Unless you have official qualifications in mechanics (or your husband does), buying a second hand car can be fraught with difficulties. Not only will you have to spend time considering all your options when it comes to model and colour, but you’ll also need to keep your wits about you with regards to engine status and any hidden issues private sellers may try to cover up.

For that reason, it’s almost always better to buy used models from a reputable dealership, even if it means paying a little more for your car. While you might have to spend more money initially, you’ll have much more cover should something untoward happen, and so you’re bound to save hundreds, if not thousands in the long run. I recently read on the Big Motoring World Twitter page that the months of June and July are always the best for buying a used vehicle at the best prices, so there’s no time to lose. You need to start your research now to ensure you capitalise fully on this.

With that in mind, the article you’ve found today has been written in the hope of giving you some handy advice that could result in you getting a better deal. Obviously, you should always try to take a qualified mechanic along when purchasing anything second hand, but if that’s simply not possible, the information in this article should help to limit the chances of you getting ripped off.

Look at the history

So long as you’re buying from a second hand dealership, you should have the opportunity to read through the car’s full history before committing to a purchase. This is something you should definitely take advantage of. Don’t start panicking if it’s had a lot of repair work, that is completely normal for something more than five years old. However, if you notice that most of the work has been done on the same area of the engine, this should set alarm bells ringing. Like it or not, some automobiles are just prone to issues, and if the one you’re looking at seems to fit this category, you should move on and find something less risky.

Local law enforcement and highway patrol outfits have become increasingly more effective at cracking down on those who make the terrible decision to drive inebriated. We all see the commercials and electronic road signs stating something similar to “You Drink.. You Drive.. You Lose.” or “DUI Decide Before You Drive”. This campaign has certainly made the public more aware of the dangers associated with drinking and driving and the costs if you are found guilty of the act. Much less has been done to make drivers more aware of the dangers associated with driving drowsy or distracted driving. The facts and figures continue to mount outlining the increased risks of each act. While in recent years, most states have made it illegal to text and drive, many other acts while driving remain legal, and there is very little being done across the country to address the dangers of drowsy driving.

Distracted Driving.. What is it and are we all guilty?

There aren’t many people today who are unaware of the dangers associated with texting and driving. It has become a new focus of many traffic enforcement agencies as the number of crashes have skyrocketed due to this ill-advised act. In many states this has a “primary enforcement” level meaning an officer can pull a driver over without any other offense taking place. In roughly a dozen states, this law is carried over to all hand held phone use which has been more effective in deterring phone use by drivers. Law Enforcement has become increasingly more effective in spotting cell phone offenders but the onus is on us as individuals to keep our phones away and focus on the road.

Distracted driving extends beyond cell phone use in the car. While the cell phone is a principal offender, other acts such as eating and drinking, fumbling with navigation units, spending too much time adjusting the audio, talking with passengers, and grooming or putting on makeup all increase the likelihood of an accident. While the fatalities associated with distracted driving has decreased slightly over the last couple years, injuries associated with such and the number of crashes overall continue to steadily increase. Most alarming is the age group with the highest percentage of distracted driving fatalities relative to the amount of drivers on the road belong to drivers under 20. Not eliminating these habits in the most inexperienced of drivers is a mistake parents and communities must work harder not to commit. However, the onus is again on the driver to understand that while they possess a drivers license, most are far poorer drivers than they realize. Any trip near a local high school around 3pm can surely attest to that.

Globe Telecom President & CEO Ernest Cu welcomes at The Globe Tower 32 high school students who were selected to participate in this year’s Globe Junior Mobile Wizard program.

Go on vacation, enroll in a tutorial class, learn new skills, apply for a job - these are just some of the many ways where students can spend their summer.But for some high school techies they grab this rare opportunity to build their future through Globe Telecom’s Junior Mobile Wizard program. It is a six-week summer program offered to Globe employees' high school children. It gives the teens a chance to learn outside a campus setting and become a part of a real company setting as they interact with customers.

They are tasked to demonstrate and discuss the latest gadgets and mobile data services, as well as other Globe offers and services, providing them the opportunity to assist customers who may wish to apply for the latest postpaid and broadband plans or avail of other Globe promos.

