Top 5 players in the online food ordering apps that curb your hunger

We can pay our utility and credit card bills online, we can recharge our phones through our smartphones, and now you can proudly say, ‘I have food delivered near me’ as well. Who would have thought that even food will get digitised! The internet has enhanced almost every necessity that is connected with our daily lives.

Food is one such aspect. Yes, food has become more of a service than a basic necessity. With the help of the food ordering apps you can check the restaurant reviews, learn about the nearby restaurants and you also get great deals on these hotels. It not just saves your time but also goes easy on your pockets.

Following is a list of 5 best online food order app in the country:

1) Foodpanda: It is a global food order app that operates in nearly 50 countries. The Indian app has more than 1 million downloads on Google Play and has continued to maintain a rating of 4.1. It is strategically placed in more than 100 cities in the country and delivers all sorts of cuisines, from biryani to burger to pasta. They do not have time restrictions and serve you at any point of the day. The best part of the foodpanda is their express delivery system. You are guaranteed to receive your food in 45 minutes. If your order is late beyond the stipulated time, you get 100 per cent cash back.

2) Zomato: They have changed the face of food ordering apps across the globe. Zomato, who started their services in 2008, have their networks spread across 24 countries and has more than 10 million downloads on Google Play. It is one of the most popular apps in the country currently. They run deals and offers, especially on weekends, so that you can enjoy sumptuous food with your family. You get to check restaurant reviews and ratings before heading to the best one in your locality. With their Zomato Gold Membership facility, consumers can enjoy complimentary food and drinks in high-end restaurants.

3) Swiggy: On the lines of Zomata came another player in the online food order app category, Swiggy. They launched in 2014 and have more than 5 million downloads on the Google Play. Its quality can be judged based on the 4.2 ratings on the Play Store. Swiggy allows you to track your order live  and they offer a 5 per cent discount on almost all meals.  Another unique selling point of Swiggy is that you can order even a single item from them. There is no limitation on the maximum food order amount.

4) Uber Eats: A new entrant in the food ordering apps section is Uber Eats. They were launched by the favourite cab service app, Uber.   They have a fast and straightforward user interface that makes them a must-have app on your smartphone.      At the moment, Uber Eats functions in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. They deliver the food in 30 minutes. The best aspect of this app is that you can make payment via your Uber account.   You can, however,  make the payment via credit/debit card/net banking.       

5) FreshMenu: Another ‘delivery near me’ app that entered the market in 2014 offers quality food, made in their kitchen. They are known to deliver unique food items every day and is more like an online restaurant. They started their operations in Bengaluru and have now spread their networks to Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram.  If you are looking for something different and healthy, FreshMenu is an ideal choice. 

These food ordering apps have become an essential part of our lives. They have changed our food eating habits and lifestyle drastically. Download them and relish different cuisines every day!

The Features of Mobile Banking

The use of a smartphone or any other cellular device, to perform financial tasks through the internet like monitoring the account balance, transferring funds, bill payments, etc. refers to mobile banking. This is available across mobiles – Androids, iPhones, Windows phones and Blackberry. It is the simplest way to allow users to transfer their funds from one account to another or from one bank to another, in a hassle-free way. E-banking apps are an easy way to connect users directly to the server for completing all banking tasks without using the web browser.

Some of the important features of mobile banking include:

1.    Create accounts easily
Previously, opening a new account was only possible at banks. Today, thanks to banking applications, one can complete the entire process at home or anywhere else. Depending on which bank it is, the enrollment process can take 10 or fewer minutes to fill. All one needs is have necessary details and to be able to send photocopies of these documents, as a means of identification.

Once the account has been created, creating a new account will be even more straightforward as all of the information has already been stored in the database. Therefore having and switching from multiple bank accounts is simple, with the help of mobile banking.

2.    Electronic bank statements
Bill statements can be annoying as it not only clogs up the mail but also is a waste of paper and end up lying around, becoming incredibly inconvenient. Switching to email statements saves time and space as the emails can be quickly deleted and if a hard copy is required, the bill can be printed out.

3.    Automatic bill payments
Most people pay multiple bills every month – telephone, mortgage, loans, utilities, etc. Most mobile banking apps allow all bills to be paid directly, at once, through the app. All that needs to be done, is the accounts need to be synced with your bank account, so there is one less thing to worry about and juggle with every month.

4.    Security alerts
One of the best reasons for using e-banking apps is how safe they are.  The app sends notifications to the registered phone number, that can be of utmost use when transactions are denied or incomplete, bill payment date is nearing, the bank balance is at a low, account details are changed or if there have been failed attempts to log into your account.

4 ways in which you can repay your gold loans

As Indians, we love our gold. No matter how crowded it gets, we like to purchase gold during festivals and important days like Akhsaya Tritiya and Dhanteras. But gold is much for than just a piece of jewellery. It is an investment that comes in handy and rescues us from financially troubling times. It is at such times that people trade their gold ornaments to get a loan. A loan that is availed by the pledging of gold ornaments in return for money is known as a gold loan, in which your ornaments serve as collateral. Here are 4 ways in which you can repay loans taken against gold.

