Today’s economic scenario is such that every penny saved counts. Considering this, several money saving apps have been developed by clever and concerned developers that help save money. Though the amounts that you save may be small, when consolidated they do make a difference and leave you with some extra spending money. Here are a few apps that may interest you.

Fuel School

Spending on fuel is inevitable and can always leave your wallet short of cash. You may be driving a hybrid eco-friendly car, or a gas guzzler, however the expenses on gas will keep mounting. Fuel School is here to help save up to a good 10% on fuel bills by telling you how to drive efficiently. This intelligent app makes use of a GPS connection to monitor and keenly analyze the way you drive. In addition to giving you valuable tips, the app advises on eco-friendliness and helps you go that extra mile.

Home Budget

This app should be downloaded onto the phones of householders who are keen to constantly monitor all their incomes and expenses. The app syncs all the accounts and keeps track of the payment history and leaves you with valuable information at your fingertips. It helps monitor various accounts, including the ones in foreign currency. The exclusive feature in the app helps you share vital information with your family members, who can be added to the group.

Vouchercloud 

This app helps you locate the best bargains in town. After shopping, the vouchers are directly dispatched to your smartphone. Vouchercloud uses GPS to locate the places that are closest to where you are, and updates you with the latest promotions and discounts on offer.  Right from offers at leading restaurants to the promotions at the local department store, almost everything is covered by Vouchercloud.

Onavo

More often than not, you are so immersed in whatever you do that you fail to keep track of your data usage. This app helps you get more than ever from your data plans. The claims are that you can save up to a good 80% on whatever data plan you have. The app efficiently compresses the data usage, thus automatically lowering the costs. You can use the app for generating mobile internet usage reports. With this app installed, you can browse the Internet for hours without having to worry about usage of data.

Skype

Skype is probably one of the most downloaded and used apps till date, as far as saving on calls is concerned. You no longer have to rely on the traditional landline to make your phone calls and run up outrageously high bills. You can now make both voice and video calls and enjoy talking to friends and family. Instant messaging is also available, making communication very simple and absolutely free. All you need to have is a good Internet connection and you will be able to communicate with anyone who has Skype.

Tip N Split 

This is an app that shows you a new way to go “Dutch”. Turn all your future outings into pleasurable ones without having to be embarrassed about who is going to foot the bill. Tip N Split helps you quickly calculate how to share the total cost fairly amongst the group. It even works calculates the service charges and tells you how much exactly you owe.

Author’s Bio:

Tina Reeves currently works at cox tv, a site that enables everyone to learn about how to save on broadband and internet cable.

Homeowners are always looking for ways to make their homes more energy efficient.

Whether it’s because you want to do your bit for the planet, save some extra cash, or a combination of the two; the secret to saving energy in the home starts with smart home design. If a property is built and designed with green principles in mind, it will be much easier to lower your carbon emissions.

That doesn’t mean to say though; there is little you can do with an existing property to make it more ‘green’. On the contrary, you can use these smart design tips to help maximise your homes green potential. Here are some top design principles that save energy that you can begin implementing today:

1. Insulation

We all know that loft and cavity wall insulation is a great way to maintain the heat in our homes, and keep our carbon footprint down.

By installing the correct insulation, in the right amount, in the right place; you can trap heat in your home. This will mean that you won’t pay unnecessary heating costs, and can drive down you annual bills considerably.

Make sure you do your research though, and find the type of insulation that will work best for your home. You don’t want to make a rushed decision and end up paying a small fortune for a repair job. When fitted correctly, insulation is a really smart design principle that will help you save energy and money.

2. Flooring

Did you know that the floor in your home can have a huge impact on your energy efficiency?

The right flooring can save you both energy and money, and is a simple but effective way to ensure your house follows green principles. In the winter months, carpets and rugs can help trap heat and keep your rooms much warmer.

If you think carefully about the flooring you choose to install in your home, it can be an inexpensive and effective way to save energy. This then, is one change every home owner can make to cut costs and help save the planet.

3. Bathroom and kitchen fittings

The bathroom and kitchen are perhaps the most important rooms in your home. But they are also the rooms where the majority of your energy consumption takes place. However, this is another design principle that is easy to amend.

When you need to purchase appliances and fixtures, consider their energy efficiency rating. Most products are marked with a rating – with A being the best – allowing you to make an informed decision.

