There have been many frequent flyer and frequent guest promotions since 2000 when I started my hobby earning and using frequent flyer miles and hotel points. I learn something new with each one. The Foursquare promotion with Starwood just ended and it encouraged me to research the prices of smart phones and the associated monthly fees. I wanted to earn 250 Starwood points every stay by checking into Starwood hotels with Foursquare. From this promotion I learned how to download apps and now I use them regularly. Foursquare is a great app for getting discounts. The best part of these discounts is no printing and remembering to bring the coupons. All you need to do is refresh Foursquare when you arrive at a new destination and new offers are available right on the phone.

GeoQpons is another great app for discounts. It is especially good for large nationwide chain stores. It has a great coupon code now for 10% off on phones and phone cards. I used the code this week at BestBuy to keep my Virgin Mobile bill under $40 including the taxes for a month.

The Weather Channel app for android is another great app for my smart phone. It is bright, easy to use and provides me with the weather forecast at home and while traveling.

Thank you Starwood for the additional points from the Foursquare promotion and for helping me quickly learn to use a smart phone and find some great apps that make my life easier and help me save more.