Four Pointers For Finding Computer Science & IT Jobs

Are you on the hunt for computer-related positions? Here are four pointers that could help you land that dream position.

1) Ask Around.
Whether you’ve been working at the same company for years, or have just graduated from college, chances are you have made some friends and acquaintances wherever you have been. These people are valuable resources, and they could be the portals to your first – or next – career path.

Put the word out there as much as possible that you are seeking employment in your field. You can post a message on Twitter, Facebook or professional sites like LinkedIn stating what you are looking for and your qualifications.

Talk to former professors and academic advisors, former colleagues, neighbors and even family members, because you never know who has a connection in the industry who is looking for just the skills you have to offer.

2) Get Yourself Prepped For Interviews.
Those who believe in positive energy and manifesting your dreams say that it is best to make yourself into what you want to be before you even have the opportunity in front of you.

In the professional realm this means: preparing for the interview, updating your resume so it is presentable and current, and getting a few professional pieces for your wardrobe that would correspond well with the job you desire. Having a couple of pairs of dress pants, button-down shirts and/or tasteful dresses can help you look the part when you go for future interviews.

3) Exhaust All Avenues in Your Search.
While you can find jobs in IT via employment websites and local newspapers, there are also ways to have access to jobs that might fly under the radar. Working with an IT staffing agency is one method that can be beneficial. They typically have a lot of different positions open at any given time, because they have relationships with many companies on a local (and sometimes even national or international) level. This means that you can be specific about the field and kinds of roles you are looking to take on.

Once you make a connection with a representative, he or she can be on the lookout for appointments that might fit your skills and experience level. It is almost like having a personal assistant in your professional corner.

4) Stay Flexible.
There are a lot of computer science jobs out there in the economy right now. If you get offered an opportunity – or discover one – that is not exactly what you are looking for, consider checking into it anyway. Sometimes even lower-level positions can be a foot in the door at a great company. Also, many businesses promote from within, so if you prove you are more than matched for your current post, you could get moved up quickly.

Every job has the potential to increase your experience level and expand your skillset, as well as your circle of contacts. You never know where the job of your dreams will come from, so it’s best to keep an open mind.

Carlos works in IT for a large corporation, but before he was hired at his current job, he sought the services of a staffing agency to help him find work and gain experience. He thinks these firms, as well as the other tips on this list, can help others in his field find the work they are looking for.

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Five Reasons Security Is A Necessity When Purchasing A New Mobile Device

You need security for your smartphone.
Are you thinking of buying yourself a new mobile phone this Christmas season? If so, you should know that you will need to have security installed on it as soon as you buy it, otherwise you will almost certainly find yourself faced with more trouble than you know how to handle farther down the road. Five reasons to get security are outlined in the sections below.

1) Smartphones are vulnerable too.
Users are only beginning to realize this fact, but smartphones are as vulnerable to malware, viruses, Trojan horses and other threats that come from online, being as they are, in essence, devices that have all the capabilities of a computer, though on the scale of a cellphone. This may be a tough fact to accept, but it is one which cellphone owners are going to have to realize and acknowledge if they are to do something to avoid becoming the next victims of the latest online threats.

2) They can be the prime targets of online threats.
What is more, the creators of many of these destructive programs are now targeting smartphones specifically. This fact is becoming more and more true as more and more people turn to smartphones rather than PCs as their primary method of surfing the Web (indeed, some experts are predicting that by 2020 there will be more smartphone than PC surfers!). One consequence of this trend is that hundreds of apps are created each day for all kinds of purposes, from shopping to checking the weather to losing weight, and this area is fertile ground for unscrupulous programmers who want to hack into somebody’s account. Many apps are really a cover for security threats. This also means that you should have the phone any new apps that may look attractive to you before you decide to download them.

3) Why does my mobile phone bill say I owe $6,734?
Sometimes the goal of hackers who take control of other people’s smartphones is to get a “free ride” by racking up call after call on them and leaving the owners on the hook for the expenses that they incur. Even if you know that you did not make all those calls, it may be extremely difficult to track down the offender and get back all the money that he or she stole from you. If no other danger should motivate you to protect your new mobile phone from attacks this one certainly should.

