Tech Travelling: 9 Must-Haves for Your Big Trip

Map reading, shaky language skills, tipping etiquette—some aspects of travel can be a little uncomfortable. Fortunately, tech has now made travelling less awkward, taking us way past all those paper boarding passes and clunky camcorders.

So, be a tech-savvy traveller and lighten your load by considering these tips, apps, and gadgets before hitting the road or boarding the plane.

1. Gogobot

This cool app is basically Facebook for world travellers. Log in and start giving tips and advice on destinations around the world and learn from others who have already visited your holiday location. You can connect with friends—including people you’ve met along the way—and make plans to meet up and exchange experiences and tips.

2. A Smartphone

OK, we’re not blowing your mind here, but these days your smartphone really is your best travel companion. An unlocked iPhone can be used as a map, flight checker, currency calculator, boarding pass, and much more. Use your iPhone when you’re deciding on a place to eat or the best accommodation in the area. Receive real-time updates on public transportation and on events going on, whether in Berlin or Bangkok. For Android lovers: your phone will do as well.

3. TrustYou

These are reviews and recommendations, pulled from across the internet and analysed to give you the best results. Search for hole-in-the-wall restaurants and pubs and get the best suggestions for a hotel or hostel. This is always better than choosing a place to stay at your own sweet will and suffering from a weird neighbourhood, unpleasant view from the window, or the fact that the desired beach is located seven miles from your hotel.

4. Smart Luggage

Get a suitcase that weighs itself, locks, unlocks, and that you can track with GPS from your iPhone. You’ll never have to wonder where your bags are again or whether they’ve arrived safely at your destination.

5. Mobile Check-In

If you’re staying in a Starwood hotel (among others), you can now check in using your phone and even enter the room with a mobile room key. Don’t worry about losing your key or it deactivating when it’s near your smartphone. No more wasted time in the lobby and awkward dialogues with the receptionist when you’re in a hurry.

6. GasBuddy

If you’re venturing on a road trip in the States or Canada, you’ll need this handy petrol station finder. With GasBuddy, you can find gas stations near your location as well as the best prices in the area. Plan your stops or just use it when you see the gauge getting low.

7. Google offine maps

Offline maps for both iPhone and Android are now available so that you can avoid all those scary roaming charges while you’re trying to find your way around a city abroad. So no worries if you’ve got no internet connection—everything you need will already be downloaded to your phone.

8. TripLingo

TripLingo is a mobile translation and culture notes app that requires an unlocked iPhone to use. Use it to translate, calculate tips, and avoid classic faux pas. It will help you get around, order food, shop, and even make friends with the locals (yes, there’s an app for that!).

9. Portable Travel Charger

Stay organised and minimise the clutter with a portable travel charger that allows you to charge up to 4 devices at once. Plug in your iPhone, iPad, and any other device that may need charging. Wrap up your cables, keep things neat, and travel with ease.

The purpose of technology is to save you time and simplify complicated tasks that you come across during your journey. Use our tips and enjoy your trips. Traveling is fun if you know how to do it the right way!

Featured photo credit: Old Suitcases in The James Hotel in Chicago/Judy via flickr.com

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8 Ways to Save Money on Utilities

When it comes to major purchases made throughout the year, utilities are usually an afterthought. You can remember buying a new TV or reflooring your basement, but you really don’t think of how much you spend on a daily basis on electricity, water, and heat. And it all adds up.

However, there are many ways to save money on utilities over the course of your lifetime. First and foremost, you must stop thinking of utilities as a passive expense. By remaining conscious of every time you use specific utilities, you’ll know how and when you can cut back and end up saving in the long run.

Go solar

More and more people are starting to see the benefits of switching to solar power. Although the installation can be a little pricey, you’ll end up recouping your losses through cheap monthly payments within a relatively short period of time. You can also take measures to ensure your home is prepared for solar installation, cutting down on maintenance and other fees related to installation. With solar energy, not only will you be saving money for yourself, but you’ll also be doing your part to help the environment.