This year, a total of 32 qualified for the program, with 25 coming from Metro Manila, 5 from Cebu and 2 from Davao. The students, aged 15 to 17, are in second to fourth year high school level.

It began with a 2-day training at the telecommunication’s headquarters in Bonifacio Global City. The students were then assigned in 7 Globe stores located in several areas in the Philippines.

Truly a great way to spend their summer right? Not only that they were able to learn about Globe products but it also develops their social, business and entrepreneurial skills.

Back in the day when dinosaurs roamed free across the land (OK - I’m exaggerating a little, but it was 16 years ago!), I had just passed my driving test and bought my first car, a battered old Volkswagen Golf mk1.

I seem to remember that it was silver in colour, although at first glance you probably wouldn’t have been able to tell given that the car appeared to be made up largely of body filler and rust! In hindsight, I probably should have saved up a bit more for something that wasn’t a piece of scrap metal on wheels, but even in those days it was a rare sight on the roads, so I just had to buy it!

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But, I digress. The reason why I was bringing up my old banger of a Golf was because the car didn’t actually have any form of warning system to tell me that my car had a serious engine problem, for example. The only dashboard icons that alerted me to any problems were the battery and handbrake icons.

These days, things are very different. It is now possible for all modern cars to effectively self-diagnose themselves, with most giving drivers a simple explanation as to the reason the problem has occurred.

So, just how do today’s cars self-diagnose themselves, and are they useful at doing so? In this blog post, I walk you through the different systems checks that the cars of today perform.

Ever since the world of smart phones took over the entire mobile device industry, data plans, billing, and charges have been a thorn in the side of most smart phone using consumers. Data usage is never quite as intuitive or simple to navigate as it might be; users must decide how much 'data', or wireless bandwidth, they typically use in a month, and then purchase a plan that includes just that much and no more or less. Then, data users must pay close and regular attention to the amount of wireless connectivity that they are utilizing so as not to go over and engage in large overage charges. If you are unfortunate enough to have to pay these fees, www.kangaroopaydayloans.com can help.

As a result of facing heavy handed data overage charges unintentionally by going over the specified monthly allotment, users have realized that data usage is something to be reckoned with. Just one unknowingly large download or one too many images viewed can mean a mean data overage fee that can push a phone bill up and over the edge. Fortunately, a mass of handy tricks and tips now exists to help frustrated mobile users to reign in and be conscious of their data use. Some of the most useful ways of controlling your use are free, and right at your fingertips if you are savvy with the world of apps.

Apps to Control Your Data Usage

There are a handful of no cost apps now that are specifically designed to make you aware of your data usage, and help you to control your phone bill if it is going overboard. Some of the best will actually turn your data off and restrict it if you exceed a certain amount of usage, and many will tell you exactly what it is you are doing on your phone that is using up all of this data. In this way, you can craft a completely customized phone environment that will make it easy for you to conserve data by closing apps, specifying notifications and alerts, and toggling settings with downloads and images, two of the data heavy aspects of mobile phones.

By using one of these two apps, or a similar one that suits your preferences more closely, you will set up cautious boundaries around your data usage and ensure your stability. By paying close attention to your data limits and having the added protection of a data management app, you will be well prepared for anything on your mobile phone.

Do a simple Google search and you will find thousands of articles that tell you why you should or need to buy a car, explaining the various benefits and reasons why it makes sense to have a car. But how many articles do you see from people that explain why you shouldn't buy a car?

Not that many is the answer! Don’t get me wrong; cars are a useful necessity for many households around the world, but mankind didn't always rely on cars to get them from A to B. Today I am going to look at the other side of the car ownership coin and explore the reasons why you probably shouldn't buy a car!

1. You hate driving

I must admit; I think I am one of those seasoned motorists that are now starting to head towards the “I hate driving” camp! I have been driving since 1998 and, at first, I used to enjoy getting behind the wheel of my car and driving here, there and everywhere!

But today, the roads are somewhat more densely-populated than they were back in those days, and the usual negative points of driving (traffic, road rage, idiotic driving) seems to have grown exponentially.

If you actually start to feel stressed and have raised levels of blood pressure before you even get behind the wheel of a car, chances are you hate driving and should probably let someone else get in the driver’s seat.

2. You hate people

There are two types of people in this world; those that are happy to interact with others, and those that aren't.

