Since Christmas is just around the corner, it's that time of the year to go shopping for your loved ones! We know it's a challenge to find that perfect gift for those special tech geeks in your family. What's worse, these popular gadgets are usually ridiculously expensive. So to help you out, here is our modest compilation of some of the coolest yet affordable techie gift ideas, which you can use as your reference guide. Surely, this will guarantee you won't go over your Christmas budget for all those tech-savvy friends and family.

GoPro Hero+	GoPro offers the best value for an action camera with built-in Wi-Fi that shoots at 60 frames per second. Adrenaline junkies can shoot HD video and 8-megapixel stills, controlling the shots via the GoPro smartphone app for Android and iOS. The GoPro Hero+ is also waterproof straight out of the box, so you can turn it on and instantly dive right in. Price: $199.99 at Amazon
Polaroid Zip	The Zip is a super-simple photo printer. Turn it on, connect it to your iPhone or Android via Bluetooth, and hit the print button on a free app. What you'll get -- 2x3-inch instant prints. You don't have to worry about costly ink cartridges, either. The Zip uses special photo paper (a 30-pack costs $14.99) that's ink-free and comes out dry-to-touch. You don't even need to shake them. Price: $129.99 at Amazon
Google Chromecast	Wireless streaming sticks don't get any cheaper or easier to use than the Google Chromecast. This little HDMI dongle attaches to a TV, and using it is pretty simple. Simply open a supported app such as Netflix or Pandora on your laptop, tablet or smartphone, and hit the Cast button. Your content will show up instantly on your TV in full 1080p resolution, without any lag. You can even broadcast from a Google Chrome browser. Price: $35 at Amazon
Amazon Fire TV	You can't talk about media players and streaming devices without mentioning the Amazon Fire TV. It's the perfect balance between value and performance. The Amazon Fire TV can handle all your media needs, taking advantage of Amazon's ample content library. To make the deal even more enticing, this little set-top box can even handle some gaming! Just keep in mind these games will be mobile titles. Regardless, it's a fun little gadget any person looking for a smart TV set-top box will love. Price: $99.99 at Amazon
Amazon Echo	The Amazon Echo is so much more than a Bluetooth speaker -- the Echo can access Wi-Fi, buy products through Amazon and get traffic and weather reports. The Echo relies on Alexa, your own virtual assistant. With voice-recognition tech, Alexa hears and understands your voice commands, even when you're 15 feet away from the speaker. You can ask to check your calendar, add to-do lists, set alarms, check the news, play audio books or music, and more. Amazon also programmed Echo to connect to other smart-home devices such so you can turn on a light with your voice. Price: $179.99 at Amazon
Fuji Instax Mini 70	The retro Fujifilm's Instax Mini 70 was designed with modern selfies in mind. The instant camera features a small mirror next to its lens, a timer, an automatic exposure control and a Selfie Smart mode, which automatically adjusts settings for optimal shots. Price: $124.50 at Amazon

Clever Budgeting Strategies for Small Business Owners

If you're currently running a small business, most likely you're operating on a modest budget. Whether you bootstrapped your business or you're trying to recover from few loans you've made to cover your startup costs, it has always been your priority to save up money as much as you can possibly can.

Sure enough, it can be difficult to track and manage your expenses if you don't have a thorough budget plan. This is definitely true for any unexpected business expenses that may arise, as they often do. If you want to keep your business operating in the long run, you'll need to plan for both permanent and unexpected costs, and then create and stick to a solid budget.

Here are some smart budgeting tips small business owners can follow in order to keep their finances intact.

Create a realistic cash flow projection

Don't expect that your business sales will live up to your projected market potential within the first or second year of operation. Your dream business may be awesome, but reality is often quite different. Even though it can be a challenging task to project income since you don't have any idea how your business sales will exactly go in any month, strive to be as realistic in your projections as possible. It's better to underestimate your potential business income than to overestimate when you come to budgeting.

List your important expenses

Expenses that are considered important in any running business include wages, taxes, rent or mortgage payments on the business property, and operating expenses such as power, water, Internet, and phone bills. You may also have legal obligations that incur a cost, such as registering your business name. When you estimate your initial startup costs, include all the important expenses for the first six months of your operation, as this will give you ample time to get your business up and running. Even if your business is just home-based, there will still be essential services and costs that you need to cover in order to make your business thrive.

