“I don’t carry cash.”
This has become a reoccurring mantra for many people these days what with the proliferation of credit cards, debit cards, Google Wallets, PayPal options, and other paper money substitutes. Sure, some people use this as an easy way to get out of being the one to leave a tip in a group outing (you know who you are). Others though truly try to live a paperless lifestyle, and this extends to carrying money with them of both the paper and loose change variety. Doing so limits a person’s ability to take part in certain, basic societal demands and structures, but it doesn’t have to. Each day sees another easy-to-use device that lets those paperless people remain so.
The DipJar
Now, you can avoid those judging looks by the barista or sandwich shop clerk when you pretend not to notice the tip jar by the register because you don’t have a dollar on you to toss in. With the DipJar, a quick dip (thus the name) of your card automatically deducts a dollar from your card and drops it into the digital jar.
DipJar was inspired when product designer Ryder Kessler attended an Oktoberfest celebration and noticed the baristas in a nearby coffee shop being abnormally flustered with what he thought would be a slew of new tipping customers. A short conversation later, Kessler discovered that tips had practically disappeared thanks to the advent of people paying with credit cards and debit cards. And that’s when the idea of the DipJar came to mind. A simple, efficient, and inexpensive way for customers to quickly tip without having to carry extra cash on hand to do so. Right now, DipJar remains in the testing phase, but you can request your own store be added as a test site or get put on the list for when there’s a full release of the product by going here.
EasyPark
Tired of digging in your car for quarters for the meter? Don’t want to set an alarm on your phone to go off every three hours so you can run out to feed the machine to prevent from getting another parking ticket? Do you judge which is worse, getting that ticket or heading out in pouring rain to refill the meter? Well, how about if you didn’t have to worry about any of that? EasyPark lets you hang out wherever you’re at without metered parking worries while the device hangs out in your car.
The easy parking device (oh, that’s where the name comes from) can be loaded with funds from the company’s website. Then, all it takes is turning EasyPark on so it can display your balance and selecting your parking zone to find out the time limit and the hourly parking rate. Position your device on the window, according to the city’s guidelines, and you’re good to go.
As of this moment, EasyPark is only available in three cities: Dover and Portsmouth, NH; and Austin, TX. The device costs $19.95 or $29.95, depending on your city, and has a $1 a month fee.
TabbedOut
When it’s time to leave the bar, don’t worry about flagging down a waitress to get your check or trekking up to the bar to stand in line for 20 minutes just to pay your tab. Instead, simply leave. You can pay your bill at your table, in your car, or even after you get home with the TabbedOut app.
The app also has the ability for businesses to set minimum tip percentages built into it, which probably assuages a few concerns from those in the service industry. Users can split tabs easily by joining someone else’s already-started account and pulling out your items to your own account.
Now, when you have that friend who refuses to chip in a buck for the quick tip at the register, help out with the parking meter costs, or throw in with the bar bill, you can tell him or her there’s no more excuses not to.
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