Do you spend most of your time moaning about people, going into detail on a regular basis about why people annoy you and how you wished you lived on a small island by yourself with only marine life for company?

If so, you are probably not a people person. Driving definitely isn't for you, as you will most probably spend a large proportion of your time on the road swearing at other road users and getting angry at them.

Do yourself a favour: get rid of those “red mist” moments by surrendering your driving licence!

Fernando Esguerra, Globe OIC for Corporate Social Responsibility, demonstrates how TxtHIV operates. With him are (from L-R): PNAC Executive Director Dr. Chito Avelino; S&S TechnologiesPhilippines President and CEO Mark Soriano; and PHANSUP Chairman Oscar Picazo.

There are only seven countries in the world which are experiencing a steady increase in the number of HIV cases and the Philippines is one of them. The Philippines received 12 new cases of HIV daily in 2013 from only one case in 2009, with 95% of them involving males. Since 1984, 17,450 Filipinos have been reported with HIV, 1,599 of them have progressed into AIDS.

With this increasing number of HIV cases in the Philippines, Globe Telecom in collaboration with key partner organization launches the “TxtHIV to 8504” campaign. It's a SMS-based information, counselling and clinic referral drive for people who wants to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but are afraid of facing societal discrimination.

With your Globe postpaid or prepaid mobile number, you can just text HIV to 8504 and answer five yes or no questions via an interactive voice recording to check if testing is necessary. You will then be provided with contact details and addresses of the nearest specialized accredited health centers where you can go for assessment, counseling, and immediate treatment. All calls will remain very impersonal and confidential.

At present, only one percent of the general population has been tested for HIV since most people are afraid to ask for help or simply do not know where to get information.

So if you think you are at risk, you should really take the first step. TxtHIV to 8504!

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Banking used to be time consuming, and generally inconvenient –especially for people with full-time employment.

“Customers can be reluctant to visit branches, and it is more likely than ever that these customers will switch their main banking relationship. To cope with this change, banks today are striving to provide a strong digital channels offering,” says Ahmid Khidir of Misys Banking Solutions.

Mobile banking is one solution that is making the necessity of using your bank a simpler and faster process and an overall better experience. Are you thinking about getting started, but not sure where to begin? Here is a beginner’s guide to banking on your phone.

Registration

There are a number of different mobile apps that will allow you to bank from your phone. They are typically offered through your bank though there are third-party apps as well. If you’re just getting started with mobile apps, steer clear of the third-party applications. They may have security risks that apps don’t.

Text alerts vs. service applications

Stay on top of your account activity by having your bank send you a text message when your balance has reached below a certain amount or when a bill needs to be paid. They are also used to prevent fraud, such as in situations where someone may be trying to gain access to your online account.

Alternatively, you can download an app. "A technology-savvy consumer will use an application to pay bills or buy a mobile ticket and pay for the transaction in an intuitive way. A number literate person may prefer IVR (interactive voice response) or menu-driven means," says Srinivas Nidugondi, head of mobile financial solutions at Comviva.

Security

It was alluded to above – use service-provider applications (i.e. ones from your bank) primarily. Don’t click banking links you received in a text message or email unless you have specifically requested it at that point in time. You may enter your information for someone else to steal.

Ensure that you are not connected to public networks when using apps on your phone. Wi-Fi is easily hacked, so you shouldn’t share sensitive information while connected to them.

Keep a lock on your phone with a difficult password, or better yet always log out of your mobile banking. If you lose your phone, information can end up in the wrong hands.

Always download the app updates as they often contain repairs for flaws in security.

Functionalities

Banking apps are offering more functions than just checking your balance and receiving alerts. Here are a few.

Transferring and Depositing Money

Apps such as the Barclays PingIt App allow you to transfer money to friends and family using just their mobile number, which makes it even more secure. Chase also allows customers to deposit cheques by taking a photo of it and having it verified by the bank.

Paying Bills

Add and remove billers from your handset, as well as pay the bills as you receive them.

Online Shopping

A number of Merchants are now offering mobile payments – you use your phone as a credit or debit card for different payments.

"Airtel Money has merchant partnerships with over 1,800 brands across the country, including utility providers, insurance companies, mutual funds and local chemist and grocery stores," says Sriram Jagannathan, CEO of Airtel M Commerce Services.