Install an irrigation meter

Many people don’t know that when you use water from your faucet, you’re being charged not just for the use of the water, but for its disposal as well. While it makes sense that water that ends up going down the drain needs to be filtered once again, not all of the water you use goes down the drain. If you have a pool, or you use a lot of water in your garden or yard, you shouldn’t be charged a “maintenance fee” of sorts until the water actually goes back into circulation. An irrigation meter will document the discrepancy between water used and water drained so the water company charges you accordingly. If you use a large amount of water for anything other than washing yourself, your dishes, and your clothes, you might be throwing a ton of money down the drain.

Steady your water heater temperature

Your hot water heater doesn’t need to be set any higher than 120°F. First of all, water warmer than that will almost certainly scald your skin. Second of all, there really isn’t much use for water that’s below the boiling point but still too hot to touch. Lastly, setting your water heater higher than 120°F causes it to work overtime, meaning it will likely end up dying out sooner than later. Keeping your hot water heater regulated can save you around $50 a year, plus lessen your risk of needing to repair or replace it.

Use reusable HVAC filters

It’s tempting to go with cheap filters for your heating and cooling units, thinking they’ll save you money and work just as well for the time being. But, despite being 2-4x more expensive than their single-use equivalent, permanent filters will save you money in the long run for a variety of reasons. Most obviously, they won’t have to replaced year after year. They’re easily cleanable, and are meant to withstand long periods of use. As long as you keep up with their maintenance, reusable filters ensure your HVAC system is not strained to the max. Like your water heater, if you don’t strain your HVAC system, you’ll decrease the chances of having to pay for maintenance or replacement later on down the road.

Seal your home

You wouldn’t leave your door open all winter, would you? Everyone knows this would result in massive heating bills. But you might not realize the cracks in your walls and windows are doing just as much damage as an open door would do. Check your windows and door frames for cracks that will let cold air in, and fill them up with caulk or expanding foam as best you can. Do the same for any walls that meet the outside, especially where pipes come in and out of the house. You won’t realize the difference it makes to your comfort, and your wallet, until you do it.

Use Energy Star products

From lightbulbs to TVs and larger appliances, Energy Star products are designed to save you money while saving the environment from excess usage of resources. Under EPA guidelines, Energy Star products must not cost customers more than a conventional product would. Although they may be more expensive up front, Energy Star products are guaranteed by the EPA to save you money over a 5-year period.

Use a thermostat

As mentioned before, utilities are too often considered an afterthought. Heating or cooling your home is perhaps the most effective illustration of this concept. When it’s cold out, you’ll turn on the heat to warm you up. But you likely won’t recognize when you’ve had the heat on for too long, and will end up allowing excess energy to be expelled to maintain the high temperature. Using a programmable thermostat allows you to forget all about your heater or air conditioning and let it do what it needs to do, when it needs to be done. Better yet, if you are able to set your thermostat on a timer, you can be absolutely certain you never go over a specific amount of time or energy, and your bill will stay relatively steady all year.

Do routine sweeps

Do a quick run through of your house (after reading this, of course). I can almost guarantee you have some electronics turned on that aren’t currently in use. Maybe a faucet is dripping. Or maybe you have the heat on but left a small window open in a bedroom. Be more conscious of these little things, as they pile up over the months and years and equate to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars wasted that could have gone elsewhere.

Featured photo credit: Pat Glennon / 63/365 v2.0 / Flickr via farm4.staticflickr.com

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6 Ways to Make Sure You Get the Loan You Need

Remember in grade school when your teachers would warn you about your “permanent record?” At some point, you most likely figured out that was just a scare tactic to keep you in line until you graduated high school.

Once you entered the “real world,” you were soon introduced to another permanent record of sorts: your credit score. However, unlike the enigmatic permanent record of your schoolyard days, your credit score does, in fact, exist, and absolutely will affect the rest of your life in one way or another.

So how do you keep it in good standing and ensure that you’re never denied from taking out a car or home equity loan?