Buying products earmarked as energy efficient can help you save a substantial amount of money on your bills every year. Just be sure to do your research before you make a purchase.

4. Window treatments

Smart home design goes further than the obvious energy saving efforts.

Did you know that curtains can actually reduce your homes energy costs? Thick curtains can help prevent heat loss, and keep your home warmer in the winter. Other window treatments can also help you keep both cool and warm air inside the house.

Factors to consider include the material, colour and how they open. This is really simple and purse-friendly way to drive down your bills and save energy.

5. Skylights

The final piece of smart home design that can help you save energy comes in the form of skylights. Many home owners are already aware that a skylight can help improve their homes’ energy efficiency, but are not always aware of their full benefits.

As well as allowing more natural light into a room – helping to reduce your electricity bill – skylights also improve your homes’ heating and ventilation. However, before you install one; you need to ensure it follows the recommendations outlined by government.

By following these cost-effective design principles, you will be able to save energy in your home. As you can see then, it is easier than you might think to drive down your bills and do your bit for the planet.

Auriga Services helps UK businesses provide the best possible support for their vulnerable customers, struggling to pay their bills. To find out more about their services, visit their website: www.aurigaservices.co.uk. 

Image credit: Krzysztof Urbanowicz on Flickr

According to industry consultants, Ernst and Young, 2013 will be bringing significant regulatory, demographic and macroeconomic challenges to the US life insurance sector. In response, most providers are reinventing their products and repositioning their services and strategies in an effort to allow for optimum profitability and growth in an increasingly highly competitive, lower margin industry.

Statistics have shown that the average US household budget for life insurance products has fallen by 50% over the last 10 years, most notably among younger consumers. Providers are fighting back with the introduction of innovative and novel policy enhancements, aiming to make them attractive to customers and profitable to insurers in the prevailing environment of low interest rates. While the ongoing economic conditions are also making consumers extremely reluctant to purchase variable policies, low credit rates on fixed policies are simply not perceived as offering a particularly attractive option.

For many, the purchase of a life Insurance policy is regarded as a necessary evil which you must have to demonstrate your responsibilities to your partner, spouse or dependents; and while we all recognize that taking out a policy is the right thing to do, nobody wants to be in the position of having to pay more than they need to get the cover they require. So just how can you ensure you get the peace of mind you need for your family at an affordable price?

Simple Tips for Security and Affordability

When you first start thinking about your requirements, determine exactly how much cover you will actually need. What are the expenses that your spouse, partner or dependents will be expected to meet should you die unexpectedly? Costs can be reduced by ensuring that you are not over insuring your life; paying for a larger payout can significantly increase your monthly premiums. Only allow for what you need and don’t pay more than you have to.

Use the same parameters when you are determining the length of the term for your policy. If your mortgage is scheduled to be paid off in 5 or 10 years time, you won’t be needing a larger payout in 15 or 20 years. Remember, the longer the term, the more you will pay in premiums.
Also, many life insurance providers will have a certain threshold above which premiums become cheaper. In some circumstances, it may be less expensive to take 500,000 dollars in cover than it would 49,500 dollars. Check with your insurance professional and think about ’rounding up’.

It is definitely worth thinking about the state of your health before taking out life insurance cover. Companies may well ‘load’ their premiums for customers who are smokers or carrying too much weight. Significant reductions may be secured by dropping a few pounds and cutting the smoking habit prior to commencing your policy. If you already have a policy instated and have recently lost weight or given up smoking, it may well be financially beneficial to contact your provider to let them know.

In common with those in the car dealership sector, some life insurance providers may attempt to sell you products that you don’t particularly want or need and may add ‘riders’ to your policy adding to the premiums. Some examples to look out for include:

- Making an extra administration charge for those policy holders who prefer to make their premium payments monthly rather than annually.

- Waiver of premium; this will waive the policy holder’s premium payment should he become incapacitated through illness or accident. This is similar to mortgage protection cover which will make payments if the homeowner is laid off.

- Accidental death; the end of life payment will be increased should the customer lose his life in an accident.

- Term conversion; this offers the ability to convert the term insurance to universal or whole life if the customer chooses.

- Accelerated death; this provides access to a certain amount of the policy proceeds if the policy holder is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Generally, most people will not need all, or any, of these riders. If you don’t require them, ask for them to be struck from your policy. They will not deliver a cost effective option.”

