Summary
There’s something uniquely satisfying about saving money—whether it’s trimming wasteful spending, avoiding surprise fees, or scoring the latest deals.
While third-party budgeting apps can help (and we’ve covered the best ones before), you don’t always need to download extra software to start saving.
If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, Apple’s built-in features offer some surprisingly effective ways to cut costs.
Here are three lesser-known settings and tricks I personally use to save money using nothing but my iOS and iPadOS devices.
1. Turn On Deal Alerts in Apple Books
Track price drops and flash sales on ebooks and audiobooks automatically
Apple may not offer sales alerts in the App Store, but Apple Books quietly includes a wishlist feature that can notify you when a title you’re eyeing goes on sale.
This is a powerful way to build your library without blowing your budget.
Here’s how to enable book deal notifications:
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Open the Apple Books app (preinstalled on iPhones and iPads).
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Find a book you like and tap the “+” icon in the top-right to add it to your wishlist.
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If prompted, go to Settings > Notifications > Apple Books and enable “Allow Notifications.”
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Back in the Books app, tap your profile icon, go to Notifications, and toggle on Price Drops.
You can track as many titles as you want, and notifications will alert you when any of them go on sale—automatically.
2. Use Apple’s Built-In Subscription Manager
Review and cancel unwanted app subscriptions in seconds
If you’re like most users, subscription fatigue is real.
Fortunately, Apple makes it easy to view and manage all subscriptions you’ve signed up for through your Apple ID, including those tied to Apple Pay.
Here’s how to review your subscriptions:
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Open the Settings app.
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Tap your Apple ID profile (your name at the top).
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Select Subscriptions.
From here, you can cancel active subscriptions, review expired plans, and even enable renewal receipts to track billing.
It’s a quick and effective way to take control of your digital expenses.
3. Enable Low Data Mode
Reduce data usage and avoid unexpected charges
Exceeding your data plan—or your home internet cap—can lead to unexpected fees.
Low Data Mode, available in both Wi-Fi and cellular settings, reduces background activity, syncing, and app updates that might otherwise drain your data allowance without you realizing.
To enable Low Data Mode:
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For Wi-Fi:
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Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
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Tap the ‘i’ icon next to your network and toggle Low Data Mode.
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For Cellular:
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Go to Settings > Cellular > SIMs.
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Select your active SIM, tap Data Mode, and choose Low Data Mode.
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This setting is a lifesaver for anyone on limited mobile data or metered Wi-Fi, and it takes seconds to activate.
While third-party apps are great for budgeting and saving, sometimes the best tools are already built into your device.
By turning on a few native features, you can take control of your digital spending habits and start saving—no app downloads required.