Frugal Quack

This is a guest post by Mikaela Watson.

We live in tough economic times, and as such people are looking for ways to save money.  With soaring gas prices, anyone who drives can save a significant amount of money with a few good tips. Here are ten ways to save money on gas that will not break the bank.

1. Maintain a Constant Speed
On highways and interstates, make sure you use your cruise control to keep a steady speed.  Driving over 60 mph decreases your fuel efficiency. Therefore, do not be a speed demon.  Slowing down WILL save you money on gas.

2. Air Conditioning
If you are sitting in traffic, turn the air off and roll down the window.  However, if you are on the highway, you should still use the air conditioner instead of rolling down the windows (too much drag affects fuel efficiency in a different way).  The best way to save money is to keep the air conditioning off, if you can stand it.

3. Keep up Maintenance
If you have maintenance problems that need repaired, do not ignore them!  You might think that you cannot afford it. However, it will actually save you money in the end, because certain defects with the vehicle can reduce gas mileage (and if a problem gets worse, it’ll be more expensive – car problems don’t just go away like a cold or fever).  You should make sure that you change the oil regularly.  The oil should be changed every 3,000 miles or every three months.  Your air filter should also be regularly checked.

4. Tires
Make sure your tires have an adequate amount of air in them. Keeping your tires inflated can improve fuel efficiency by up to four percent. It also expends the life of your tires, which can save you money.  You should also have your tires aligned.

5. Carpool
If you have other people from your office who live nearby, consider carpooling. You could even possibly share a car with your spouse if they work near your place of employment.  Many offices advertise carpooling on the bulletin board, or you could send out an email to everyone in the company asking if anyone watch to share a ride. This could literally cut your gas expenses in half (or more).

6. Look at your Gas Cap
Many cars on the road actually have broken or defective gas caps…so you need to check yours.  You also need to make sure that it is on securely. If gas fumes escape from your vehicle, it will hurt your fuel economy.

7. Brake Correctly
If you ride with your foot on the brake, it will cost you more in gas.  It will also make your brake pads wear out quicker.  In addition, the most gas is used when you are accelerating, so do NOT speed up and then slam the brakes.

8. Do not Idle
If your vehicle is stopped for more than 25 seconds, you should turn it off.  In addition, you might be tempted to go outside and warm your car up on a cold morning.  This will actually cost you more money in gas.  If you are stuck in traffic or in a long line, turn your vehicle off.

9.  Research Stations
Gas prices will vary among stations. Therefore, you should know which stations have the lowest prices.  Know when certain stations offer discounts, and check websites that list the lowest gas prices in your area.  Some stations offer discounts if you use cash, and some stations offer discounts for using a certain credit card.

10. No Premium!
High octane refers to gas that can be compressed more.  It is not necessary to purchase this type of gas unless your vehicle requires it. Regular gas is around 20 cents cheaper, and premium is not something that will make that much of a difference, performance wise.

Mikaela Watson likes to write about green energy, couponing & Homeequityloan.net.

The Nokia Lumia 900 is the latest and most technologically advanced version of the Lumia line of  smartphones produced by mobile communications giant Nokia. Made public on January 9, 2012 the Lumia 900 has already won a best smartphone award, needless to say that the official launch in March 2012 is highly anticipated. The Nokia Corporation is currently one of the world’s top manufacturers of wireless phones, constantly delivering wireless phones that are easy to use, innovative and beautifully designed – the Lumia 900 is no exception.

Available in the colors cyan (we love it in Cyan) and matte black, the third version of Lumia smartphones by Nokia was designed specifically for the US user. Powered by the Windows 7.5 Mango operating system, this cool phone features advanced functions that set it aside from other smartphones.
The huge 4.3” AMOLED clear/black display screen, 7 hours of 3G talk time, Wi-Fi/web browsing capabilities, 60 hours of music playback, USB charging and its sleek appearance is enough to gain fans, but this AT&T exclusive phone features so much more. Below are just three of the many cool features found on the Nokia Lumia 900.

Three Cool Features Found on the Nokia Lumia 900:

4G LTE Technology: Up to 10 times faster than 3G, the Lumia 900 features the 4G LTE technology that makes downloading and browsing faster and more effective. Great for data heavy videos, music streaming, TV shows, podcasting, etc.

8 Megapixels Main Camera: This 3x digital zoom front facing camera with dual LED flash and Carl Zeiss Optics allows for accurate and error free picture taking and also features one click photo sharing.

Communication/Social networking: The ability to stay connected to work, family and friends via Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, SMS, email and chat makes this smartphone a fun powerhouse to keep up with your busy and global social network.

We can’t deny the Windows 7 operating system is one of the more exciting aspects of the phone, along with the fact that it’s available in the cool Cyan color as well. Although of course, we would never choose a phone based on color. Right?

Guest article by: Rachel who works for an online car hire Florence service company.