Ian Wright has many years’ experience writing about the insurance industry. He currently runs http://instantcarinsuranceonline.com and when not working likes to run marathons.

Image credit: Alan Cleaver on Flickr

Business travel just isn’t cheap. Along with the train, air and taxi fares, subsistence/travelling food costs, accommodation (whether hotels, conference hotels or serviced apartments), conference passes/tickets, visas and communication costs, it’s important to work out ways to get the best deals.

But what is the best way to make sure that, as a business traveller, you’re getting the best value for your money when it comes to communication?

Book somewhere with free hotel WiFi

Many hotel chains around the world offer free wifi in-room as standard and it can be possible to negotiate this as part of the price, particularly if you’re a large group going for a conference, for example.

Consider voice over internet protocol (VoIP)

All you need is a landline and internet connection and a VoIP system will allow you to make cheap calls over a computer network. Apps like Skype can be downloaded to smartphones and synced with VoIP accounts to make cheap calls from mobiles, via wifi.

Use a phonecard

Pre-paid phone cards can be a cheaper way to use local landlines, or some mobile phones, to make international calls. Cards generally cost £5, £10 or £20 and calls are charged at the local rate. Try 1st-phonecards.co.uk to find deals on a range of cards.

Avoid the hotel phone

Unless your hotel offers VoIP, use the phone only for pick-up calls and arrange for others to call you at predetermined times.

Buy a local SIM card

If you travel to a country frequently, buy a local pay-as-you-go SIM card. Ritesim.com sells lots of different options for countries around the world, with different bundles of pre loaded credit and data. A pre loaded local SIM card for the country of your choice will give you a local phone number, local rates for calls and texts, free incoming calls and cheaper international phone calls.

The local pre paid SIM cards need an unlocked phone, but are much more cost effective and there are different deals available when buying in bulk. For example, a group of people away for a two-week conference in Delhi would be free to contact each other by calls or texts, use the internet/emails as normal on their phones, benefit from local customer service should they need it, and be easily accessible to people at home. Try Ritesim for a great range of local SIM cards for destinations around the world.

Find free hotspots

Change your smartphone settings from data roaming to WiFi to find out where free spots are – you will generally need to be signed up to a provider for BT Openzone, T Mobile and O2 for example. The Cloud’s Fast Connect app (thecloud.net) finds free spots near you – it’s free on 3G tablets, iOS, Android and Windows smartphones. Thousands of venues have signed up but it really depends on where you’re travelling to. Pre paid local SIM cards are generally the most reliable – and cheapest – option for total peace of mind and, crucially, no interruption to business by not being able to use the internet or make calls when necessary.

Image credit:  Wayda Dreamscape on Flickr

Whether it’s online or offline shopping, you should use the same credit card for both, right? Not necessarily.

Some credit cards have benefits and reward programs which are especially useful for online shopping.

1. Purchase Protection

With this benefit, your eligible purchases are protected against theft and accidental damage for the first 90 days. The advantages of this for online shopping are obvious; if your item is damaged during shipping or if someone steals the package off your doorstep, you might be covered depending on the circumstances.

You won’t find this benefit on every card. It’s most commonly found on high-end American Express cards like this one. You will also find it on almost any higher tier Visa and MasterCard (Visa Signature and World MasterCard). So try and use one of these cards when making your online purchases. However keep in mind that the terms and conditions won’t cover every type of item.

2. Extended Warranty Benefit

Did you know that some credit cards will automatically extend warranty coverage on eligible purchases?

Typically the benefit works like this: If you buy a new item that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less, the credit card company will automatically double the length of coverage (or up to 1 additional year, whichever is shorter).

The cards that come with purchase protection will usually have this benefit, too. It’s especially useful when buying electronics online, since those typically have short warranties to begin with.

3. Extra Rewards

There are a few credit cards on the market that give you additional rewards for online purchases.

For example, from September 1st thru December 31st of last year, the Discover it card gave 5% for all purchases made online. It’s suspected that Discover might do the same promotion for 2013. Another one is the Citi Forward card, which gives 5x points at bookstores. Since they classify Amazon as a bookstore, it means you can earn 5x points when you shop there.

The best part is that you can combine these rewards with other ways to save money. For example, if buying a new computer, you can use the HP online deals from CheapStuff and then simply pay for the purchase using a card like the Discover it to earn an additional 5% cash back.