Pay the interest as EMI and principal at maturity: One of the easiest ways to repay the loan is to choose an EMI schedule and use it to repay only the interest amount. Keep paying the monthly EMIs and pay the principal amount only on the loan’s maturity date. This is a great arrangement for borrowers as it gives then the time to come up with the principal amount, while reducing the stress on EMIs. As long as you don’t miss your monthly interest payments, your gold remains safe with the lender.

Choose to make payments partially: Another simple way of repaying your loan against gold is to make partial payments on both, the principal amount and the interest whenever you are able to. Such a loan repayment schedule does not require you to confirm to a set EMI schedule. This is a customer centric approach and both, partial and complete payment of principal and interest components is allowed. Also, repaying your principal initially, helps reduce the total interest pay-out that is typically calculated on a daily basis, on the outstanding amount of the loan.

Pay in regular EMIs: If you are a salaried individual, with a regular inflow of cash in your bank account, it makes sense for you to opt for the regular EMI option on loan repayment. The EMI ideally includes both, the principal amount to be paid and the gold loan interest rate.  Both banks and other NBFC lenders usually grant and process such a loan in a few minutes, especially to salaried applicants as they can ask you to give post-dated cheques, for the amounts to be deducted from your accounts on a monthly basis.

Opt for the bullet repayment method: Those individuals, who are facing a financial crunch, and cannot opt for either of the above-mentioned loan repayment, can opt to pay the entire amount of the loan i.e. the principal amount and the gold loan interest, at the end of the loan’s term. As such, you needn’t pay any EMIs and can return the total amount when your loan tenure ends. Bullet repayment methods are ideally designed for farmers and businesses which are seasonal in nature.

6 essential travel apps for your next trip

Planning a trip was a task earlier. It involved researching the flight tickets, calling the hotels for reservations, etc. Everything was pretty much done manually. Then came the digital era and the scenario changed after that. With the internet in your palms, you can travel anywhere and gather information in the blink of the eye. There are plenty of travel apps that assist you in booking tickets and hotel reservations. They also enable you to learn about your destination.

With these travel apps, you can plan your itinerary in advance and enjoy your trip in a hassle-free manner. Following are a compilation of the best travel apps in 2018:

1) Google trips: This is the app that you first need to refer to before beginning with anything else. They collate information from your Gmail related to your trip and present to you a structured itinerary. You can also view your past tours in such fashion. Your flight bookings, hotels reservations and other trip details are compiled from your emails and messages. When you click on each aspect, you can read more detailed information such as the places to visit, things to do, food, etc.

2) Oyo Rooms: If you are a budget traveller then Oyo Rooms is the best travel booking app to try out. You can book rooms of maximum quality at minimum rates. Oyo rooms have an extensive network with over 70,000 rooms in 230-plus cities. Even their services are top-notch. You can find many Oyo rooms within the same town. So, you can check the nearest hotel based on your itinerary.

3) Google Translate: If you are heading to a destination where you do not speak their language, then you will require translation of some form. Google translate is very useful as you merely need to pick the language, type the desired words and voila, you speak the concerned language. You also have the option to translate a photo or a spoken phrase. It also allows you to download the language pack before you head to the concerned place.

4) Google Maps: After all that planning, you need figure out as to how you can reach the destination. Nothing can guide you better than Google maps. It is an every day app, something that even work commuters use to reach a particular place. You have the facility to save unlimited maps for later use because your data is not going to support you everywhere. You can even receive driving and public transportation information through Google Maps.

5) TripAdvisor: Another must-have travel apps is TripAdvisor. They are the biggest game changers today. You get all the hotel information for all kinds of budget. Also, you can read user reviews before getting your reservations done. You also get a wealth of information about the place you are to visit via TripAdvisor forums.

6) MakeMyTrip: They play the lead role in the travel booking app category. Right from booking flight to bus to train tickets (IRCTC), everything can be found under one roof. You can also venture for group or customised tours with the help of MakeMyTrip.com. You get huge deals on flights, be it domestic or international.

Most of these travel apps are also connected to merchant networks such as PayZapp, Paytm, etc. to simplify your bookings procedure.

Advantages of Shopping Online with Mobile Banking Apps

Internet banking apps have revolutionised everything - from the way we manage our finances to the way we shop. A study conducted in 2012, noticed that retailers’ sales had boosted by over 40% just by being present online! This encouraged more vendors to cater to online shoppers as they realised it was more advantageous to shoppers, as compared to traditional methods.

While fantastic shopping deals and online offers are used to lure customers in, they are not the only reason why online shopping is preferred. Here are some reasons why it is better to shop online than visit outlet:

1.    Convenience and comfort
Want to lie on the couch and binge on ice cream while picking out amazing clothes and accessories at the same time? Today, it is possible to shop at midnight while sporting pyjamas! There are no store assistants to continually question you and all the information and product descriptions, available on the screen. Payment is also simple as all financial institutions have net banking apps that enable users to send money online instantly.

