Useful tools for staying organized and on time

Yonkers, NY – Whether you’re a habitual “to-do” list creator or are notorious for being late, getting organized may be right at your fingertips. The March 2013 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from Consumer Reports, identifies free phone and tablet apps that can help you keep track of day-to-day appointments and tasks while keeping you on schedule.“It’s easy to get organized when you have a smartphone,”  said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “There are tons of free apps that can help get you on track in many different ways.”

Here are five free apps that can help you get a jump on organizing your life:

1. Alarmed wakes users up with songs from their iTunes playlist.  Keep snoozing and the songs play louder.  Works on Apple.
2. Catch helps users keep track of stuff by allowing them to jot down prices, record notes, and take photos while shopping. Works on Android and Apple.
3. Evernote allows users to create notebooks for things they want to do, buy or just remember.  Notebooks can be filled with photos, websites, audio clips, and more.  Tag notes in this app to make them easy to search or share with friends. Works on Android and Apple.
4. 30/30 is a time management tool.  Users list upcoming tasks, prioritize them, and assign the amount of time per task – the app’s timer notifies the user when time is up for each task. Works on Apple.
5. Unstuck assists users in figuring out what should get done first by taking them through a series of questions, asking what’s important, how the decision will affect them and others, how to prioritize each task, and more. It offers tips along the way and at the end provides a plan, plus alternatives. Works on Apple iPad.

About Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website, and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

About ShopSmart magazine

Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon the publication’s celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. ShopSmart features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. It’s ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org ^[1].