4. Return Protection

Most reputable online retailers will accept returns and exchanges, but some won’t. For those websites, make sure you pay for your purchase using a card that has return protection.

With this benefit, the credit card company will accept a return, even if the merchant won’t! Typically, the rules require that the item still be in new condition and you have to return it within the first 90 days. You will then be reimbursed up to $300 per purchase, with a max of $1,000 annually.

So which cards come with return protection? Once again, this is another perk that’s typically found on higher-end cards that also come with the purchase protection and extended warranty benefits.

5. Concierge Service

If you’re buying a high-ticket item like a new treadmill, PC, or a camera, there’s a good chance you will want to do some research beforehand. But what if you don’t have time to do that?

If your credit card comes with concierge service, you can call them up and they will do the research for free. The turnaround time is usually 24 to 48 hours and they will email you a list of which models have the best reviews and ratings.

Then once you know that information and have made your decision, you can go onto CheapStuff to find the best deal for that particular product.

Image credit: Andres Rueda on Flickr

As a caravan owner obtaining insurance for your personal home away from home is an essential task. Caravans are expensive and should be protected but if you are looking for ways to make your caravan insurance cheaper, the following information could be extremely valuable to you.

One of the best ways to secure a cheaper deal is to change where you park your caravan. If you have a large enough garage it can be worth sacrificing the space to ensure your caravan is locked up at night. If you do have to park it outside, make sure it is off the road and if you have a neighbourhood watch for example, let the insurance company know about this additional security.

It may sound obvious but installing security features will help to lower the cost of your caravan insurance policy. One of the key security items you can add is a wheel clamp. These attach to the wheels of your caravan and make it much more difficult for potential thieves to tow it away.

Another key security measure is to install an alarm. These can be anything from a door alarm to alert you in the event of a break in, to systems that will inform you if motion is sensed within the caravan or if thieves are hitching it up to tow it away. Hitch locks are commonly used devices which secure the caravan to the vehicle towing it by way of a lock. Both of these can be helpful in bringing down the cost of your insurance.

As with all insurance one of the key factors in the cost is whether you have made any claims in the past. The no claims bonus you have with your car insurance is definitely worth mentioning, particularly if you are insuring both vehicles with the same provider.

There are thousands of caravanners around the UK and many of them reside in clubs. As an owner it is worth joining one of these clubs as in many instances this can lead to a reduction in insurance costs. Typically such agreements will only be with certain insurers but it is worth checking with any provider whether they affiliate themselves with a club.

Finally, make sure you carefully check over your policy quote. Some policies will cover you for everything from earthquakes to travelling abroad. Essentially you do want to pay for anything you don’t need. Makes sure do balance your level of cover against price however; you don’t want to be underinsured.

Hopefully these tips should make it a little bit easier to find cheaper caravan insurance.

Image credit: Ted & Dani Percival on Flickr

In this day and age you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t rely on electrical appliances and technology, and like most people, you probably leave these appliances plugged in even when you don’t need them! Chances are you are throwing a small fortune down the drain by wasting the energy expelled by so many, largely unused devices. So what should you start unplugging?

- Computers, both desktop and laptops

- Televisions, along with DVD players and game systems.

- Cordless phones

- Phone chargers

- Radios and sound systems

- Lights

Of course, you can’t unplug everything in your house. Some appliances would require rebooting if unplugged, which can be tiring and annoying if it has to be done on a regular basis. Other heavier appliances are difficult to unplug, your washing machine for example; it is far too heavy to move everyday just to unplug for just a few hours at a time. Overall, it’s a time-consuming process, running around unplugging each device individually, so here are some options to try instead:

• Invest in a power board – Rather than spending more time than necessary switching off appliances, connect them to a power board. This means whenever you unplug the power board, you also cut off electrical supplies to an assortment of appliances.
• Spend money on devices with energy-saving features – They might be a little more expensive but can save a lot more money than they’re worth in the long term. Some work by sensing when they are not in use and shut off internally. Others work on a timer, switching off after a pre-set amount of time.

