Nowadays, we find ourselves carrying cold hard cash less and less because you can just as easily make your purchase with payment cards, and track your spending online. Plus, it’s more secure than carrying $350 to buy the latest iPad Mini.

Certain payment or loyalty cards also let you earn rewards or entries to contests, but they do add up. They make your wallet unnecessarily thick and heavy. Perhaps it is time to swap the system again; this time, for something that you have always been carrying around: your smartphone.

Digital wallets can help take you there. They are smartphone apps that hold your payment and loyalty card information. Google Wallet and Apple’s Passbook are two of the more popular ones we often hear about, but if they are not your fancy, there are plenty of other digital wallets that carry perks and benefits that you may prefer.

1. Google Wallet

Instead of tapping your credit card on the NFC machine at the checkout counter, all you have to do is wave your smartphone or tap it on the machine to make your payments. It’ll be able to identify the credit card information linked on your Google account.

For this to to work, Google Wallet requires Near Field Communication (NFC) technology available, which unfortunately is only available on certain smartphones and tablets.

You link your debit or credit card to your Google account and you can leave your wallet at home – but at the moment, it only works with phones and credit cards from the US and only in the US. Currently, it supports 20+ merchants on the ground and online, promising more merchants to come.

2. Apple’s Passbook

Apple’s Passbook was introduced in iOS 6 and relies on scanning 2D barcodes to help you manage your movie, concert and airline tickets as well as loyalty cards and coupons for selected merchants.

The result: you get location and time-based notifications when you’re near a cafe where you can use your loyalty card or when your airline, movie or concert ticket is nearing its due date.

You add passes through apps that support Passbook (link opens iTunes). So instead of bringing your grocery coupons and stack of loyalty cards wherever you go, you can store it in Passbook. Unlike Google Wallet, you cannot use your debit or credit card for purchases in-store, however you can use BillGuard to view your bank balance and other related information on your iPhone.

3. Lemon Wallet

Available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone Lemon Wallet is a very powerful app that allows you to store and use your debit, credit, ID, insurance member and loyalty cards. It turns all of that information into a barcode to be scanned by merchants. You can also connect payment cards to your bank allowing you to check your balance and transactions from within the app.

The app is passcode protected throughout with a 4-pin passcode; even when accessing your other cards within the app, it’ll ask you to input the passcode again. One more good feature is that it allows you to take pictures of receipts for tax purposes or to track your own spending.

4. Square Wallet

Square wallet is available on iOS and Android and works similar to Lemon Wallet, with a few additional cool features. You link your credit card to the app, but instead of paying directly with the credit card, it requires the use of merchant cards which is why Square works only with their list of merchants.

Because it is location based, the store knows you’re ordering something and will charge it to the card linked on your Square account.

It features Hands-Free Checkout as well where you ‘favorite’ the merchant and all you have to do is say your name at checkout. As you visit these stores, you can also earn rewards and discounts on your next visit. You can also purchase in-store gift vouchers to be sent to other Square users.

5. Isis

Isis comes with its own cash card which is preloaded with $10 to help you start spending. It works with an NFC-enabled Android smartphone and also allows you to manage your coupons, loyalty cards and redeem offers from merchants.

The wallet is also PIN-protected and you can remote freeze your wallet and wireless connection if it gets stolen. If the smartphone gets recovered, you can just call to reactivate your wallet.

The wallet is also protected by a special chip called Secure Element which prevents your cards from being counterfeited. So far it only accepts 3 payment cards and can be used in a few stores in Salt Lake City and Austin in the US.

6. Geode by iCache

Don’t have NFC? Try Geode instead. Geode is an iPhone case that features a much cooler alternative. With Geode, you can store your credit cards and loyalty cards in the app, then use the GeoCard (provided) to act temporarily as the card you select.

Just flick the card and start swiping. Once you’re done, all data from the GeoCard will be removed and you can select the next card info to activate.

For loyalty cards, all you need to do is take a picture of the barcode section of each card. The barcode will be displayed in E-ink quality for scanning purposes. To keep all your info secure, the app has a biometric scanner that takes your fingerprints for authentication. US residents can buy the Geode for $200.

7. Chirpify

Chirpify lets you use social media apps like Twitter and Instagram to buy, sell, send and receive money. You have to first register for an account on their website; it uses PayPal to send or receive money.

On your account dashboard, you can create a listing if you’re selling something or want to start a fund raiser. You can create a listing via Instagram with the captions:

• ‘$5 #instasale‘ to sell
• ‘$0 #instagimme‘ for a giveaway
• ‘$10 #instafund‘ for a donation

A listing will then be created on your Chirpify account dashboard.

