Smart hacks to save money on an online shopping app

The traditional form of shopping has its charm. You get to check the fabric, try on the clothes and make the right choice. Online shopping app, meanwhile, has made the common man sluggish with its smooth and convenient procedures. Just a few clicks and the products are delivered to your doorstep.
Almost all shopping apps provide the best possible deal. Despite the best offers in the market, there tend to be cash restraints.

How can one smartly save money?
Set price alerts: The most significant advantage of online shopping app includes a comparison of prices. One can do so by checking the prices for their desired product on different sites. If the product is unavailable for that price at the time of inspection, one can set alert for the exciting products. Some websites notify when the said product is available in the necessary amount.

Make maximum use of discount offers: Every online shopping app is in partnership with one or more banks for cash back and discounts. These can be utilised during sale time or on an ongoing basis. It is essential to check the terms and conditions: such as a minimum eligible purchase or maximum discount or cashback on offer. One will also need to check the payment methods: cash or credit/debit card or e-wallets. Some portals allow specific online shopping offers to be used up through smartphones.

Check for free delivery services: Most of the shopping sites are now a marketplace. The increasing number of shopping apps has risen competition as well. While some prioritise on offering free delivery for premium members, some give no cost on delivery for all customers. For certain products, apps provide a list of offers from other sellers as well. Apps allow you to check which seller is offering the best price as well as the sellers rating, for authenticity purpose.

Track online shopping records: It is easy to get carried away with all the deals and offers in place. Now that worry is also taken care off. Some apps track consumers spending habits. One can also use #online to view all their shopping spends and keep a tab on their budget.

Ponder upon product reviews: Some online shopping offers can be too good to be true. In such cases, it is recommended to check reviews of the chosen product. These reviews can be either fake or biased. However, there some genuine ones out there as well. Other websites also review a product. In case of a query, one can ask their friends or a colleague, who has used the product, for reviews.

Use social media for research: Through social media customers usually post their rantings regarding poor product delivery by shopping apps. Always check the social mention section on Twitter. It helps you to be cautious and enables you to make the right shopping app choice.

Online shopping is synonymous with smart shopping. Even traditional retailers have entered the fray. With the rise in competition, it is time to keep your pockets in check as well.

Travelling to India? The best travel apps to use in 2018

‘Once a year go someplace you have never been before,’ Dalai Lama was quoted saying. Enthusiastic travellers never get tired of exploring places. These people have a slam book with a graphic demonstration of the places they have visited and are yet to travel. Just like we Indians are fascinated by countries/cities like Europe or Dubai or New Zealand, overseas travellers drool over Indian marvels.

India is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Under its umbrella are cities that are well known as a hill station, desert, beach and beautiful plain. These attractive cities have a large number of people staying in them. It is advisable to know the place before visiting it. With travel apps, this concern is eliminated as well.

In this fast-paced world of technology, the travel industry is creating a niche for itself. Such apps throw commoners with a plethora of options. Some of the trending and best travel apps that international tourist can refer to on their Android and iOS:

Holiday IQ:
Great hotel deals, best routes, hotel reviews, Holiday IQ, allows you to discover all of this in one place. Right from air ticket fares to accommodation, it satisfies all your desires. Apart from planning your journey, Holiday IQ also helps you learn about the travel destination. One can know about the places to visit the destination and the local foods to try.

Google Trips – Travel Planner:
Travellers pledge by Google trips as they get offline access to travel information and maps. All travel essentials are available under one roof. Through Gmail, you can receive activity suggestions around the place, customisable day plan alerts and travel reservations. It surely is an automatic travel planner.

MakeMyTrip:
It is one of travel booking apps where a person can book air, bus, train tickets instantly. Even hotels can be reserved, based on the users’ reviews. If you book a combo of flight and ticket, MakeMyTrip offers discounts as well. MakeMyTrip also includes the feature of reward points that can be accumulated and used at a later point. MakeMyTrip are also travel partners of HDFC’s PayZapp. All payments here are made on the go. 

TripAdvisor:
As the name suggests, it provides best advises for your trip. It helps you search flights, hotels, destinations on one go. TripAdvisor is best known for giving authentic user reviews to assist you to make a quick decision. 