The app for the Mercantile Bank of Michigan has partnered with PayPal, which allows you to use their service through your phone. It’s great for when those eBay auctions end during work hours!

Budgeting and Financial Planning

Simple, a third-party app, allows you to keep track of your expenses and will also inform you as to whether you can afford a prospective purchase.

Take connectivity to greater lengths as more devices are now being offered with Globe Telecom's Tattoo Prepaid Mobile Wifi.

Tattoo 4G Mobile Wifi - you don't even need to plug it in your laptop to explore online. Just turn it on and enjoy surfing. Plus you get to enjoy a Free Facebook access once a week for six months. For only P1995, you can connect up to 10 devices with a speed of up to 12Mbps.

Tattoo 4G Mobile Wifi + Powerbank - this is Globe's newest mobile wifi device which can fully charge your phone up to 3x (5,200 mAh). You can also connect up to 10 devices with a speed of up to 12Mbps. This is offered at P3,795 and of course you get to enjoy Free Facebook once a week for 6 months.

Tattoo LTE Prepaid Mobile WiFi + Powerbank -this will not only allow you to share your WiFi and charge your phone (1,780 mAh). You can also surf to the fastest beat with speeds of up to 42 Mbps and avail of the FREE 5GB worth of data, valid for 7 days upon activation. This is offered at P4,995.

So what are you waiting for? Experience a blazing fast internet connection with the new Tattoo Prepaid Mobile WiFi devices.

From expanding your social network while keeping your mobile phone and tablet in sync, or to experiencing the best that life has to offer non-stop by keeping your battery and connectivity signals full, Tattoo gives you the power of possibilities in better ruling your self-designed life and style.

For more information, please visit Globe Tattoo's Mobile Wifi website.

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If you’re considering picking up a good quality second hand Mazda car this year, you’re probably on the lookout for some handy tips and tricks that will help you save the most money possible, right? Well, luckily, I’ve been buying used for many years, and Mazda is one of my all time favourite manufacturers. So, I’m the perfect person to give you a helping hand. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to save thousands by following my advice, but doing so could mean you get to purchase an extra couple of beers the next time you’re in the pub.

So, if you fancy driving around in a cool sportscar like the MX-5, or even if you’d like something a little larger like the CX-5, it’s best to check all the details before ploughing ahead. Luckily, you can see the full car spec at Mil Cars Mazda and many other relevant websites, so there’s nothing stopping you from getting started straight away. Without any further delays then, here’s how to get the most for your money when buying a second hand Mazda this year.

Research Research Research

Before you even start looking as used Mazda models in the real world, you’ll want to spend some time browsing the internet in search of the best prices. Online auction websites are a good place to start, as they will give you an accurate idea of how much each model sells for. You can obviously expect to pay a bit more at your local garage or forecourt, but you should get a ballpark figure. Also, knowing how much they sell for online will give you some leverage when it comes to negotiating the price down slightly.

When you mention the BMW name to anyone, I can guarantee you that they will immediately conjure up images of prestigious, executive and powerful cars. Whilst this is true to a certain degree, many BMW models are actually catered for the general public rather than specific ‘niche’ markets such as the discerning company executive or someone that likes to show off their wealth to the masses!

It’s no secret that BMW has sold hundreds of millions of its models across the globe for several decades now, and there is no letting up in the German car manufacturer’s popularity. BMW is also known for its advancements in technology, having recently offered to the car market its first affordable luxury electric car, the i3.

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So what is it that is making millions of people around the world put their cash towards a BMW-branded car rather than any competitors? Here are some of the most-common reasons why.

They are affordable

OK, so spending £30,000 ($50,000) on a brand new BMW 4 Series Coupe isn’t exactly “affordable” to the masses, but on the secondhand market, BMW cars are actually pretty good value-for-money!

And the great thing is, you don’t have to end up buying a 20-year old model with 300,000 miles on the clock because there are many different models that you can pick up which are 5 years old or so, and have average mileage on the clock!

The thing about BMW cars is that, like with all cars, depreciation can cause a massive hit during the first 12 to 36 months of the car’s life, so if you’re looking for the latest model but don’t want to spend the massive price tag, get one that’s 3 to 5 years old for a good deal!