Other Chirpify members buying your item simply comment ‘Buy’ on Instagram or reply with ‘Buy’ on a Tweet, and the transaction is complete. Chirpify users can also send money between friends or make donations via Twitter. There is a 5% transaction fee whenever money enters your Chirpify account.

8. Venmo

Venmo is an app available for BlackBerry, iOS and Android for transferring money between friends. Once you have an account, you can link a bank account, credit or debit card to it. It works similar to PayPal but only between two parties with Venmo accounts.

Sending money is like writing an email to a friend, plus the amount you want to transfer. You can even share the transaction with a message on Facebook, Twitter or Foursquare.

Access your main account via their website, but make your transactions via your smartphone. Venmo also works via SMS with a few simple SMS commands. Venmo is a free app but only currently works with major US banks and phone numbers.

9. Dwolla

Dwolla is another mobile payment app available for iOS and Android with a high number of merchants that recognize their service. It connects directly to your bank account via registration on their website.

With Dwolla, you can transfer funds to friends on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It’s a great way to settle your rent, or pay back your friend for fronting you the taxi cab or last night’s drinks, when you don’t have cash on you.

The app also has an in-built map that locates merchants that accept payments via Dwolla. You can also track your transactions within the app itself.

10. PayPal

Paypal is another famous service that can send money between other PayPal users and friends. Available for both iOS and Android, you can easily send money to other users just like you would on the PayPal website. It also allows you to view your past transactions in detail.

PayPal is also entering mobile payments via a card reader with the PayPal Here app, but at the moment it’s still in the ‘invitation only’ stages of testing.

Bonus: 3 More Mobile Payment Apps

Bump Pay

If you’ve heard of Bump that app that lets you send contacts and photos from smartphones to computers via an Internet connection, then you should get the idea of Bump Pay. Bump Pay is a free app only available for the iPhone. It allows you to ‘bump’ (transfer) money from iPhone to iPhone with your existing PayPal account.

Groupon App

The group buying website Groupon, now also have an app, available on iOS and Android, that lets you browse, buy and use your coupon from within the app without the need to print it.

Zipmark

Zipmark acts as a digital checkbook that connects directly to your checking account. Payments are made with digital checks and can be cleared the next business day with a 1% or $5 maximum transaction fee. Payments are cleared quickly, more securely and cost less. Zipmark is currently only available by invitation.

Every startup entrepreneur has apprehensions about the start their business will eventually have. It is never easy to run a business. What makes it even more difficult for startup entrepreneurs is their lack of experience in running a trade, which could lead to a lot of confusion, questions and doubts. They will have doubts on whether they have invested enough, financially, in the project, or if they had chosen the right way to launch it – apprehensions never end for them.

In the process, they might commit mistakes, or some may call it, silly mistakes. The nature and extent of mistakes an entrepreneur might commit differs according to what start-up he is involved in, yet, there are a few basic mistakes, which startup entrepreneurs normally commit. Such mistakes usually remain the same irrespective of the nature of business.

Recommended Reading: Entrepreneurs: 5 Reasons Why Your Products Are Not Selling

1. Devoid of any backup plans

The typical startup entrepreneur has worked out the whole process beautifully on paper, and has what he calls a foolproof plan. But mistakes happen; at times they are victims of circumstance or because they were too optimistic with their expectations.

Remarkably, there are many startup entrepreneurs who walk into their new office, without ever bothering to have any kind of backup plan in place. They are too focused in their new business, and some even have full faith that their new venture will eventually succeed.

Many of these startup entrepreneurs have just come out with high flying management degrees. They believe they have learnt everything about business in college, and there is no way they could fail. That’s where things usually go wrong and that is when backup plans will help keep the company afloat.

(Image Source: Fotolia)

Here’s an example: what would happen if your marketing department fails to sell your manufactured product? Will you close your operations and risk losing millions, or put a different plan in place?

You either need to outsource your marketing operations, or start manufacturing more acceptable products for the market. There should be enough logistics arrangements to actually make your backup plan easy to execute.

And that will only happen, if backup plans are given due significance and planned accordingly, beforehand, as a rescue operation, if and when things go wrong.

2. Not having enough emergency funds

Many startup entrepreneurs are not concerned with backup plans, and they also don’t keep funds for emergencies. To enable a backup plan to function properly, it is equally important to keep sufficient funds aside to fund those solutions.

(Image Source: Fotolia)

Startup businesses usually involve huge sums. You may not have put your own money in the project, or perhaps have gotten funding from banks or other financial institutions. In such circumstances, unprofessional handling of your financial affairs could lead to losses, which in turn may prevent you from getting future monetary help from these institutions.

Having emergency funds can also help put off foreclosure from clients who reneged on their payments, or losses suffered from damaged or missing stock, until the flow of income steadies out to give stability to the company.