4) “Coffee shop attacks”
The public wifi connections that you find in hotels, airports and other public places are inherently non-secure. As a result, they are a common place for hackers to go looking for unsuspecting victims whose passwords and other sensitive data they can easily steal. It is up to you to make sure that your smartphone has adequate security software to protect it. Better yet, you should steer clear of this places and hook up your cellphone only in private, secure locations.

5) It is best to take care of the security problem while the device is new.
Mobile security is a problem that is easiest to solve if you undertake the task before you do anything else with the device. The most common threats to mobile phones come from downloading email attachments, apps and whole websites. If the first thing that you do with your new smartphone is to take care of security matters, you will be acting proactively, before any threats have even occurred - which is, after all, the best path of all. The adages “Better safe than sorry” and “A stitch in time saves nine” apply to mobile phone security just as much as it does to life in general. The best security software can intercept destructive malware before they even have time to “take residence” on the device. They can also be updated to provide protection against newer and newer threats. There are many other things they can do too, like use GPS to locate a lost or stolen mobile phone and even cause it to “lock up” if an unauthorized person gets hold of it.

Sarah Hendricks who is a security expert on protecting users and businesses from hackers and data leakage with NQ.com. NQ Mobile security provides all kinds of mobile security; users in the office, at home, or working remotely are all subject to attack, click here to learn where to find mobile security applications.

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Is Google Glass this Year's Must Have Gadget?

Gadget geeks everywhere are preparing themselves for the launch of Google Glass, which could be as early as this April, but how do real people feel about this new addition to the gadget world?

With this question in mind, the money saving website, LoveMyVouchers.co.uk, have asked a sample of their newsletter subscribers a few questions about how they feel about the impending launch, and the results were very interesting.

Rather than fill everyone with excitement, many of the people in the survey sample were concerned about issues, such as privacy and safety. A large proportion of the sample (68%) also said that they would find it embarrassing to wear the accessory, citing them as being “quite geeky”.

Furthermore, with a price tag currently thought to be set around the $600 (£365) mark, many people surveyed thought that it would be too pricey a toy to experiment with, and would be put off buying it for this reason.

So with so many negative feelings around in the sample group about Google Glass, do the population as a whole feel the same? If so, it looks like Google Glass is set to be a flop – at least to begin with. That said, as with all these things, there is potential for it to gather momentum and eventually become the must-have accessory that you won't step out of the house without. Only time will tell.

This study was carried out on a sample of newsletter subscribers from the LoveMyVouchers.co.uk newsletter. The results are depicted in this infographic created by Linda Firth, a passionate gadget lover.

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What Are Power Inverters?

You must have heard of the term “Power inverters”, sometimes they are simply referred as inverters. If you are planning to buy one but don’t know much about them then this article is just what you need in order to educate yourself.

In the most basic sense, power inverters are simple electronic devices that convert direct current in to alternating current. If you are familiar with scientific terms used in electronics then you can think of a power inverter as a device that performs the opposite function of a rectifier (rectifiers are used to convert direct current to alternating current). Earliest power inverters used mechanical rotating parts to achieve this conversion; however, advancements in electronic circuitry have replaced these moving mechanical parts with electrical circuits.

• What are the applications of power inverters?

1)     It can be used to power up electrical devices such as light bulbs, television sets, computers and fans. The main source of power in this application is a battery or multiple batteries connected in series. These batteries give out current, but the current thus produced is direct current. Most of the electrical devices however run on alternating current. So to convert this direct current in alternating current, a power inverter can be implemented. It is used widely in consumer homes to generate electricity in cases of power failure.

2)     Power inverters are used on a commercial scale in solar power plants. The electricity generated from solar cells is also in the form of direct current. Power inverters are used to convert this direct current in to alternating current.

3)     It can be implemented in engineering solutions where some part of the circuitry needs to run on alternating current.

• So can the inverter produce any power?

No, a power inverter cannot produce any electricity on its own; all of the power has to come from a direct current source. Power inverters simply accept this direct current and give an output in the form of alternating current.

• Can I find one in my home?

Most probably yes, if you have a desktop computer then you will notice that the power wire of the computer is plugged in to a UPS. UPS stands for uninterrupted power supply. This is actually a packaged combination of an inverter and a battery with some additional circuitry. When there is a power cut, the batteries act as a power source but they provide this power in the form of direct current. The inbuilt inverter then converts it in to alternating current that is used to run your computer. When the main power is back on, a rectifier puts the batteries on direct current to recharge them.