Check your credit score often

If you’re gearing up for a large purchase that will depend on your ability to receive a loan, you should keep up-to-date with your credit score on a monthly basis. There are many ways to check your credit or CIBIL score for free, or you might opt for a more in-depth report that will usually come with a fee. While it’s a good idea to keep track of your credit score even if you’re not in the market for a new car or home, you shouldn’t obsess over it; it won’t change more than once a month. Focus less on your actual score, and more on improving it as best you can.

Keep credit balances low

A lot of people fall into the trap of overspending using their credit cards simply because they can. This sort of irresponsible behavior can lead to missed payments, increased interest rates, and decreased credit scores. On the other hand, using your credit cards only for expenses that will immediately be paid off will show creditors that you are responsible with borrowed money, and they’ll be more likely to offer a loan in the exact amount you’ve asked for. A good rule of thumb is to keep your balances under 30% of your maximum; this shows lenders you have restraint, and will also give you some wiggle room if an emergency arises.

Pay your balances on time

While it’s pretty obvious that letting your bills go unpaid will result in a low credit score, it needs be said that late means late. It doesn’t matter if you’re a day late, or 29 days late: if you’re late with a payment, it’ll immediately be reflected on your credit score. Though it’s recommended that you pay much more than the monthly minimum, you should always pay at least that every single month. This goes back to the last point: if you’re unable to pay off your debt, you shouldn’t have made the purchase in the first place.

Take care of small debts

As should be clear by now, credits and loans should only be used to make purchases that you’ll be able to pay off in the near future. You should never use a credit card simply because you don’t feel like “actually” paying money out of your pocket at that very moment. If you run into a jam and absolutely must use a credit card for a purchase while you’re out, make it a point to transfer money over to pay off your debt the first chance you get. You don’t want to be late on a small $30 payment because you forgot about it later in the month.

Similarly, don’t spread out these small debts over multiple credit cards. Keep your debts focused into one or two accounts, and close out the rest. There’s no need to tempt yourself with five different credit cards with no balance. Remember: the limit on your card does not represent money you actually own, but it could represent money you owe.

Flaunt your good standing

It’s possible to request that certain loans be removed from your credit history once they are paid off. However, doing so will usually end up doing more harm than good to your ability to receive a loan. Say you’ve paid off a car loan in full at some point in the past. You made the monthly payments on time, and even paid it off quicker than you had planned. Why would you want to hide this? You want potential lenders to see that you can take out a loan and repay it responsibly. The only time you’d want to hide an account is if it’s in bad standing; of course, getting this history off your report won’t be nearly as easy.

Don’t give out more information than is reported

Credit scores exist for a reason: they give lenders a ballpark idea of how trustworthy you’ll be with their money. If lenders operated on the information given to them by potential borrowers…well, I’m sure you know what would happen. If your credit score comes back lower than expected, don’t make excuses. Everyone has a sob story to tell, so it won’t help your cause explaining that you broke your leg last year and couldn’t work, or you lost everything in a flood and needed to max out your credit cards. Your lender might feel for you on a personal level, but when it comes to business they’ll have to deny you the loan based solely on your low score.

On the other hand, if your score comes back better than expected, keep your mouth shut! You’re right where you want to be, but anything you say has the potential to be misconstrued. Save the happy dance for your living room after you’ve signed the loan papers.

Featured photo credit: JJ / Piggy bank full of dirty coins / Flickr via farm4.staticflickr.com

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A Quick Guide To What Successful People Eat For Breakfast (Infographic)

Your morning routine can quite literally set the tone for the rest of your day. You can purposely set your alarm an hour early just to hit snooze a dozen times, or you can rise with intention and take control of your life. This one small decision can have a profound impact on your overall success each day.

Luckily, we get attempt after attempt to get this right because it’s a form of self mastery that doesn’t come easily. But thanks to Visualistan, we have a very clear picture of what some of the world’s most prominent and successful business leaders are doing every morning – and guess what, there’s a pretty obvious trend.

Richard Branson of Virgin Group, Business Magnate and Philanthropist

Branson, an exercise enthusiast, starts his days out right with fruit salad and muesli, a crunchy mix of oats, seeds, dried fruit and nuts. Branson sometimes combines his high-fiber breakfast with some smoked fish, known as kippers, for a protein boost.