3. Focusing too much on results

Entrepreneurship is about designing and maintaining the flow of business in the desired manner. It is also about helping the firm function in a result oriented mode. If an entrepreneur does exactly that, then the performance of the firm will be better. This will lead to substantial monetary gains as well. Thus, instead of thinking about the results, one should work for the results.

Usually startup entrepreneurs are too concerned with getting instant results, rather than setting their business basics right. Many startup entrepreneurs believe in short term results. For them, initial performance matters the most and they measure performance in terms of pure profit. And in doing so, they overlook the elementary facts of running a business successfully.

For any type of business, one needs a good foundation which includes the right kind of infrastructure, and the ability to implement strategies that were prepared before the start of a business. Focusing too hard and too much on profit-driven results will hamper the growth of startups before they even leave the ground.

4. Lack of stability in pursuing a strategy

The best thing about startup entrepreneurs is their willingness to pursue plans. They would give their all, for the plan to work perfectly but as soon as they face a hitch, some will waver, and start looking to approach the process differently.

Every startup business works on and around a planned strategy, the approach of entrepreneurs might be a little different, but it is important for them to stick to the chosen approach. Changing your approach too soon will lead to confusion and rather than solve the problem, it may leave you dangling between two possible paths of solution with no end in sight.

Such fickle-mindedness speaks about the level of preparation (or there lackof) on the part of the entrepreneur. It also means that you have not done your homework before jumping into the business.

Changing methods too soon will hamper growth, because you will have to start learning about the new method before implementing it. Give your methods some time, or put in some more effort, and you might get the results you want.

5. Led by too many opinions

If you own a startup, whether you are given unsolicited advice by well-wishers (friends and family who are business-minded) or if you proactively seek out the answers you need on your own, be wary of being overwhelmed with too many colliding opinions.

(Image Source: Fotolia)

Having too many people volunteer different suggestions can lead to a lot of confusion, which leads to a lot of indecision on the new entrepreneur. This is bad especially when he has to make a tight call. When there are a lot of opinions weighing on your mind, you may end up making a split-second decision, which is very bad for business.

Business decisions may be made partially by instinct and by knowledge, but knowledge cannot be obtained merely by listening to everyone’s suggestions. Sometimes it is a lot better and easier to learn from experiencing it yourself.

Alternatively, it may be a good idea to have experienced business partners whom you can trust. They can help you avoid basic mistakes in your daily dealings. They will have the company’s best interest at heart and would not advise you on actions that may lead to its premature downfall.

You can also consider hiring a consultant to look at your business plan and give you their professional opinions based on their understanding of the current market, before you launch your business.

The latest release of Microsoft Office 2013 showcases a new look and cleaner design. Aside from some of its new features, one that stands out is its integration with the cloud service SkyDrive. With SkyDrive integration, document files that are saved to SkyDrive will sync faster and won’t create conflict when more than one person is working on the same file.

But what if SkyDrive isn’t your primary cloud service? Well, there’s a way to integrate other cloud services to Microsoft Office 2013. We’ll show you how to integrate the popular choices, Dropbox and Google Drive, to Microsoft Office 2013 to give quicker access to your files and folders.

Recommended Reading: Cloud Storage Face-Off: Dropbox Vs Google Drive Vs SkyDrive

Integrating Office 2013

First thing you have to do is to download and install the Dropbox and Google Drive clients on your Windows 7 or 8 PC. Next, you have to download 2 .bat files to integrate Dropbox and Google Drive, respectively.

Adding Dropbox

Let’s start with Dropbox. Download this file and run it as an administrator.

A command prompt window will appear. Press any key to continue.

It’ll now ask you to type in the folder path of your Dropbox folder. Unless you changed the path of your folder, the default path would be ‘C:\Users\[your username]\Dropbox‘, type it in and hit Enter.

You’ll now see a few lines confirming that it has been successfully installed. Hit any key to close the window.

Adding Google Drive

With Google Drive, it’s pretty much the same few steps. Download this file and run it as an administrator.

A command prompt window will appear. Press any key to continue.

Type in the folder path of your Google Drive folder; the default path should be ‘C:\Users\[your username]\Google Drive‘, then hit the Enter key.

It’ll then confirm the installation. Hit any key to close the window.

Enabling Dropbox And Google Drive

To enable these 2 cloud services to Office 2013, open one of their products, let’s say Word, and click on ‘File’ at the top left.

Then click on Add a Place and click on Dropbox and Google Drive.

It’ll take a few seconds to load and once it’s done you’ll see it added to the list.

Want Out?

In the event that you want to remove these services, you can go to Account and under ‘Connected Services’ click on the ‘Remove’ link.