IRCTC Connect:
India’s train travel network is the largest in the world. Trains are the travel passage in India to stunning destinations. Trains are the best route to enjoy India’s true essence. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has its mobile app through which travellers can check train statuses, book tickets and PNR statuses. It is one of the most feasible and best travel apps.

These travel apps act as the best consultant for your trip to India. The apps’ ability to provide a surplus of information has made visiting places more relaxed than ever.

5 reasons why you should book movie tickets online

What happens when you go to the theatre counter to book tickets, and they are sold out? Or you wanted specific seats and did not get them? You head back feeling disappointed and dissatisfied. With the internet here to stay, several industries are opting for the online route. Gone are the days when one stood in long queues to purchase tickets. With the advent of technology, movie ticket booking has become more comfortable than ever.

These days more people are stepping out in their leisure time, precisely why theatres are packed on weekends. Online movie ticket booking comes at attractive prices and specific benefits:

Book as per your convenience: With 24x7 services available, tickets can be booked on the go. One can sit back home and book tickets a day before the movie release. During public holidays and weekends, it gets tough to book tickets at multiplex’s counters. With pre-booking services offered by apps, one can freeze the desired seats and buy tickets cheaply.

Online booking is environment-friendly: Booking movie tickets is not just restricted to computers. The WiFi and internet plans are not always going to support you at the time of booking. With the excessive usage of smartphones, online booking portals are accessible through apps as well. With the help of a movie booking app, tickets are obtainable at your fingertips. It acts as environments best friend by cutting down on the usage of paper.

Save your time: Online movie ticket booking provides access to all information under one roof. It also allows users to check movie timings across different portals and apps. This enables the consumers to plan their day. Apart from movie shows, tickets can be purchased for concerts and stand up comedy as well.

No loss of money: Buying movie tickets online has other perks as well. Imagine you have bought tickets for your family and you. One of your family members falls ill, and the movie plan is hampered. Ultimately, there is a loss of cash. That is not the case online. In case of cancellations, through hassle-free customer service, one can get a refund on tickets.

Receive cashback and great deals: Several apps and portals have a partnership with banks. They run special promotions, and exciting movie ticket offers on specified debit/credit cards. HDFC’s PayZapp is associated with BookMyShow, PVR, INOX and ticketnew.com that has made movie ticket booking convenient and secure. One can receive alerts on offers and promotions through e-mail or SMS.

Save your pocket from going empty by choosing the online route. What are you waiting for? Grab those tickets and enjoy a faster, better and simpler life.

5 Reasons why online mobile recharge is the best innovation

How often do we come across the annoying message, ‘your mobile does not have sufficient balance?’ With zero balance, the rectangular electronic device is useless. Just like cars need fuel to run, mobile phones require full balance to talk, send SMS or use data. However, acquiring total balance is a physical chore.

Let’s say on a public holiday you have an urgent conference call with a client. You have no balance. Your nearest mobile store is shut. If the call does not take place, you are answerable to the client, there will be a significant loss, and a chain of other businesses gets affected. Thanks to technology, mobile phones have kept the convenience of the common man at fore. Online mobile recharge is a breather during emergencies. 

Types of online mobile recharge:

People are no longer limited to landline phones. Mobile phones have two types of services in the offer: prepaid and post-paid. Where in prepaid one must pay beforehand to avail the facilities, post-paid allows you to pay once the package has been disbursed. Prepaid users, nevertheless, face the brunt by recharging their mobile almost every two weeks after consumption of the services.

Apart from emergencies, online mobile recharge has other perks as well:

1) Its cheap: Consumers are increasingly relying on online retailers at the drop of a hat. Online mobile recharge is less expensive than the ones retailers offer. On a chosen plan, shops apply premium as they have no competition around. However, rivalry amongst online retailers has risen drastically over the years. Ultimately, it is the user who reaps the benefits. By comparing the mobile plans from various websites, one can opt for the least expensive package.

2) Offers great deals: Apart from opting for cheap plans, certain mobile retailers provide brownie points as well. Consumers are welcomed with recharge offers in the form of coupons or discount codes. These offers are an excellent effort to cut down on the cash flow. One way to get frequent updates on these offers is by signing up for email and SMS alerts.