Cheryl Bachelder of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, CEO

Bachelder mixes up her breakfast food choices depending on whether she is on the road or staying home. When travelling, Bachelder prefers rye toast paired with scrambled eggs and bacon. When she has more time in the morning, she likes to eat steel-cut oatmeal in the comfort of her own home.

Jack Dorsey, Co-founder of Twitter and Square, CEO

Packing a protein punch, breakfast for Dorsey includes two hard-boiled eggs with a savory splash of soy sauce. It’s the perfect fuel for his body to tackle the early-morning jogs that he loves.

Brad Lande, Head of Birchbox Man

There are few things healthier for breakfast than a green smoothie, and Lande has perfected the perfect morning drink. With kale, bee pollen, blueberries, bananas, almond butter and coconut water, Lande’s delicious smoothie infuses his mind and body with lots of nutrients to start the day right.

Payal Kadakia of ClassPass, Founder and CEO

Who says you can’t get a good breakfast while on the go? Kadakia thrives on a Starbuck’s venti citrus green tea every morning and the drink’s delicious taste and energy boost keeps her productive all day long.

Katherine Power of Clique Media, Co-founder and CEO

Full of vitamins and nutrients, the breakfast that Power chooses consists of a fried egg on toast with avocado spread. Whether she’s heading to the gym or a business meeting, Power can have confidence knowing that she’s made a smart breakfast decision.

Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, CEO

There is always an exception to the rule and Mark Zuckerberd seems to be that exception. What does the world’s best-known entrepreneur eat for breakfast? Zuckerberg admits that he simply eats whatever he wants and whatever is convenient. His decision to focus on other things besides breakfast has obviously served him well, and as long as he has fuel, he’s happy.

You can also find more infographics at Visualistan

Perhaps knowing what some of the greatest men and women in the business world have for breakfast might inspire us all to do a little better with our first meal of the day and improve ourselves one bite at a time. No matter what you choose for breakfast, getting a nutritious bite to eat in the morning is one of the best ways to generate the energy you need. So be your own boss and pick the breakfast food that is most likely to bring you success at whatever you are tackling today.

Take a look at the infographic by Visualistan to see what other things these super successful men and women are doing each morning that you can add into your own routine. We see common trends among these innovative leaders and their start-of-the-day habits.

Featured photo credit: IM Free via c2.staticflickr.com

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(Infographic) 21 Most Dangerous Food in the World

While some foods are known for being dangerous to your healthy lifestyle, such as crisps or chocolate, chances are they’re not actually going to risk your life.

According to the latest infographic from the smart people over at Business Insider, there are a range of foods that actually pose a real threat to your life.

Whilst most restaurants that you go to won’t be likely to have monkey brains on the menu, it’s still pretty worthwhile to know what you can and can’t have. You never know what rare dish may be offered to you when you next go abroad.

We’re listed a couple of the foods listed, including some you may not expect to have seen featured.

1. The Giant Bullfrog

The giant bullfrog is considered a celebratory dish in Namibia and traditionally eaten whole; the bullfrog has a very limited shelf life. The frog should only be consumed when mature as younger frogs carry a toxin that can run the risk of causing kidney failure.

2. Monkey Brains

Monkey brains are mainly available in parts of Asia and can be eaten raw, cooked or baked. However, brain consumption can lead to a fatal degenerative neurological disorder. Basically, when you eat one brain, you are in turn damaging your own. It’s probably best to avoid them.

3. Raw Cashew Nuts

Raw cashew nuts seem to be a bit of a weird one. We’ve all had cashews before, surely? Apparently the cashew nuts we’re usually in contact with are steamed to remove a deadly chemical. Purely “raw” cashews contain high levels of urushiol, which can be found in poison ivy.

4. Baby Octopus Dishes

Baby octopus dishes such as Sannakji, popular in Korea, are dangerous for quite a disturbing reason. The cooking of the dish usually involves the octopus being cut into small pieces (while still alive) and served immediately. However, as the octopus is still alive, there have been numerous incidents where the suction cups on the tentacles have gripped the inside of the throat and choke the diner to death. Best to just stick to the seaweed, eh?