• Any other devices which have a built in power inverter?

Yes, devices known as tasers, used widely for law enforcement and security purposes have a built in power inverter in them. Tasers are also known as electroshock weapons, some of them use a power inverter to generate large amounts of electricity from a very small 9V DC battery.

The author of this article is an electrical engineer and operates a firm that deals in power inverter installations. He writes regular post on www.donrowe.com.

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Why Smart Watches Will Time Out

There are a huge variety of reasons why Smart Watches won’t work in the mass market. While gimmicky enough to excite the gadget collector, getting the mainstream consumer to buy into them will prove far more difficult. Especially, when they are put in context with better options out there.

Today’s Smart Phones are reaching the maturity of product lifecycle and coming into their own. Smart Phone cameras are actually competing with standalone cameras and not failing. Smart Phone apps are changing our lives in terms of how productive we as a society have become, how we track our movements, where we visit and how we socialise online.

Smart Watches are bad value for money. Comparing the Samsung Galaxy Gear Smart Watch to the iPhone 5S Smart Phone shows the real lack of quality features across the board. What’s worse is the lack of an USP or killer feature.

When developing Smart Watches, someone, somewhere, forget about one major target audience. Women won’t buy a Smart Watch. Why? There simply too ugly, too clunky and not an aspirational enough fashion accessory to justify the price point. And, traditionally far more women than men wear a watch, not just to tell time, but as an adornment. Many women see watches as akin to jewellery.

No one size fits all. Rules to live by in the rag trade, but what the Smart Watch developers haven’t noticed yet. Wrist size varies and so does eyesight. The screens in most Smart Watches are tiny.

In a world where people are always connected, taking the next step and seemingly talking to your wrist out loud might seem logical, but how crazy will you look? A lot of people find it hard to talk to hands-free-kits in the car. Do we honestly think Smart Watches will be the gadget to normalise what is perceived by many to be talking to oneself?

There are numerous early adopters out there. Time will tell how successful they will be but for the most part, don’t expect a stampede, after all, there not iPhones.

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The World Of Satellite Broadband - Is It The Solution For You?

Satellite broadband could shortly be supplying internet access with speeds as much as 10Mb, all over the UK;even if you reside in an isolated area where you are unable to get a fixed-line or mobile broadband connection.

Satellite broadband deals
Isolated and rural areas have been suffering broadband woes for a very long time – that’s where satellite broadband comes in. Satellite broadband is a choice available for those users who live in rural or remote areas where traditional fixed-line based broadband services aren't available.

At the moment satellite broadband technology accounts for only 2 per cent of all internet connections. However there are reports predicting growth in this sector, both in consumer uptake and product versatility. The worldwide subscribers are also expected to rise by a large proportion as prices plummet due to decreasing technology cost.

Satellite broadband does not need a setup of cables or wires to connect your residence to the internet, which is a major advantage over standard connections requiring a wire based setup linked into telephone exchanges. Satellite broadband is the epitome of wireless-ness.

There are three major satellite broadband providers in the UK, namely Tariam, Eutelsat and Astra.

Should I get satellite broadband?
Satellite broadband uses a satellite dish to provide access to broadband services. However speeds are normally lower than standard connections. The major advantage of satellite broadband is that it can be provided virtually anywhere on the globe. It is as an option to fill in broadband connection in areas that are hard to reach, or are unlikely to receive a wired or mobile connection; but for many, it doesn't provide a service as good as fixed broadband products.

The satellite broadband download speeds up to 2010 were only up to 3.6Mb. However, Eutelsat finished its developments in satellite Internet in 2010, which allowed the download speed to increase threefold.
The download limits are also relatively small compared to a fixed-line connection.

The cheapest package provides download allowanced of only around 2GB per month. This highlights how satellite broadband is unsuitable for heavy usage, such as downloading large amounts of data and files etc. The expensive packages provide around 10-30GB per month of download allowance, which typically costs more than £100.

Satellite broadband is also much less reliable than standard connections. The broadband signal has to travel a long, long way (up to the satellite) so there is high latency, and can be data loss, or even transmission failure. This makes it an unsuitable choice for online gaming, online TV services, video conferencing and other real time applications that require a high speed reliable internet connection.

