8 apps that every Post Grad needs

First and foremost, a BIG CONGRATS to all my post grad babies out there. Nic here, and I have officially been post-grad for over a year now. This one is dedicated to the Class of 2019 officially going out into the real world. Your college days are officially over. As tech-savvy millennials, your most used phone apps are probably Netflix, Instagram, and Candy Crush. Those apps are great and all, but now that we are entering the professional world, it’s time to diversify your frequently visited apps...to something a bit more grown up.

I compiled a list of 8 apps that I have had good experiences with, and have been using more and more since I graduated. After reading this you’ll hopefully want to clear out some of those mindless, time consuming apps for something that will be a bit more beneficial for you.

1. Yelp. This is personally one of my favorite phone apps. It’s a great way to find some cool and unique businesses and events catered towards your specific interests and location. It’s time to slow down your late night Cookout grub, for some elevated flavors. It can help you find a new restaurant, a quality hair dresser, and connect you with like minded people in your area.
2. Robinhood. Word harder not smarter. Making your money work for you is the simplest way to build your financial portfolio. If you haven’t started investing yet you are already behind the game. Robinhood is my favorite investing platform, as it has no minimum deposit, no trading fees, and you receive a free stock when referred by a friend! Investing doesn’t need to put you into a thousand dollar hole, it can start out as a couple $10 stock buys, and over time you can slowly tunnel more money into your investing. Then, you can sit back and watch your money grow with the stock market.
3. Vsco. I like to think of this as a social media platform made just for you. You add photos to your grid, (which is open to the public eye), but there is no commenting or liking of your photos. This app relieves the social norms and stresses of getting “approval” from your friends and followers. This is also one of Ash’s favorites for photo editing, in fact she often uses it to touch up photos used in our blog.
4. Ibotta. Getting cash back never got easier. You simply take your weekly grocery or summer shopping spree receipts and scan them for possible rebates. After racking up a pile of savings you can deposit those directly to your bank account through PayPal. From bananas and beer to trash bags and laundry detergent, you could get cash back on your common household shopping trips. So don’t throw those Kroger receipts just yet, you may be losing out on money saved!
5. Bumble. Online dating has been a fad for the past half decade, and I do not envision it leaving anytime soon. People don’t have time nowadays to meet at the grocery store, or while on a stroll through the park. While apps such as Tinder have led to what we call the “hook-up culture,” I have met several lasting couples that were introduced through Bumble, one of which is engaged to be married! The great part about Bumble is its varying functions, it can be switched to a friend or networking mode, better known as Bumble BFF or Bumble Bizz.
6. TurboTax. If you received a similar college education as I did, you learned in-depth about the paintings inside The Louvre, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and how to write a 15-page research paper...but not how to file your annual taxes. So finally, you enter the workforce, get your paycheck, January rolls around and you’re told that you need to submit your taxes. So you can either, A. cry to your parents, B. pay big money to a financial company to file your taxes for you, or C. use TurboTax to digitally enter your W-2. This app takes you step by step, and is a great entry-level way to get your taxes completed before that April deadline.
7. Sudoku. If you are going to take part in the addictive phone games, it may as well be one that keeps your brain active. Playing puzzles as such, has been proven to both improve and preserve your brain functioning as you grow older. Sudoku is my personal go-to puzzle, as it’s strategy and number based. There are a number of fun puzzle apps to check out!
8. LinkedIn Learning. Now that your title as a “student,” is technically over, you will do yourself good to continue fine tuning your skills and building your knowledge. While taking classes or sitting in on seminars can be costly, LinkedIn Learning can be free, pending your Library’s membership with the platform, such as the Nashville Public Library system. This application offers online courses, that review anything and everything in the technology, business, and creative worlds, there is something for all different professions. Taking advantage of these educational videos can keep you sharp and at the top of your game in the position you are aiming for, or are currently in.

And that’s a wrap on a handful of phone apps to help you out as you step away from your college days. Here is a special shout out to my co-blogger bestie, Ash. Four years of hard work has amounted to your degree. I know that education is soso important to you, and I want to take a moment to highlight this achievement. The all-nighters, the endless supply of iced cubans, and the tears spilled after completing your senior research project have led to this an accomplishment that not everyone is able to reach. You are kind, you are beautiful, and you are smart! Big things are coming your way! 

I hope that one or all of these apps are of use to you, as you enter this time of growth (and slight anxiety). Only time will tell what your future holds, because it’s already been over a year and I still feel like I have no clue what I’m doing. And that is a-okay! But it’s time to cut down the Netflix and chilling...fix up the resume, update the LinkedIn profile, and take advantage of your new adulthood freedom.

Thanks for reading, wait and see what we’ll do next!