Tags: cyan, nokia 900 specs, Nokia Lumia 900

People are traveling more than ever, even though the recent economic downfall put a pause to lavish lifestyles all over the planet. How do people still manage to travel and see the world? Savvy travelers manage their finances well in order to be able to travel.

Handling Credit, Debit and Travel Cards

1. Always while traveling abroad, take different credit cards, some local currency, a few traveler’s checks and a few US dollars. You’ll be prepared to pay for items where your credit cards aren’t accepted. You’ll also be prepared to pay in the local currency even if currency exchange counters are not available.
2. Before you travel, make a list of your credit card numbers, issuing bank names, expiry dates, customer service numbers, and emergency numbers. Print this information out and keep it handy in your clothing or luggage just in case your wallet is stolen. Having the 1-800 toll-free numbers handy to call from wherever you are can relieve you of major headaches.
3. Use your credit card to pay for goods as much as possible, unless the charges are too high. Carrying too much cash around is like asking for trouble. Your credit card is still safe, as long as you hang on it carefully and report theft immediately.
4. Don’t charge up your credit card in advance before traveling. You might think that putting funds into your credit card means you won’t have to pay interest or charges. It doesn’t work that way.
5. You can budget your travel expenses but it’s hard to always stick to a budget. You need to keep a couple of debit cards and sufficient cash in them. Debit cards are useful overseas because you can get money in that country’s currency.
6. Test any prepaid travel cards before you leave. Check if the funds you’ve put into the prepaid card are present and if the PIN number is still valid.
7. Try to withdraw a small amount in one of the approved ATMs mentioned in your prepaid card’s literature to see if everything works well.
8. Check if your destination has at least a few of the approved ATMs listed in your prepaid card’s literature.
9. Before leaving for your trip, tell your credit card company you are traveling, to where and how long. If your card company does not know you’ll be traveling abroad, it might flag overseas charges as possible fraud.
10. Don’t withdraw cash using your credit card while traveling abroad. Withdrawals incur interest, especially if your balance is not repaid in full.

Handling Cash

11. Don’t carry all your cash in your wallet. Stow away some cash in hidden pockets within your jacket, pants or dress. Keep some cash in your hands-on luggage while flying. This way, even if your wallet is stolen, you’ll have some cash to fall back on.

12. Keep a few notes in different currencies in your wallet if you are traveling to different regions abroad. For example, if you are traveling to Europe, keep a few Sterling Pounds, US Dollars and Euros with you. Some cash-only establishments are particular about the currency they accept.

13. Don’t exchange money at airports or railways stations; you won’t get a good exchange rate for your dollar.

14. Buy sufficient destination currency before you travel. This way, you can avoid the high fees and other hassles that are associated with currency exchange.

15. When you’re converting your money, keep an equivalent of $50 to $100 on you at all times. Keeping cash in small denominations will make sure that you have enough to pay for meals, taxi rides and small payments.
16. Research your travel destination in advance; find out where ATMs are accessible. Get an idea of the exchange rate for your dollar in different regions.
17. Also find out how much money foreign ATMs allow you to withdraw in cases of emergency.
18. If a currency exchange counter says ‘commission free’, it doesn’t mean you’re going to get a great rate. In actual fact ‘commission free’ indicates you might be offered a worse exchange rate than the exchange bureau itself receives, thus allowing them to make more profit. Forget about commission free and ask exactly how many Euros or pounds you will get in exchange for your dollars.
19. If you travel with travelers checks, keep an eye on the exchange rate. Transfer funds potentially well ahead of time if you find a good rate. Don’t wait till the rates drop.

Handling Travel Insurance

20. Always take out travel insurance before you travel abroad. Healthy travel insurance insures you against flight cancellations, emergency evacuation, dental bills, medical bills, stolen luggage and so on. These are things that can completely drain your resources if you don’t have travel insurance. Always read the exclusions printed in your insurance so that you know the aspects that are covered and the aspects that are not.

Handling Other Financial Matters

21. Remember to leave all your financial dealings tied neatly before you embark on travel. You don’t want an urgent legal summons or a call from the tax department while you’re traveling.
22. Prepare a realistic budget before you travel. Don’t create a small budget and find yourself short of funds. The more debt you bring home, the more time you’ll need to pay for your travel in the long term.
23. Your budget should include expenses towards food, transportation, hotel costs and entertainment. Once your budget is ready, add an acceptable expense margin to it. This margin should take care of your extra and emergency expenses.

Handling Financial Safety Precautions

24. Make copies of your important financial, government and tax documents. Keep a copy safe in your luggage and one on your person. Copies should include fronts and backs of all credit cards, drivers’ license and passport.
25. If your credit cards are stolen while traveling abroad, immediately notify your credit card company, the local authorities and the local Embassy or Consulate office.

This was a guest article by Teena Celis, who works as a content writer for an Australian company. Adrenaline offers of wide range of experiences like rally driving, helicopter scenic flights, hot air ballooning and lots more all across Australia.

Tags: frugal travel tips, travelers