2.    Bonanza deals!
Apart from stores offering products at discounted rates, banks also have offers on their cards and money transfer apps. Fantastic shopping deals in the form of reward points can be gained for shopping worth a price and redeemed later. Individual banks and digital wallets also offer cashback options, making for the perfect way to indulge in some retail therapy.

3.    Shop from across the world
Long gone are those days when consumers would wait for relatives or friends to return from trips abroad, with the extensive list of everything requested. Today, these lists are available at our fingertips especially since now, most companies ship internationally and accept online bill payments for all transactions.

4.    Comparative study
For the best deals, it is best to compare products present in different stores to find the cheapest one. Rather than continually moving from one store to another, which is tiring, it is easier to switch from one tab to another, making it easier to spend less and save more, and pay instantly before the product sells out. To make the process of shopping a hassle-free and enjoyable one, mobile banking apps are the way to go!

5.    Curbing the compulsive shopper
Many times, consumers get attracted to products because they look attractive or because of their low rate, even though they are not required. Despite there being online offers, chances of compulsive shopping, are much lesser as consumers already know what they want, before going online completing their bill payments online.

4 tips to get the best car loan rates in India

Buying a car is a major milestone in most of our adult lives. It is one of the things we aspire to own since childhood. Thanks to car loans and banking and non-banking organizations that fund them, it is now easy for everyone to purchase their dream car. Depending on your budget you can choose to purchase a new car on EMIs with or without making a down payment. If you too are waiting to purchase that dream car, here are a few tips that can help you save money on your loan. 

Make a large down payment: It is always better to plan your finances before applying for any loan, especially for those that go in the tunes of a few lakhs. Relying on 100% finance can increase the overall size of your car loan interest rate. With a smaller loan, it is easier to pay it off faster and get lower rates of interest. Also, when you choose to make a larger down payment, you are giving your financier the added assurance that you will not default on your payments, thus increasing your chances of getting a loan on a low rate of interest.

Opt for shorter loan tenures: If you cannot make a decent down payment, a second effective way to get low interest rates is to opt for short tenured loans. Typically, banks and financiers give borrowers 7 years to repay the loan on vehicles. However, if you use a car loan EMI calculator, you will find that you end up spending a lot more with long duration loans. Try to opt for a short, 3-4 years loan instead of 7 years. By opting for a short duration loan, you save a lot of money in interest payments.

Don’t settle on the first lender: When you set out to look for a financier, make sure you do your research thoroughly. You will find a huge difference in the interest rate quoted by the bank, the financier companies and the car dealers. The best option is to go for a loan from the bank with which you have an ongoing relationship. Since the banks have an account of your business, they can offer loans on lower interest rates. Car dealers too have the discretion to offer you low rates, however they are known to charge you if you choose to pay off your loan earlier than your selected tenure.

Read the fine print: Financers often charge additional fees which include service tax, processing fees, GST, on-road price etc. Make sure you ask about the car loan rates and the additional, aforementioned costs before signing the documents. Most financiers claim to waive off or reduce processing fees during the festive seasons to attract customers. Ensure that this waiver is genuine and that you aren’t paying higher interest rates for the loss incurred by financers from reducing/waiving fees.

8 advantages of online bill payment

Paying utility or credit card bills has become an ordeal nowadays. Carrying a bundle of cash and standing in long queues, is how you usually spend your weekends. Those never-ending queues and mind-boggling people struggling to get their bills paid gives the feel of a local fish market. This can consume your energy not only mentally but physically as well. To top it all, you have to deal with frustrated bankers. But do you know you do not have to go through all this anymore?

Thanks to the internet, you do not have to move a muscle. Right from bill payment to recharge, all is just a click away. In case you are new to technology, following are the advantages of online bill payment:

1) Convenient: It is probably the biggest benefit of paying bill online. After all, do you really want to ruin your weekend by harming your body standing in long queues? Several online payment apps have made the task easier for people. HDFC PayZapp, Paytm, Freecharge, allow you to make payment in hassle-free manner. All you have to do is log in with your username and password, include your bill details. It is that simple. So, no more interaction with grumpy bank staffs.

2) Environment-friendly: The other perks of online bill payment is going paperless. Some are habituated to save bills. However, you can now make your payment online and check your transactions easily through the bank or payment apps. This way you also understand how much of money is left on your wallet and you get to keep the environment safe as well.

3) Security: One of the concerns with paying bill online is security. There is always a threat of malware or fraud. However, websites today have protocols to keep your transactions safe and secure. There are layers of security that the customer has to go through purely for verification. You have the OTP system that has been introduced or the security question & answer that ensures the right person is using the app or website.

4) Standing instructions: Another perk of cashless payment is that you can set up pre-payment schedules ahead of the bill due date. They act as reminders. The bank will automatically debit the money from your account on the specified date of the month. This saves the hassle of constantly worrying as to when to pay the bill.

5) No additional charges: Paying your bills through cheque or ATM can include additional processing fees. If your bill amount is huge, these add-ons are the last thing you require. Through the online mode, you save those extra expenses as well.

If the above pointers do not convince you to join the online bill payment bandwagon, then nothing will.