The typical smart phone can set a customer back $400 or more, a price we pay by way of our monthly cell phone bill. As a consumer spending that type of money, you want to get the most out of your cell phone. Here are just a few ways you can take advantage of your cell phone camera to become more productive and save more money.
Document your rental car condition
When I rent cars for trips I always take pictures of major dings and dents so that I won’t be on the hook for the damage when I return the vehicle. But I don’t just record the external damage, I also snap photos of the gas gauge. This came in handy once when an agent claimed that I had not returned the car with a full tank. My photo told a different story and prevented the additional charges.
Never again forget store hours
I can’t always remember the opening and closing hours of the various libraries, public agencies, and businesses I frequent. That’s no problem. Now, I simply snap a photo of the posted business hours so I’m assured never to arrive after closing time.
Keep your confirmation numbers handy
I frequently collect free Redbox codes, purchase movie tickets online, and make hotel reservations over the internet. Instead of risking misplacing my confirmation codes, I simply snap a picture of them for later use. The same thing can be done for other items that are easy to lose or forget such as valet tickets, drug prescriptions, and dry cleaning tickets.
Never worry about where you parked
I’m always forgetting where I parked, but my cell phone comes to the rescue. If I park in a parking garage, I’ll take a picture of the location. Likewise, when I park on the street in an unfamiliar area, I’ll take a picture of the street signs located at the nearest intersection to help me find my way back to my car.
Don’t ever worry about losing business cards
I’m terrible with business cards. I lose them almost immediately. Now, whenever someone gives me their card I simply snap a picture of it, ensuring the information never gets lost.
Make sure you look your best
Have you ever needed to check your appearance but a bathroom is no where to be found? Just snap a picture of yourself. This works great before an interview or right before meeting your new date. Your cell phone is also great for taking a look at those hard to view places like the back of your head.
Comparison shop to get the best prices
I love to find bargains. That’s when I’ll turn to my cell phone. If I see a pair of shoes I like, I’ll snap a picture along with the price so that I can compare prices at other stores. Apps, like Quick Scan for iPhones and RedLaser Barcode for Android phones, allow you to scan a product’s bar code and instantly compare prices for the same item online and at other stores.
Keep track of important documents
If I come across an important document that I’ll need to quickly reference later, I will snap a quick photo of it. The same goes for extremely important emails. I’ll just take a picture of the computer screen containing the email. Now, apps like CamScanner Free and Prizmo will even allow you to turn your document photos into pdf documents for easier handling, archiving, and editing.
BMWK: How do you use your cell phone camera to become more productive or save money?