Reduce your debts quickly

While it may be challenging to put up a business without incurring any type of loan, it should be one of your priorities to minimize your existing debts as soon as possible. Debts costs the business more in interest repayments, so having a budget that has the business operating in the black sooner is always a good choice. If ever you do take out a debt for your business, see to it that you able to make repayments every month.

Avoid spending all of your profits

Make it a habit to keep some of your profits in reserve to cover any contingencies. Work out a spending budget that spends less than what your business is expected to generate. Even if your business is operating at your home, do not pay yourself all of the profits each month. Instead, try to work out a reasonable wage for yourself and pay it regularly, as part of the budgeted expenses each month. Stick to your finalized budget and keep the additional profits aside. That way, you'll have some reserve funds to cover the times if your business' sales fall short unexpectedly.

Constantly revisit your budget

Your budget will never be static or consistent -- it will change and evolve along with your business, which means you need to keep adjusting it based on your business' growth and profit patterns. Sooner or later, you will need to revise your monthly and annual budgets regularly to get a clearer, updated picture of your business finances.

Top Mobile Games to Keep Your Mind Active

It would be quite impossible to find one mobile phone user that doesn't have a game installed on their gadget. For some people's perception, the dependence on this mobile technology eventually makes us weak, but for some, having these kinds of skill set can give you the power to use your mental intelligence for good. And since almost everybody in this technology-based generation cannot live without using their mobile gadgets, it would be nice to know if you can do something with your phone that will make you smarter.

So, check out these top games for your mobile phone that will kick those sleeping neurons in your brain into high gear.

Lumosity

Lumosity is a program based on a number of cognitive science studies, which indicates that doing various brain exercises can greatly increase your memory and mental ability. When you start the program, you will be evaluated in a number of areas, and then a training plan will be created for you to do for 15 minutes a day. You can get the base program for free, but you can also purchase a subscription to get access to a wider variety of activities.

Math Workout

One of the most popular math games on the market today is Math Workout (for Android and iOS). The app is a unique brain training game that contains several mini-activities that work towards enhancing your mental arithmetic. Daily sessions let you practice at a variety of skill levels and monitor your progress.

Eidetic

Eidetic is a fascinating app that uses some interesting mental principles to help you remember anything. Using "spaced repetition," the app asks you to select a piece of information that you want to store, then interrupts you at irregular intervals to quiz you on it. The data is kept remotely in cloud storage, which allows you to train your memory from any device.

CogniFit Brain Fitness

The CogniFit app contains 10 challenges that measure cognitive ability, memory, and spatial perception. In addition to the base program, which uses numerous exercises and challenges to improve brain function, it has developed apps for emotional awareness and a customized program for sufferers of multiple sclerosis. CogniFit Brain Fitness has also sponsored several studies that showed positive results in brains of all types from their exercises.

100 Logic Games

100 Logic Games is the latest in a series of free releases that is packed full of content courtesy of developer Andrea Sabbatini. As the title suggests, the app features 100 different activities with the goal of stretching your problem-solving and logical reasoning skills. You will surely discover one or several activities that will tickle your brain cells.

Xperica HD

Xperica HD is one of the most fascinating mobile games in the market, which focuses on the physical sciences. Acting as a sort of "virtual laboratory," Xperica doesn't give the player-defined challenges to overcome. Instead, it stimulates a number of basic principles like hydrostatic motion and allows users to manipulate variables in the "lab" and view the results afterwards. A good understanding of the scientific method can reap dividends in multiple areas, so the free-wheeling experimentation that the Xperica HD app can surely improve your mental skills.

Some Do's and Don'ts When Using Instagram

Instagram is not only one of the fastest growing platforms in the social networking world, it's also one of the biggest there is. If you love looking at beautiful pictures, then you'll love Instagram -- or you already are one of its 300 million active users. It's another way of expressing your thoughts and feelings thru pictures. But with great power comes great responsibility since any social media platform is only as engaging as its users. Even though you can freely post just about anything you want, and that there are no definitive rules about using Instagram, there are still some things you need to consider if you want to gain followers.

Check out below our collection of do's and don'ts that will help you become an effective -- and less annoying IGer (Instagrammer, that is).

DO: Use same usernames for your Twitter and Instagram accounts

Most of the time, those people who follow you on Instagram would likely want to follow you on Twitter as well. With having different usernames, they have to search for and browse through all your online identities, they might give up doing so. It's good to keep your username simple by using the same handle on each account.

DON'T: Asking people to follow you

It's like giving out solicitations to people whom you don't really know. It's plain and simple -- don't look like cheap and beg for people to follow you.

