If you have good money-management advice for others, Google wants you to share it. Inspired by the credit crunch and the wealth of ideas circulating the web on how, where and when to save, they rolled out the Google Tip Jar.
It’s a social way to share your best tips on pinching pennies on everything from traveling (how to pack, where to stay, when to travel, what to eat) to tidbits to make every day a little easier (at home, at work, finance, kids & family, shopping, food, cars & transit).
“Tip Jar is a collection of money saving tips submitted and ranked by the web community,” Google explained.
At time of posting, 4,302 people have submitted 3,283 tips and cast 46,987 votes.
An example:
“Bring your backpacks to the grocery & shop using 1 handbasket/person. Not only limits you to buying what you need most, but also avoids plastic/paper bagging. The backpack encourages you to walk easily (and often) to your nearest grocery, hands-free.”
“Many airlines now charge you for checking luggage. Save time & money by only bringing carry-on. While its still cold, pack your normal carry-on items in your winter coat (since it doesnt count as a bag). You may look silly but you are saving money!”
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Crowdsourced Money-saving Tips
- Opportunity for businesses to leverage the power of crowdsourcing to gather and rank money-saving tips from the web community.
- Social Sharing Economy
- Potential for platforms to facilitate social sharing of money-saving ideas and create a community around frugal living.
- Alternative Travel Strategies
- Innovative approaches to travel, such as packing techniques and cost-saving measures, provide opportunities for disruptive innovation in the travel industry.
Where This Applies
- Personal Finance
- The personal finance industry can incorporate crowdsourced money-saving tips platforms to provide consumers with valuable insights and strategies for saving money.
- Social Networking
- Social networking platforms can tap into the trend of social sharing economy to create communities centered around money-saving ideas and tips.
- Travel and Tourism
- The travel and tourism industry can explore alternative travel strategies and leverage innovative approaches like packing techniques and cost-saving measures suggested through crowdsourced platforms.