5. Apricot Seeds and Stones

Apricot seeds and stones contain cyanogenic glycosides, which convert to hydrogen cyanide when eaten. People have been known to die after eating too many apricot seeds, so be careful.

6. Hot Dogs

Hot dogs are deemed enough of a choking hazard that they are included in this list. Around 17% of choking deaths in children under the age of 10 have been caused by hot dogs. Chew before you swallow, guys.

7. Blood Clams

Blood clams, particularly from Chinese seas, ingest multiple viruses and bacteria to get the nutrients it needs to survive in the low-oxygen environments that it lives in. Avoid unless you really want your clams served up with a side of hepatitis.

8. Pufferfish

Pufferfish are considered a delicacy in Japan. However, the fish contain a toxin that can cause diners to be paralyzed if the fish is not prepared properly when serving. However, there’s a bit of a relief when you discover that Japanese chefs have to undergo a minimum of three years training before being allowed to prepare the fish.

9. The Durian Fruit

The durian fruit, which is known for its very particular smell, is full of seeds containing toxic acids that can be deadly when uncooked. When combined with alcohol, durian can also make your body struggle to break down the toxic byproducts that alcohol contains.

10. Star Fruit

Star fruit is best to be avoided for anyone with bad kidneys. Only 10 ml of the juice from the fruit can contain toxins that can have a deadly impact on the brain and nerves.

While we challenge you to be daring with your food and try new things, perhaps be daring in moderation and consider avoiding these dishes. Take a look at the infographic below.

Featured photo credit: Luis Avilesortiz via flic.kr

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7 Online Invoicing Services for Small Business Owners

For a small business owner, invoicing is probably one of the most important areas to manage and deal with. The basic question is if you are not invoicing your clients, how you are going to be paid? For a small business, cash flows are the lifeblood, and what supports that lifeblood is effective and timely invoicing and the collection of invoices.

Thankfully, however, there are plenty of options available online which offer affordable, effective and manageable invoice management services. But among many, it is always a battle to decide which one to use including both the free and paid versions.

Here is a list of 10 online invoicing services you can pick to improve your invoicing.

1. Freshbooks

Freshbooks has over 5 million users suggesting that this service is really the first choice of small business owners and freelancers. Freshboooks is considered to be incredibly easy for first time users and can integrate with other services such as PayPal. Freshbooks is also known for its award winning customer service, which is available for 24/7.

2. Invoicetome

Invoicetome is a free, basic invoice-generation service which is ideal for new businesses and freelancers who are tight on budget. This service allows you to design your own invoice online by putting in different details. You can take a PDF Print out also.

3. Cloudbooks

Cloudbooks is another simple and cost-effective online invoicing service which offers invoicing, time tracking, estimates and payment services. Its basic service is free where you can generate unlimited invoices for 1 client. It also offers packages for Teams and agencies ranging from $10/month to $20/m. Cloudbooks is good if you are specially looking for simple, effective service with stringent security.

4. SimpleInvoice

SimpleInvoice is a free invoicing service and claims to be the insanely simple service which even offers payment collection through credit card payments.  Its basic service allows designing online invoices and printing out the PDF of the same. For beginners who are looking for free and simple service, SimpleInvoice is a good free option; however, it is relatively simple and does not allow the tracking and statistics options to better manage all of your clients.

5. Simplybill

Simplybill, as the name suggests, is an invoicing service where you can design and send invoices within 60 seconds. It offers 14 days’ trial period and subsequently charges $5/m. It has built-in templates with the options to include taxes into invoices also. It also has an intuitive dashboard to track over-due payments and other statistics. Detailed Statistics can offer you sufficient insight into the overall behavior of your clients in paying off your invoices and what strategies you can develop to manage problematic clients.