Independent Broadband
Despite the few drawbacks, the biggest advantage of satellite broadband is that it does not need to be connected to the UK's fixed-line network. Dependence on the BT copper network is a big problem for people who live in isolated parts of the UK. Satellite broadband transmits the broadband signal via satellite so you can receive the signals wherever you reside. Satellite broadband means you can be totally independent of standard broadband networks.

What else do I need to know about satellite broadband?
In order to use satellite broadband, you will need to install a satellite dish (which is not a small one) along with a transmitter to be able to send data. The primary installation cost is a expensive, regardless of the provider you select. It can be around £300 if you install it manually yourself and it can go as high as £700 if you want a professional to come and install it. The majority of suppliers charge a connection fee of around £30. You will also require a satellite modem and a broadband router. Most providers give these for free along with the installation, but sometimes you have to pay for them separately.

In addition to the expensive set-up costs, the monthly satellite broadband fee is also higher than standard fixed-line connections, or mobile broadband connections. The monthly package costs can range from £20 to £35 for a very basic package.

Another small concern for people using satellite broadband is that extreme weather conditions can affect the connection. Heavy snow, rain or high winds are part and parcel of remote regions normally and these can all impede the signal. Satellite broadband requires a clear undisturbed line of sight between the satellite and the dish, and if anything gets in the way of this, like moisture in rain, then it may cause problems in the link.

Normal rain showers shouldn’t affect connection but a large storm could render you broadband-less.
Eutesat now transmits its broadband signals at a very high frequency so it is doubtful that there will be too much disturbance with this provider. If the weather is extreme you should not expect decent connectivity though.

The decision on satellite broadband
The installation and set-up costs of Satellite broadband are much higher than for standard conventional fixed-line broadband. Satellite broadband is also well below cable based connections in terms data transfer speed. Despite these facts, Satellite broadband offers a solution where no other may exist.It provides connectivity to those users who are unable to get a connection on a copper or a fibre line. It is not a cheap option but if you need internet connectivity, and can’t get online by any other means, then you should probably look at Satellite broadband.

Find out when your area is getting mobile and fixed broadband
If you are considering satellite broadband then you should first find out when super fast broadband is going to be rolled out to your area. There are plans afoot to bring fibre to much of the UK, and 4G mobile broadband is on its way to much of the UK too. Both of these options are probably preferable to satellite broadband. If you have a service arriving in a few months you will feel silly if you have just forked out £700 to install satellite broadband and won’t need it anymore.

Satellite broadband technology is expected to keep on improving and providing better speeds and reliability in the future. Great news for the marine industry and for those people on land that have no prospects for the arrival of fixed line broadband.

Phil Turner considered satellite broadband after he moved to a really remote part of the country. Before he made any final decision he checked out deals and the availability of other broadband connections by using online price comparisod n sites like uSwitch.

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What Are The UK Broadband Fair Use Policies?

In an effort to regulate the use of broadband UK broadband providers have introduced fair use policies.These policies are the way that providers control cyber traffic. The problem is that certain people may be hit harder than others; and not always fairly.Certain providers in the market are considered fairer than others. By knowing all the information about fair use policies you will you be able to find the best provider for you. So here you go…

Who gets affected the most?
As the fair use policy was created to keep cyber traffic down, heavy internet users are the most commonly affected.The actual theory behind the policy is that certain people may be affected by the heavy usage of others. By implementing the fair usage policy low usage consumers will not be affected by the heavy usage consumers.The fact is that you are likely to be sharing your connection with around 40 to 49 other people.The usual maximum contention ratio for a broadband connection is around 50:1.This means that your connection could be affected by what 49 other people are doing.If one user is regularly affecting the internet of the other users then the service provider will do something.

There are certain criteria which you can use to determine whether you are going to be affected by the fair use policy.People who download large files through peer-to-peer networks and online gamers are often affected.Others who use their home broadband for business might find their connections throttled.

To avoid being affected by the fair usage policy you can try cutting down how much you use your internet.Of course this is not an option that most people want to adopt.Another option is to limit your high usage activities to times when other people will not be online.If you are downloading large files when no-one else is online you will not be as severely affected by the policy.

