• by Andrea Woroch , October 6, 2011

Are you planning to spend more or less money this holiday season than in 2010? If you're like most shoppers, studies suggest you'll plop down less cash than in the last few years. As a result, merchants are pulling out all the stops to grab a healthy percentage of your budget.

Thanks to the preponderance of smartphones, more merchants are including mobile marketing in the mix. According to Mashable.com, a study released in January by ForeSee Results reports that 11 percent of visitors to top e-retailer sites made a purchase using their phones during the holiday rush. That compares favorably to the 2 percent from 2009 -- and that figure is only expected to increase in 2011.

Buying isn't our only goal, however. Smartphones make it easy to compare prices and product deals, as well as research store locations -- all incredibly handy uses when time is limited. Here are five reasons that smartphones owners should plug in before purchasing.

1. Vouchers Move to Mobile

Mobile Spinach has moved daily deal vouchers onto consumers' smartphones, so they can access offers while they shop, dine or get a massage, then present the voucher at checkout. Offers featured by Mobile Spinach have no expiration dates and are available instantaneously.

2. Newspapers Offering Apps

The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, Mass. launched a program Tuesday allowing users to locate weekly deals offered by local retailers on the newspaper's iPhone and Android apps, as well as its mobile Web site. Such campaigns are spreading throughout the print-media industry, as more newspapers look for a toehold in the online business.

3. Scanning for Points

CheckPoints offers an innovative take on the traditional rewards program. The mobile-shopping startup gives smartphone owners a set number of points or a "gift" every time they scan a barcode using the iPhone or Android app. For example, a recent Nestle's campaign encouraged participants to pick up and scan the barcode for specific Dryer's products. In return, they received a $4-off coupon for Dryer's products.

4. Less Computer Clutter

Even before TLC's "Extreme Couponing" became a phenomenon, American consumers were buying into the coupon concept. More than 88 million consumers (47% of Internet users) said they would use online coupons in 2011. Apps such as that offered by CouponSherpa.com provide instant access to coupon codes that shoppers can use in stores or online for a wide variety of products.

5. Instant Price Comparison

Available for both iPhones and Androids, the RedLaser app allows consumers to comparison shop and find product information from their mobile phones using state-of-the-art scanning technology.

6. Math Made Easy

With sales and coupons galore, holiday shoppers can get lost in the numbers. The Sale Saver app features a price calculator that factors in discounts, including store-wide or product sales, along with coupon discounts and any other promotional offers. The app saves all the items in the mobile cart and calculates the total savings, while factoring in tax to show each shopper just how much each holiday gift buying spree costs.

7. On-the-go Budget Smarts

One of the biggest challenges for holiday shoppers is staying within budget, especially when they're "on a roll" with gift ideas. Retailers who create tools to help shoppers manage wish lists and track savings will attract a wide range of consumers, such as the free Holiday Budget Planner app from AOL. By having immediate access to money spent as well as gift lists, consumers are more likely to stay on budget and look for the best deal.