DON'T: Like every photo you see

People who follow you see your stamp of approval as meaningful; however, liking every photo you see may diminish that value of that stamp. Remember, no one likes an Instagroupie. So, make your "Likes" count.

DON'T: Spam your followers

While consistency is good, the quickest way to get unfollowed is to bomb your followers with too many posts. Each user has their own limit as to how many pics is considered too much -- well, flooding their feeds with six selfie pictures you took this morning before going to work may be a good example of that. Posting one photo a day is a good rule of thumb. Keep this in mind and be sure to do this, otherwise you'll lose followers big time.

DO: Take interesting and meaningful photos

Photos can be interesting depending on the person looking at it. For some, they'll take time to look at your snapshots of nature or something that really interests you, while some while just never give it more than a 2-second look. But if a post gets quite a number of likes, then you can safely say that it's made of quality and sense because a number of people actually liked it. You got the point?

DON'T: Give into gimmicks

Phone manufacturers and app makers as well are constantly looking for new gimmicks to peddle the customers. Video, hyperlapse, slo-mo, and photo montages are all great, but see to it that you're using them wisely and for more reason than just the novelty of it all.

DON'T: Abuse Hashtags

Ideally, there are three main reasons in using a hashtag: One, so other people can find your photos; Two, so you can easily find your photos later; and Three, to be ironic. Just remember to use them sparingly as it can be time-consuming and senseless. Imagine you posting photos with almost 50 generic hashtags like #food #dinner #hungry #foodporn #foodgasm and the list goes on. Don't you ever get tired of typing all of it? But if you're the one reading the post, you'll definitely get bored reading it.

Weird USB Gadgets That You may Find Awesome and Useful

When we come across a PC gadget that's either weird or awesome, sometimes both, expect it to be powered by USB. Some of those USB devices can be considered crazy, while some are created by odd, creative minds but still can be found useful and fun at the same time. Gone are the days when USB boringly defined as a means of transferring data to and from devices or simply charging one of your devices via your laptop or PC. Electronic manufacturers from around the globe have wandered into the USB world and created gadgets out of their wild imaginations either with the intention of increasing their marketing sales or wanting to add more life and enjoyment to your computing experience.

So whether you are looking for the latest and craziest USB flash drives, the coolest USB-powered toy, or just looking for another accessory to plug in to your PC, below is a collection of weird (and sometimes useful) USB gadgets in the market today.

Ecvision Mushroom LED Air Purifying Lamp	In the way that a fungus would take in the proper nutrients and expel spores to reproduce, the Ecvision Mushroom LED Air Purifying Lamp does the exact opposite. This product absorbs dust, pollutants, smoke, and bacteria to provide your space with cleaner air. It produces a warm LED light, and can take in particles as small as 0.01 micron. Price: $34.99 at Amazon
Smoko USB Foot Warmer	USB heated slippers have been around for a quite a while now, but have you already seen one that looks like giant s'mores with a smiling face? These cool slippers can fit up to a men's size 12, and it includes a 5 ft USB cord, which gives you more freedom to move around while keeping your toes all warmed up. You can unplug the USB cable anytime if you feel the need to go somewhere else in your house or office, then plug it back in if you need your toes toasty again. Price: $32.99 at Amazon
Hand Body Vibrating Office USB Massage Ball	Sitting (and slouching) in front of your computer for hours, even almost a day when you're at work will surely give you a either a sore neck or back at the end of the day. Good thing you can have a handy massager that you can attach to your PC's USB port and massage all your stresses away. Get this very affordable massage ball and give yourself a DIY relaxation at the covenience of your own home or office. Price: $4.10 at Amazon
USB LED Clock Fan	Are you looking for something to cool you down while working during the hot summer season? Or are you looking for a cool clock to put on your computer desk? With the USB LED Clock Fan, you can have both! The LED Clock Fan has a flexible metal neck that lets you position it whatever angle you like, and the soft flexbile PVC fan blades will keep you cool without dangering any fingers that come in contact with it. This gadget keeps time when it's off or on, so you can never lose track of time and get a cool breeze without wasting electricity as well. Price: $11.59 at Amazon
Samson Go Mic Direct - Portable USB Microphone	Regular built-in microphones found in most notebooks might be functional, but this does not mean it is the best solution. Why not settle for something better, where for a small investment of just $39.99, Samson's Go Mic Direct would help you talk to the other party in a crystal clear manner. The Go Mic Direct's custom, ultra-compact design has a built-in USB connector that allows you to plug it directly into your PC or Mac. It does not matter if you are using Skype, FaceTime, or even recording audio for YouTube videos, the Go Mic Direct comes with the Samson Sound Deck Noise Cancellation Software (Mac and PC compatible), which allows you to capture pristine and accurate vocal communications and recordings regardless of the environment. Thanks to the Go Mic Direct, you no longer need to use your computer's internal microphone ever again -- unless necessary, of course. Price: $39.99 at Amazon

