If you’re an iPhone user, you already know there are thousands of apps (short for applications) that make life a little bit easier. Many apps have free “lite” versions that can be downloaded without charge from iTunes, but others cost anywhere between .99 to $999.99. You read that right! Some apps like Bar Max: California edition, which is intended for law students studying for the California bar exam, are very expensive.

So what’s a frugal iPhone user supposed to do? Buy iPhone apps on sale. You don’t have to stick to free “lite” versions of apps anymore. Companies occasionally lower an app’s price to attract new users and you can take advantage of this. To score discounted iPhone apps, commit to checking the iTunes store or Apple App store once a week to find what’s on sale. Although this task can be tedious, it really pays off.

Better yet, use a free app to find out when the apps you want go on sale. I’m talking about App miner, which sends you push notifications when the apps you want go on sale. I’ve already downloaded App miner and I’m waiting for Angry Birds to go on sale so I can buy the full version. (Angry Birds Free is not as good.)

I try to only download free apps, but Angry Birds is so addictive. The only app I’ve paid for is a $.99 Hootsuite app that I use to keep in touch with our BargainBabe.com readers on Facebook and Twitter. I use the Hootsuite app all the time to schedule tweets and Facebook updates.

Bargain Babe wrote about feeling guilty for paying for an app that cost her $.99. If you’ve been wanting to get an app that cost money, wait for a sale. In the meantime, try these free iPhone apps to help you lose weight, save money, get organized and quit smoking.