If there’s one thing that we working moms oftentimes lack, it’s time. Given our fast-paced lives and the demands of work, family and (gasp!) other obligations, we usually find ourselves pressed for time, looking for a few minutes here and there to squeeze in some errands or to just enjoy some moments to ourselves.
Fortunately, we have our greatest ally right in our pockets. More than just our means to contact our family or to touch base with old friends through social media, our smartphones can and do allow us to do so much with what little time or space we have. All we need is to have the right apps for the job.
Banking Apps
Most banks already have their own mobile apps that allow users to check their bank account balances and transaction histories, make fund transfers and even pay bills online. Imagine not having to line up at the bank or at bayad centers just to make sure the bills are paid.
I helped my new college girl get her own account at the bank that I also have an account in. Now, I usually just transfer money to her account as her allowance. This frees me up from having to make sure that I always have cash on my wallet for her allowance and other household expenses.
CamScanner
This app turns our phones into a scanner which allows us to keep copies of important documents with us at all times. We can even use the app to send PDF copies of the scanned documents via email.
I recently used this feature to avail of the birthday promo at Ramen Nagi. Since we didn’t have a hardcopy of my daughter’s valid ID, I asked the restaurant manager if I could just email her the digital copy I have on CamScanner and she agreed. It was quite lucky that I kept the scanned copy of her passport on my phone.
Honestbee
Some moms may consider grocery shopping as a form of retail therapy, but for me, it’s a tedious chore. Just to ensure that our pantry is stocked with all the food and supplies my family needs, I would have to drive to the supermarket, find a place to park (I hate this part), walk around looking for the items I need, only to line up at the checkout lane and lug my groceries back to my car.
Honestbee eliminates all those hassles by enabling me to order my groceries online right on the app which a well-trained shopper bee will get from the nearest grocery store and a delivery bee will deliver to my house. This gives me additional two or three hours every weekend that I can use to catch up on my reading, get some beauty sleep or spend time at home with the kids.
For moms like me who will appreciate the convenience that Honestbee brings, here’s another perk: sign up for Honestbee using this referral link and get Php500 off your grocery bill.
Plus, Honestbee now delivers food from nearby restaurants. If you don’t feel like cooking, you can just order via the app and a sumptuous meal will be delivered right on your doorstep.
Eatigo
Speaking of food, sometimes you just want to enjoy some good food (that you didn’t have to cook yourself!) or try a new restaurant but you don’t want to overspend. With Eatigo, you can book a table at the featured restaurants and even enjoy up to 50% off on your food bill.
The discounts I’m able to avail of via Eatigo have helped me discover new places to eat and enjoy with friends and family. Register using this link and get a bonus of Php150 worth of rewards.
Amazon Kindle App
Being a book lover, I used to have shelves and shelves of books. However, Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) struck and I was forced to leave my beloved tomes behind to be swallowed up by the floodwaters. For a few months after that disaster, I used to get teary-eyed whenever I find myself near a bookstore.
Fortunately, Amazon.com popularized ebooks and published the Kindle app which allows users to view their Amazon.com ebooks via their mobile devices. It even allows users to convert their personal documents and books in PDF formats into files that can be read by Kindle.
Now, I carry my entire library with me wherever I go, and when I feel the need to read to relax, I just take out my phone and start reading.
SKY on Demand
There are times when you wish you just can take you TV anywhere with you such as when you’re still on the road and the show you’re following is already airing, or during long road trips and the kids need a distraction from the wait (and you need a break from the constant follow ups of “Are we there yet?”).
With SKY On Demand, you can watch SKYcable channels using any mobile device and any internet provider. Just download the app and register your SKYcable account number. You will be able to view all the channels in your SKYcable plan or any pay-per-view shows you are subscribed to that are available on SKY on Demand.
This app was a God-send to me when my husband and I had to pick up my daughter from her Community Development class on the Sunday when the Pacquiao vs Matthysse bout was going on. I was able to watch the bout while waiting in the car and later while eating lunch in our favorite Korean restaurant. If it weren’t for SKY On Demand, I would have missed the historic moment when Manny Pacquiao scored his first knockout victory in nine years.
Life for us working moms may be hectic and hard but with a little know-how and the help of our trusty smartphones, it can be made easier and more enjoyable for us and our loved ones.
What apps couldn’t you live without?
The mobile apps mentioned above are available in both iTunes and Google Play.
This post contains affiliate links.
Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.
Jellybeans in the City 
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