However, what do you do if the idea of going around your house unplugging appliances fills you with dread? Luckily there are other ways to become more energy efficient around your home:

• Turn your thermostat down a few degrees, and put on a jumper and some thick socks instead. It’s so simple and will make a big difference to your energy bills, yet most people still think the easier option is to turn their central heating right up. Be one of the smart ones and just put on an extra layer!
• Shorten the length of your showers and consider installing an energy efficient showerhead. Not only will you be saving energy and money, but you’ll be saving water as well.
• Invest in some energy efficient lightbulbs, or even better, LED lightbulbs. LED in particular last far longer than incandescent bulbs and they’re much better for the environment too.

So should you start to unplug your appliances? Well, why not? It’s one of the easiest ways to save energy and money while doing your bit for the environment; as long as you don’t object to a little bending over!

Guest piece from A. Fowler for Juice Electrical: specialists in energy-efficient electrical supplies. Find out more by visiting their Facebook page.

Image credit

Is your budget too tight for household cleaning? Well, cleaning products and supplies can be pretty expensive. If you want to save money on household cleaning, the best way is to try to save on your cleaning supplies.

Here are a few tips on how you can save money on cleaning supplies:

1. Do the cleaning on a regular basis. If you want to save on expensive cleaning supplies such as    commercial household cleaners and tools, you can do so by cleaning your home on a regular basis. If  you do some cleaning and dusting on a daily or even a weekly basis, it will be easier to remove dust

and dirt. It would also help if you immediately clean stains on the floor and carpet. This is one of the  best techniques in order to save money.

2. Improvise. Another way to save money on cleaning supplies is to be resourceful. Instead of purchasing an expensive cleaner all-purpose cleaner, you can make your homemade household cleaner. You can make use of acetic acid or vinegar to get rid of stains on the floor and other surfaces. You can even use this to clean the walls, sink, and even the toilet and bath tub since acetic acid can be an alternative all-purpose cleaner. You can also use lemon juice as a bleaching agent to remove stains on clothes and other surfaces. You can also make use of dish soap and water for cleaning. Just mix some with clean water  and use the solution for cleaning dirt and stains. The good thing is that dish soap and water is not as harsh as some specialty and commercial cleaners. So just try to be resourceful and make use of items that you can find inside your home.

You can also put those old rags to use and avoid using so much paper towel!  Start creating a box of rags and you can create your own supplies.

3. Look for coupons. You can also save money on cleaning supplies by looking for coupons online. You can visit and check out websites of cleaning product distributors and manufacturers. Once you register, you can have easy access to coupons for cleaning supplies.

4. Watch out for sales. Finally, try to shop in your local grocery store during sales. You would be able to save on household cleaning supplies by 10 percent or even more. So be alert for scheduled sales or promos.

You can save a lot of money on cleaning supplies by following these simple tips. Take note that you don’t need to buy expensive supplies just to keep your home clean and germ-free.

To find some of the best and most efficient cleaning supplies, be sure to visit www.TheJanitorialSupply.com.

Image credit: Terence S. Jones on Flickr

When looking for a new credit card to fit into your wallet, it is not always about the annual fee, introductory interest rate, or APR. Sometimes, it is about the rewards, especially if you are the type of person who pays off all of your bills on a regular basis and uses your rewards cards to cash in on prizes and monetary benefits. Rewards credit cards come in different forms and type. Choosing the right credit card for you depends on the type of reward you are after.

Identify First the Types of Rewards

When comparing rewards credit cards, you should consider the type of reward that is of most value to you. Perhaps you are looking for a percentage back on purchases made. Some cards offer discounts on specific purchases. For example, Discover offers 5 percent back on specific types of purchases in a given time period, such as groceries, movie tickets, gas and department store purchases.

Some cards, such as Citi, offer a flat cash back percentage based on the amount of purchases you make. The percentages can also be calculated by points. Spend a certain amount of money and you can earn points redeemable for everything from gift cards, credit on your bill, and cash.

Still other cards – including the Capital One Venture Card – offers a rewards program on travel. Travel is a popular choice of rewards for many card owners with discounts on hotel rooms, airfare, and popular resorts and travel. Bonus airfare miles are valuable credit card rewards that cardholders can gain from rewards cards. Cardholders earn bonus miles based on the amount of money spent. Capital One, for example, offers 10,000 bonus miles for every $1,000 spent.

Weigh Different Restrictions and Costs

While rewards credit cards can be attractive and alluring options for many consumers, they do not come without their caveats. Most reward credit cards come with annual fees. Read the fine print closely on these deals. Most cards begin with introductory, free offer but annual fees kick-in after a brief, beginning phase and can cost a cardholder $100 or more.