Fair use policy penalties
When you first sign up to a service provider large downloads will generally be allowed for the first couple of months.If this trend persists the provider may get in touch with you and ask that you limit your usage a bit.Of course if you continuously exceed limits then fair use action is likely to follow.

There are a number of ways that this can impact.The first penalty will be the throttling of your connection.When this action is taken your connection speed will be slowed dramatically, particularly during peak times.Another form of action will be the charging for excess usage and the restriction of access to certain peer-to-peer sharing websites.There have been terminations of contracts in some very extreme cases.

Disputing your fair use policy penalty
If you do feel you have been unfairly penalized on the fair use policy there are a few things you can do.The first step would be to contact your service provider and try to resolve this issue with them.If you are unable to do that you should get in touch with Ofcom.Ofcom is the regulator for the telecommunication industry and other industries.The regulator will look into any complaints you have about your provider and try to help bring a resolution to the issue.They won’t always look at individual cases so it might be worth talking to people in your area on the same network to get a little people-power going.

Which UK broadband provider is the fairest?
There are certain providers which are considered to be fairer than others.You should look at the fair use policy of the provider and the traffic management strategies being used.

Sky Fair Usage
Sky is one of the most well-known service providers out there.They are also considered to be very fair in their policies.If you have an unlimited package with this provider you will not be subject to traffic management or fair use policies.This stand has caused high demand for their broadband, which can affect the overall speed of the connection.

The only packages that have a traffic management policy with this provider is the out-of-area packages.For these users traffic management will be in place mostly during peak times on weekdays, where certain kinds of traffic are prioritized.This scheme will not affect Sky Lite and unlimited customers.

Virgin Media Fair Usage
Virgin Media is another one of the most influential UK broadband service providers.While Virgin services are very popular the problem is that the industry sees package fairness level as errr… unfair.Most of the cable broadband deals offered by this provider are considered to be unlimited. However even the highest package is subject to traffic management schemes for people who go over certain usage limits.The traffic management scheme applies mainly during the day time and there are certain limits, which need to be considered.Once the limit has been reached the speed of the broadband connection can be cut by up to 75%. The reductions in speed will last around 5 hours even if you only exceeded the limit minutes before peak times end.

BT Fair Usage
BT is the telecommunications giant in the world of UK broadband.BT is seen as very fair in the implementation of their fair use policy.In fact the unlimited broadband packages offered by this provider are now truly unlimited and are not subject to any policy.If you are not on the unlimited package, but have BT vision, you will be given additional bandwidth.Before the move to truly unlimited broadband BT traffic management schemes targeted certain people.These people were those who used peer-to-peer websites during peak hours of the day during the week and on weekends.

Plusnet Fair Usage
Plusnet is another provider which many people have been drawn to. They are advertising heavily in the UK at the momentThe fair use policy for this provider is considered to be fair.For unlimited packages there is no fair use policy or rate limiting in place with this provider.However, even with the lack of fair use policy there is a traffic management scheme in place.The scheme with this provider is actually very detailed and called traffic prioritisation.The prioritised traffic on unlimited packages will be VOIP and gaming traffic first, followed by browsing and email, then download and sharing activities.

Phil Turner likes nothing more than when he can help his family and friends save a little money. He always advises them to shop around on price comparison websites when they need a great deal. They even have the latest the latest UK broadband offers so the sites are really helpful for those looking to upgrade their current service.

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What Is Satellite Broadband?

Satellite broadband is available to all in the UK, however, you have to decide if it is the right option for you.  You should do research to find out what satellite broadband really is.  Check the connection speeds that are on offer and if there are extra charges that apply to satellite that do not normally apply to traditional broadband deals.  There are also distinct advantages and disadvantages linked to broadband by satellite.

What is it?
This option is available for those in the UK who are unable to access other broadband internet connections.  This generally applies to those who live in the rural areas where ADSL and fibre optic services are not available.  The method of connection with this method is extremely involved.  The broadband for this method is picked up off a satellite dish.  The consumer will be provided with a satellite dish that connects to a satellite that is orbiting the earth, and this relayed satellite signal is relayed to the service provider’s hub which, in turn, is relayed back to the customer via the same path.