6. Due

Due is online invoicing and time tracking service with unique selling proposition of offering speed with which invoices can be generated and sent. You can also export the invoices through csv or xml files which you can use to perform further analysis. For a limited invoices per month, service is free; however, for more than 3 invoices a month, it charges a fee. If you have few clients to manage, the free package is really excellent option available to you to manage your invoices.

7. Zoho

Zoho is more than just an invoicing service as it offers marketing and sales-management tools. Combined with sales and marketing tools, this invoicing service is relatively simple and easier to use. Zoho offers the additional benefit of sending automated payment reminders so that you remain updated on all upcoming and overdue payments. Zoho’s services therefore are in addition to what it is already offering for managing the overall marketing efforts of small businesses.

Are you a small business owner or freelancer? Share your favorite platform in comments.

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How to Trek Mount Everest

Since the 1920s, Mount Everest has been a captivating adventure for many. Since the day it was first conquered, this mountain has been a challenge for many. Reportedly, many individuals, both men and women, tried to summit this peak and lost their lives.

That was past! Today, this peak is very much in the range of ordinary people-attempting to reach highest peak of the world. Despite avalanches and earthquakes, many people continued to make efforts to climb the top of the world in a bid to show that they can achieve any impossible act of courage and determination.

Mount Everest is 8,848 meters high and still poses one of the greatest challenges to many who have been fancying the ultimate challenge of their life.

Why do people like to trek?

Mount Everest is not just the highest peak of the world, which attracts climbers and visitors. On the way to the peak, one gets views of the breath-taking scenery and also to experience the Sherpa culture. The monasteries on the way present to Westerners a unique look at the history of the religion of this region and how it was practiced.

Apart from the natural beauty and experiencing the history of the religion, a personal sense of achievement is also one of the reasons which attracts many young travelers to try to experience the excitement and thrill of trekking to the highest peak in the world.

It is however, always prudent to know what you need to do and don’t do if you are planning to conquer the highest peak of the world.

Following is the list of dos and don’ts if you are planning for the trip.

1. Decide what type of trekking you want.

There are routes both gentle as well as wild, fulfilling the needs of every type of trekker. If you just want to enjoy trekking for the sake of trekking, you should decide beforehand which trek you will be exploring. If you are someone who likes thrill and excitement, chose the Manaslu trek as it is challenging and probably the most difficult trek.

2. Safety first.

Mount Everest is one of the most difficult peaks in the world. Always make sure that you have the right equipment, adequate food, camping stuff and all other required material to keep you safe and secure during your climb.

3. Choose the right and less volatile season.

The ideal time to climb Everest is from March to May and September to December. So if you start planning now, you will have good time available to properly plan for the trip as March is just around the corner.

4. Save up about $11,000 first.

Climbing Mount Everest was a costly affair; however, expenses are coming down. In 2014, Nepal Government slashed the cost from $25,000 to $11,000. However, it may not be the complete cost as you may need other facilities which will cost you more.

5. Consider hiring a guide.

Requiring a guide is a must, especially for new travelers as there have been many incidences of disappearances of trekkers and even death. There are many services—both offered by government as well as private services which offer affordable and cost-effective guided tours and Everest-trekking services. A trekking company is actually necessary as it can arrange many things for you; besides, trekking companies know different points which are not normally known to lone travelers, like the original trek which British expedition took in 1953.

6. Add another destination to your trek.

If you plan and prepare well for your trip, you will also notice that trekking is not just limited to Nepal or Mount Everest. If you negotiate well, guide services can actually offer you trekking in Kashmir and Burma also in same price. Placing an extra trekking option during your journey can make your overall trip better.

7. Don’t pack too much stuff.

Whether your journey is short or long, it is always advisable to pack lightly. The ideal weight of your entire luggage should not be more than 10 kg, though you can manage up to 15 kg if you are physically fit and active. While packing, always consider your physical health and endurance level before you leave for the trekking. There are however, porter services also.

Considering the challenges ahead during trekking, it is always important to ensure your safety first. If you are a first time trekker, it is better if you chose less difficult treks and build your skills over time. Always start trekking with experienced trekkers and go in teams rather than going solo or in pairs.

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