GasBuddy

Every year many of us travel long distance to reach friends and family during the busiest travel time – the holidays - and the worst travel conditions of the year - winter. During this time travelers often experience increased traffic, flight delays and terrible storms and rely heavily on their mobile devices to stay in touch, informed and entertained. The last thing travelers should be concerned about during these times is their phone bill, but with the end of unlimited mobile data plans, this is top of mind.

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1. Smooth Operator
Opera Mini browsers compress data to use just ten percent bandwidth of other mobile browsers options - reducing image data size, unnecessary formatting, text encoding and more. What this means – a faster mobile experience and a lower monthly bill!
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The summer travel season is finally in full swing. While gas prices remain high, many major retailers are taking steps to cut costs for disgruntled drivers. Wal-Mart is leading the charge, reducing their fuel prices by 10 cents per gallon for the summer months. The retail giant will offer discounted prices at gas stations in 18 states until September 30. Many other stores have followed suit with their own deals. Here's a list of other major merchants helping Americans save at the pump this summer.

CVS
The drug store chain is offering a free $10 gas gift card to ExtraCare Rewards members when they purchase $30 worth of select products. The promotion runs through August 28, so there's still plenty of time to cash in.

Kroger and Shell
The grocery chain has been offering discounted gas for quite awhile now, but their partnership with Shell has really turned up the savings. With 100 points on your rewards card, you'll get 10 cents off per gallon on a fill up at both Kroger and Shell stations. If you're not satisfied with that discount, Kroger also offers $1 off per gallon when you earn 1,000 points on your rewards card.

Kellogg's
Do you eat a bowl of cereal every morning for breakfast? If so, you're well on your way to saving on fuel. When you collect 10 UPCs from cereal boxes and mail them in, Kellogg's will send you a $10 prepaid gas card. Submissions must be received by December 31 and there's a limit of five cards per household. Read more

While summer is always the big travel season in the United States, Americans are changing the way they take vacations. For example, look at the new partnership between Groupon and Expedia. They're following the increasingly popular deal-of-the-day model and offering significant discounts on travel packages that can include airfare, hotels, activities, car rentals and more.

That's not the only way to get to your destination for less, though. Try using these 9 thrifty travel tips to save some money on your next vacation.

1. Discover Off-Peak Destinations
With nearly four-million square miles of land area, the U.S. is a big country. This means there are nearly unlimited places to travel. Destinations in California, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, are some of the most popular spots, but they're also the most expensive. If you think outside the box, you'll find some really cool locations to have a unique vacation without the crowds.

2. Shop at Auctions
Is your heart set on luxurious accommodations, but your bank account doesn't match up? The auctions at travel sites like LuxuryLink.com can help you find accommodations, spa credits, meal vouchers and free drinks for as much as 65 percent below the typical retail price. Auction king eBay also offers a variety of discount vacation packages in their travel section. Read more

With gas prices at the highest average ever for this time of year and airlines enacting new booking and travel fees, getting away from home and taking an affordable vacation seems difficult, if not impossible. With some planning and researching you can prepare to save some money while traveling on a budget so that you don't have to forgo your vacation.

Use apps to your advantage: There are many apps that can save you money. Whether it be GasBuddy to help you find the cheapest gas near you or ATM Hunter which allows you to avoid fees when withdrawing money.

Brown bag it: Make an effort to make your own lunches or breakfasts when traveling. It's cheaper to stock up on fruit, snacks and cold cuts than eating every meal at a restaurant. Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it so that you're not constantly spending money on pricey beverages.

Take advantage of deals: If you're a member of organizations that offer discounts, look into where you could be saving money. AAA offers its members a variety of savings which range from discounts to attractions to local restaurants. Read more

By Lou Carlozo, dealnews Green Dad columnist

These days, frustrated pump patrons spin various conspiracy theories as to what's "really" behind the high price of gasoline. Is it Big Oil, Russian cartels using Libya's turmoil as cover, or some price-fixing scheme cut behind closed doors? Or is it, perhaps, a more prudent, practical theory: Oil and gas are natural resources, now consumed in record quantities even as the planet’s non-renewable supply vanishes. Meanwhile the U.S. must compete with developing nations such as China and India that have an unquenchable thirst for the stuff.

These factors may loom far beyond our control — but we're not powerless. With gas starting to top $4 a gallon, we can use less in sensible ways or make the most of what we do buy. There's nothing wrong with using every means at our disposal to find the cheapest cheap gas, or save on gas expenses. Here's my Green Dad list of strategies, products and miscellanea to push the pump price back a bit, keeping your wallet and tank full at the same time.Read more