Is it worth obtaining?
The data transmission process involved with this method of broadband sets it up for problems and may not be a viable option for most people.  The speeds offered have increased dramatically over the past few years and you can now obtain speeds of 2Mbps up to 20Mbps.  The download speeds makes it comparable to ADSL broadband speed, however the upload speed is still much slower with an average speed of around 6Mbps.  This would definitely make it non-viable for commercial enterprises.

The data allowance limits for this type of broadband varies from around 10GB to unlimited.  The cost of the packages related to higher data allowance limits is a problem due to the cost.  You may have to pay around £16 for 2GB of data allowance.

The connection is very unstable and unreliable compared to other broadband options.  The main reason for this problem is that it feeds off satellite transmissions that can be affected by the weather and other external factors.  This will be a problem for consumers who wish to use the service for online gaming, online television transmission and video streaming.

Latency
The very nature of this broadband leaves it open to latency.  Latency can be termed as the delay or lag in transmission.  The signal is required to travel to a satellite and then travel to the internet service provider’s hub and it is this distance between all the points of transmission that causes the problem.  You will always experience a delay in the conversation if you are speaking to a person in another country via your satellite connection.  In this case you will find a delay between speaking and the person on the other end hearing what you have just said.  Although this may only be a one second delay it can become extremely frustrating because at some point you tend to speak over each other all the time.  This latency will cause you to stop using certain services that are available to you such as video conferencing, online gaming and VOIP services.

Weather Interference
When satellite broadband was first made available to consumers, the weather was a huge factor in the effectiveness of the service.  Nowadays, this is not as big a problem, but it still is a problem.  For this type of service to be effective, you need to have a line of sight between the transmission satellite dish and the satellite.  If there is anything blocking this path such as moisture, clouds or any man-made objects, the signal will be disrupted.  Normal rain showers no longer affect the connection because the transmission frequency has been increased over the last few years, but if there is a more severe storm, you will more than likely lose connection completely.

Additional Costs
You may be liable for additional costs if you choose this form of broadband.  The first cost you will have to face is the installation.  You will require a special satellite dish as well as a transmitter.  The cost for the installation of this equipment could be up to a few hundred pounds.  Additionally, there may be a set up fee payable for the account set up.  The set up fee is normally lower if your hardware cost is high, although this is not applicable to all providers as some of them may charge you high costs for both services.  Most of the service providers seem to work on a theory of ‘high monthly fee, low hardware and setup fee.’

Telephone Line
The one cost benefit to this method of internet connection is that you do not need a landline connection.  This will definitely be a cost saving for you.  The one problem that you may be facing however is that if your residence is in an area where there is no traditional broadband connection, you may not have mobile phone coverage either, so you will have to have a landline telephone.

Who are the Service Providers?
There are five service providers for this type of service in the UK.  These are:

• Avonline
• Broadband Wherever
• Rural Broadband
• Satellite Internet
• Tooway

The packages that these providers offer vary in stability and price.  Prior to signing a contract with a service provider you should ensure that you know exactly what they are offering you.  Your best bet is to speak to your neighbours and friends about the service that the providers offer.  Find out the cost, the stability of the connection and the possible costs that you may be liable for.  Compare the services offered from all the providers who operate in your area before you make a decision.

Satellite broadband should be your last choice as the problematic method of connection and high costs are not worth it.  If you are able to get another form of broadband connection, you will do better to choose that.  Satellite is unable to offer the same stability and connection speeds of traditional broadband services.

The use of satellite broadband could make life much easier for Phil Turner.  uSwitch helped him to located deals that were great value for money and that would meet his requirements.

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5 Finance Apps to Make Your Life Easier

Planning finances isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do.  When we sit down and look at our incomings and outgoings, it is easy to get in the mind-set that everything is fixed and we simply have to accept our situation. 

However, when we take a closer look at things, we can often find that there are opportunities to save money.  What most people don’t invest in is the truth that a lot of small savings fast add up into a serious sum of money.  If sitting down and going through your finances doesn’t appeal to you, or you aren’t the best at keeping track of your spending, then you can always decide to use finance apps instead.  This infographic brings together the best five iOS premium apps related to financial management, all of which can help you plan, save, and hand you back control of your financial affairs.

Jenny loves the financial world and is currently looking for Dealmarket private equity funding opportunities.  She was a big user of finance apps when she was at University to help her plan spending.

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