Rewards credit cards also carry restrictions and expiration dates on when to redeem points. For those bonus mileage points earned, you’ll have to review your credit card policies to see if there are limitations on when you can use the points, which airlines, and if there are any restrictions on dates, on international travel, and on traveling within theUnited States. The most highly rated cards offer none of these restrictions, with unlimited usage, and no limit on how many miles you can earn, while others place onerous restrictions on their mileage which could put a damper on your vacation plans.

Finally, most rewards credit cards have an expiration date on when you can redeem your rewards. Most credit cards place expiration dates far enough in advance that you can plan when to redeem, but, just to be safe, you’ll want to place close attention to when those valuable points will disappear.

Choose What Will Benefit YOU the Most

In all, rewards credit cards, when used properly, can provide you with valuable savings on everything from gas to airline tickets. The trick is in finding the card with the best set of rewards and also the lowest amount of cost and restrictions so you can maximize the benefits you’ll receive from your credit card spending.

Image courtesy of Andres Rueda on Flickr.

About the Author:

Patrick Garde majored in Financial Accounting and a contributor at WorkSaveLive, a personal finance blog which covers topics about money management including comparison of the best credit card rewards.

For most adult Americans, having a credit card in your wallet – or maybe two or three – is a symbol of financial independence. With a credit card in hand, you can walk into virtually any retail outlet and buy whatever you want, need or desire. Want a new high-def, flat- screen television? No problem. Your credit card will help put that 70-inch TV into your man cave. Credit card ownership, however, does not come without its drawbacks. According to a report on CNN, in 2012 the average American household owed nearly $16,000 in credit card debt with the average interest rate in the high tens. So, when comparing credit cards, you will need to choose which accounts to open – and use – wisely.

What Features Should You Compare?

All credit cards are not created equally but what credit card features matter the most? How you use your card will ultimately determine which card is best for you. You might make lots of monthly purchases, pay off your debt quickly and look to cash in on a great rewards program. Or, you may use your credit card to make large purchases, carrying large balances in any given time, so you will be looking for the card with the lowest annual percentage rate (APR). When making a credit card comparison, consider your own life situation and then look at three critical features that will guide you to a decision.

Annual Fees

Most of the large credit card companies such as Chase, Capital One or Discover – offer their credit cards without annual fees. That is a standard expectation for a consumer with credit but it is not the rule. Check the fine print. For example, Capital One’s Platinum credit card offers an introductory period with no annual fee and, after that, the cost is $19. US Bank’s credit card carries a $35 annual fee.

Introductory APRs

Yes, those introductory APRs are tempting, but you’ll want to keep an eye on the offer, and how ultimately the terms will affect your wallet. Some of the best introductory offers allow you to carry a balance with a zero percent interest rate. Those zero percent interest rate offers typically last for a fixed amount of time – as short as six months and as long as 18 months. Some cards, including well-known brands such as Visa, BBVA Compass, and Citi, offer zero percent rates on balance transfers too. This is a valuable feature, especially if you think you can pay-off the balance transfer in the time frame allotted.

Ongoing APRs

This is the bread and butter of comparing credit cards. The ongoing APR is what you will have to live with, and you may have to live with it a long time, depending on much of a balance that you carry over. Interest rates vary, depending on your credit score and other metrics that the credit companies look for when offering you a card. Some of the best-rated cards – Chase, Citi, Discover – offer interest rates as of January 2013 as low as 11.99 percent and as high as 21.99 percent. The better credit rating that you hold means a better chance that you can land a lower APR. You can also examine an APR by combining your interest rates. If you have variable interest rates on different purchases – balance transfers, introductory or special offers, and the regular rate, combine the rates and average them out to determine your actual APR – the rate you are paying for all of your purchases across the board.

No matter which card you pick, how much debt you carry will come down to how much you use your card and how much you can control your spending and the balance that you carry forward. Balances can add-up in a hurry and, if you carry multiple cards, your debt can also multiply in an instant.

Image courtesy of liewcf on Flickr.

About the Author:

Patrick Garde is a graduate of financial accounting and is a contributor at Modest Money, a personal finance blog that helps you manage your money through modest living and compares the best credit card offers.