for both the iPhone and Android phones:

Need a solution to the the world's climate crisis? Al Gore has an app for that.

This is one you will want to be on the lookout for. Dropbox, offering cross-platform cloud-based storage, is one of the most useful and popular services online. With either its free or paid services, users can store and sync files online & between computers, and also share files & folders with others.

The dining search app Urbanspoon has been a favorite on the iPhone since
the early days.

String Trio makes your device an air cello, viola and violin. Its cheap fun for a Tuesday.