3) Helps you get rid of unwanted services: While recharging your mobile through the traditional method of retailers, one has no choice but to go ahead with the plans and recharge offers he/she delivers. In the digital world, one has the option to do away with unwanted features and opt for the one you need.

4) Enables tracking of records: Once you are happy with the features of a plan offered by a service provider, you can continue to explore more in the same retail website. It also enables you to keep track of your expenses, all in one place.

5) Assurance of no loss of money: Often, the chosen plan does not reflect on the phone, once recharged through the traditional method. That leads to loss of cash. In case of online, if the recharge was unsuccessful, there is assurance of refund of money.

Online mobile recharge is the best thing to happen to humanity. Grab that mobile phone fuel it with an abundance of balance. It is just a click away!

Internet banking and its benefits

There is no way around it. Technology has revolutionised the way the world functions, and it has made our lives very convenient and easier to navigate. Banks are no stranger to adopting technology to create a smoother and more secure banking experience. Net-banking is here to stay; from logging in to your account through a PC, to making transactions from a user-friendly e-banking app.

What is internet banking?

Also known as e-banking or online banking, net-banking is a service provided by the banks, which allows you, the account holder, the ability to conduct your banking activities over the internet. This can be done by logging into your bank account through the bank’s website via a pc or a laptop, or through an app on your mobile phone.

You can use this facility to make bill payments, transfer money, open a new account and track your account activity, amongst other things. This service also benefits the banks as they can reach out to their customers and provide them with relevant information, more conveniently.

Why should you opt for e-banking?

There are several advantages when it comes to availing the internet banking apps.

1) Convenience
This is the first and foremost aspect that makes internet banking such an attractive prospect for account holders. You can transfer money and make your bill payments through an e-banking app on your mobile phone, from anywhere, if you have an internet connection (something that every mobile service provider has enabled people to enjoy).

2) Ease of operation
No more standing in long queues and attempt to fill out complicated looking forms, thanks to the net-banking services which require no more of you than to log in to your account and provide the one-time password that the bank generates for every transaction you conduct. 

3) Better rates
Banks find it more convenient and practical to provide customers with online banking services as this frees them from hiring extra staff and space for dealing with customers. This way, they accrue more savings and can then offer the customers these additional savings with better interest rates on deposits and loans. Consequently, banks provide customers minimum, or even zero balance, deposit accounts for online banking.

4) Efficiency
While banks save time and money due to customers opting for e-banking facilities, you can also save time and money by using such services. Consider the time you keep, and the fuel costs you avoid when you make any transaction online. With all that time cut down to a few minutes, you can now use your time more effectively and efficiently.

5) Round the clock service
Online banking doesn't require you to schedule an appointment with a bank executive unless it is necessary for you to meet with the said executive. You can use e-banking services anytime, any day of the week, throughout the year. Emergency situations are less intimidating, and easier to deal with thanks to these facilities.

6) Mobility
This is a convenience, emergency handling and efficiency all rolled into one. With the help of e-banking app, you can make any of your payments or money transfers from your phone. As mentioned already, mobile service providers have made internet accessibility an ever-present part of everyday life for everyone. Thus, internet banking apps have brought your banks into your pockets.

Hope this helps you make a right decision about your banking needs and the facilities you require from a bank. Do check out all the excellent services that all the banks provide through their e-banking apps.

6 best online utility bill payment options in India

How many of us still pay electricity, gas, water, etc. manually? Imagine, there is only a day or two in a week to enjoy your time off with friends and family, and that goes in spending several hours in long lines to pay your utility bills. Disappointing, right? The advent of technology has increased the convenience and comfort of a man.

Utility bill payment is now just a click away. And it is no more restricted to the internet. The excessive usage of smartphones has enabled human beings to make payments on the go. Online bill payment allows the person to:

- Keeps track of transactions
- It is a safe and secure mode 
- Online bill payment eco-friendly
- Can make payment from different bank accounts

So, which are the best utility bill payment options available in India?