Top 5 Laptop Models That are Great for Business Use This 2015

While personal computers have higher storage capacities and faster processors, laptops offer features and benefits that are almost the same, sometimes even more, which made students and business owners to turn towards getting the best laptops in the market today. Laptops provide users with easier access, greater efficiency, and unrivaled portability. The last one mentioned is basically the main advantage of having a laptop. Having a small-sized computer allows users to carry it anywhere, allowing them to work on their task or perform any kind of computer work anytime. A laptop consumes much less power compared to a desktop computer and can still work using its batteries in case a power outage occur. Also, there are several private and public wireless networks that provide easy access of the Web to its users.

Here we have a list of top laptop models that are perfect for business people. Each one has a feature that will meet your every business need.

Lenovo ThinkPad T450s

This laptop is made for business because of its fast performance, long battery life, and the best keyboard anywhere. That's why this 14-inch notebook, an update to the former T440s, is considered as the best overall work laptop. The ThinkPad T450s boasts a sharp and clear full-HD display, a durable design, and perks like Lenovo's TrackPoint pointing stick, which provides more precise navigation than the touchpad. The notebook also provides approximately 16 hours and 1 minute battery life if you opt for Lenovo's extended battery.

Key features:

• TrackPoint pointing stick
• Hot-swappable battery
• Fingerprint reader (optional)
• Solid state drive (optional)
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Dell XPS 13

If you're a business owner who frequently travels, the Dell XPS 13 is the right laptop for you. Dell managed to cram a 13-inch notebook into the footprint of an 11-inch system by trimming the bezel around the display. It's less than half of what you would normally find on most other notebooks with just 0.2 thick. The XPS 13 is compact and well-built, with a gorgeous screen, fast performance, and surprisingly good audio quality. You may have to pay a lot of extra to get it with a touchscreen, but even then, it's priced in line with other flagship Ultrabooks -- and in some ways it's a better choice, too.

Key features:

• Edge-to-edge display
• Thin and light design
• Small footprint
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro

If you're looking a business-oriented notebook that has a versatile function, Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro is your best candidate. This 2-in-1 hybrid device can fold backward a full 180 degrees, which allows you to use it like a large tablet or fold out the keyboard if you need to get down to work. The Yoga 3 Pro boasts an elegant watchband-style hinge that gives it a thinner overall design. Some other features include an awesome 3,200 x 1,800 pixel touchscreen display, fast Core M processor and a lightweight design of 2.6 lbs only.

Key features:

• Thin and light design
• Convertible laptop/tablet
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is undoubtedly the most attractive and capable device Microsoft has ever produced. This laptop/tablet hybrid is designed for use with a keyboard, even though the accessory is sold separately. The Type Cover keyboard is one of the better tablet keyboards you will find, with its superthin design and good trackpad. Its 12.2-inch tablet display is spacious and sharp, which provides a surprising amount of real estate to work on. The Surface Pro 3 has a stylus included, allowing you to take notes directly on the pressure-sensitive display. Another great thing about the Surface Pro 3 is its built-in kickstand that comes useful for taking down notes because it gives users a good angle for writing.

Key features:

• Thin and light design
• 2-in-1 hybrid (detachable keyboard sold separately)
• Pressure-sensitive display
• Pen included
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen 

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

MacBook Air (13 inch, 2014)

The Apple MacBook Air is a winning choice for business users who want an ultraportable notebook with lasting battery power, where tests claimed that the superthin device lasted for a good 12 hours. Even though its 13-inch display could be sharper, you'll be compensated with its premium aluminum build, comfortable keyboard, precise touchpad, and new ways to connect your MacBook to your iPhone. It may not have a Retina display, but this notebook does have a slightly more powerful processor that doesn't ding the battery life, and it's $100 cheaper. This gives users a compact, powerful, and productive laptop that will definitely suit many business users' needs.

Key features:

• OS X Yosemite
• iPhone continuity
• Solid state drive
• Thin and light design
• Long battery life