Paytm: The most used mobile app for all sorts of payments. From mobile payment to bank transactions to a utility bill, everything can be cleared off on one go. It is a pocket-sized wallet with dozens of features. Paytm i easy to use and authentic as well. The customer service is excellent, and your money is in safe hands. In fact, Paytm makes it a point to send SMS alerts to its customer in case the pending cash in the wallet goes unused for a while.

Bill Desk: One of the top bill payment services in India, Bill Desk is yet another frequently-used medium. All the utility bill can be paid off, in one place. However, this facility is available only in top cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Chandigarh.

Maha Vitaran: Maharashtra Government launched the Maha Vitaran service that accepts only electricity bills. Only the residents of the state can access this website to pay off their bills.

HDFC PayZapp: HDFC has been kind to human beings by launching a convenient app for all kinds of payments. Booking tickets, making utility bill payment, recharge and many others are just a click away now. PayZapp carries internet banking feature, which makes it stand out from the rest. The app offers the first timers a 50 percent off on utility bill payment.

Suvidha: Invention of the internet has allowed government initiatives to make their presence felt online. Suvidha is one such enterprise. All utility bills can be paid here, including insurance. And it requires no additional fees!

FreeCharge: One of the largest growing digital platforms, is well-equipped for paying the utility bill. You can do the cashless transaction without any hassle. FreeCharge comes handy in many food outlets as well. Through this app, you can also split the bill. It is apt for individuals sharing a rented apartment.

Worry no more about the bills getting paid off and make your life simple, easy and faster with these online utility bill payment modes.

One step guide to credit card payments – its types and benefits

Have you gone to a grocery store, made the purchase and came across no cash in your wallet? Credit cards are not namesaked, saviours. They cover up all the expenses in quickest and hassle-free manner. All it requires is your signature. The sound of swiping the card might be sweet, but it is not all that fancy when it comes to payment of a bill at the end of the month.
Gone are the days when credit cards were used just for airline or similar considerable dealings. Credit cards have become an essential tool for people to complete their other daily transactions like utility bills, mobile bills, etc. However, the set amount needs to be disbursed by the consumer towards credit card bill payment.

Ways to pay credit card bill:

Technology has eased off most of the pressure from people’s shoulders nowadays. One can make credit card bill payment through online and offline modes
Online payment mode includes:

- Payment through Net Banking: To use the Net Banking facility, one would have to register their current or savings account to it. For credit cards, the ATM pin needs to be used to link the card to the net banking account. Once done with procedures, all the person needs to do is log in with their net banking details in the bank website, choose the ‘credit card payment option’ and pay the bill using a savings account.

- Mobile banking application: Mobile banking is the best innovation for on the move customers. Features of net banking are available on mobile banking as well. Just download the app and follow the same procedures as that of net banking.

- ATM Fund Transfer: ATMs offer 24x7 services. One can pay credit card bill by merely transferring the outstanding amount from their savings or current account to credit card account.

- Autopay: Human beings are understandably having a busy schedule, currently. There is a tendency of missing out on payment of bills. In such cases, autopay option comes handy. It deducts the amount from the customer's savings account automatically. However, the person’s signature is mandated if opting for the service.

- National Electronic Fund Transfers (NEFT): Customers need not necessarily pay the bill through their saving account. With NEFT services, you can pay your bill through any other bank account. One would have to add their credit card number as the payee account number for disbursing the amount through NEFT.

- Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS): For those who want to settle their credit card bill payment on one go, RTGS is an ideal choice. One needs to have their net banking facility activated on another bank account to carry out RTGS operation. Payment of INR 2 lakhs or more is made through RTGS.

Offline payment mode:

Cash and cheques are the only offline options. You can visit your nearest branch and pay the bill by cash through the counter. A fee is, however, charged for this service. Most of the times banks are shut on public holidays and weekends. At such times, cheques can be deposited in a drop box or a cheque payment machine. These are available outside ATMs or bank branches.

Key benefits of online credit card bill payment are:

- Saves time and effort
- Can be paid at your convenience and comfort
- With IPIN mandatory for online payments, they are generally safe and secure
- Easy track of payment records
- Making online payment saves paper, which is why it is an eco-friendly medium