Tips for Uber users to save money

Subscribe to Uber One

If you use Uber regularly for commuting, an Uber One membership can pay off. It costs 17 SAR/month (or 170 SAR/year) and I’m personally saving about 127 SAR every month. It’s definitely worth the 17 SAR membership fee. You can also start with a one-month free trial to see if it works for you.

Use Two Accounts (If You Have Two Phone Numbers)

If you have two mobile numbers, you can register a separate Uber account for each. This isn’t officially allowed by Uber, but it only works if you have two different numbers since your account is tied to your phone number. Doing this lets you enjoy the new user promotion (10% off) and the free Uber One trial twice.

Try “Wait & Save” When You’re Not in a Hurry

When you’re flexible with pick-up time (for example, when returning from work), choose “Book for now” instead of scheduling a future ride in advance. This gives you access to the “Wait & Save” option, which is usually cheaper than pre-booking.

Compare Prices When Booking in Advance

If you need to schedule your ride, check fares across a 30-minute window. Sometimes even a 1-minute difference in pick-up time can save you several riyals.

Booking rides in off-peak time

Whether you book for now or for later, try not book in peak time, eg. in evenings book after 7:30pm. I pre-booked a ride for 8:30pm, if I book it around 5pm the price is much higher than booking after 7:30pm.

Confirm when you see a low price 

If you use Uber for commuting and see a price which is lower than usual, confirm it immediately. If you hesitate, the price will likely go up quickly to the normal range.

Book in advance for peak hours

Uber fares are usually much higher during Monday morning rush hours and Friday evening rush hours. Book in advance if you travel during these periods. Don't rely on Wait & Save function for these periods.

Know How to Dispute a Charge

On rare occasions, you might be charged if the driver doesn’t show up (it happened to me once, someone else took my ride!). If that occurs to you, go to the “Help” section in the app to dispute the charge and request a refund. It helps to collect any evidence you can.

Li-po battery charging tips

avoid charging above 80% and discharging below 20% to maximize battery lifespan. While they can be charged to 100% and discharged to 0%, doing so puts stress on the battery and can accelerate capacity loss. 

Storing a LiPo battery around 40–50% charge is ideal for long-term storage, as high states of charge and high temperatures increase self-discharge and degradation.

Charging Guidelines

Avoid 100% Full Charges Regularly: Regularly charging to 100% creates high voltage stress, which degrades the battery faster. 

Consider an 80% Limit: A common recommendation is to charge your battery to around 80% if you don't need full runtime. 

Consider a 20-80% Range: For general use, keeping the battery between 20% and 80% State of Charge is a healthy range. 

Discharging Guidelines

Avoid Deep Discharges: Discharging the battery to 0% also creates stress and leads to more rapid capacity loss. 

Consider a 20% Limit: Do not let your battery discharge too far below 20%. 

Monitor Voltage and Temperature: These factors influence the battery's overall performance and longevity, so it's good to be aware of them. 

Storage Guidelines

Store at Reduced Charge:

For long-term storage, a LiPo battery should be stored at a moderate temperature and a reduced charge of around 3.8V to 4.0V per cell, which is roughly 40-50% capacity. 

Avoid Hot Environments:

High temperatures accelerate self-discharge and can degrade the battery faster. 

By following these guidelines, you can significantly prolong the life and preserve the performance of your LiPo batteries. 

Comparison of UK bank fees for receiving international payments

HSBC

Receiving Euros from the EEA: no fee

Receiving Less than £100 from outside the EEA: £5

Receiving More than £100 in another currency, or euros from outside the EEA: £5

Halifax and TSB fees are same

Payments in euros received from within the UK, EEA or via SEPA Credit Transfer: No fee

Receiving a payment up to and including £100: £2

Receiving a payment of over £100: £7

Kroo bank accounts cannot receive international payments

Loneliness

You can check your Loneliness level using the Loneliness Scale UCLA (psytests.org)

If you are dealing with feelings of loneliness that just don't go away, consider these tips:

1. Engage with other people in a positive, healthy way. Even though it may be difficult, try making the effort to connect with others. Volunteering, hobby clubs, workout groups, and other opportunities, can help boost self-esteem and provide a safe and satisfying way to connect with others.
2. Get some exercise and sunlight. Getting active and out in the sunshine can help elevate endorphins and serotonin. These “brain hormones” can boost mood, help improve sleep, and make people feel happier.

Chronic loneliness is not just about feeling alone; if left unchecked it can put you at risk for serious physical and emotional issues.

Google map is more accurate than Apple map

I've been using both Google Maps and Apple Maps for a while, and I've noticed that Google Maps tends to be more accurate, especially when it comes to navigating specific locations like buildings within large organisations, such as universities.

Frozen veg are healthier than canned veg

Both canned and frozen vegetables are typically processed within hours of being harvested. This helps preserve the nutrients, so frozen and canned veggies can often be healthier than fresh vegetables. They’re also usually picked and processed at the height of ripeness, while fresh produce from the grocery store may have been picked at an unripe stage, before they have fully developed their vitamins and minerals.

Canned and frozen vegetables may start out equally nutritious, but the processing makes a difference. Frozen produce is blanched (cooked in hot water quickly) and that affects the nutritional value slightly. Canning requires a lot more processing. Aside from certain fruits like tomatoes and pumpkins, canned goods are likely to have less nutritional value than frozen. If you take the canned vegetable route, make sure that you avoid varieties with added sugars or sodium. Also, many of the nutrients from canned vegetables stay in the the liquid. If you remove canned vegetables and drain them, you’re missing out on a lot of the nutrients.

Top 10 host countries for international students in 2023

Comparing smartwatches for adults (UK)

As I embark on my journey to choose my first standalone smartwatch to reduce my phone screen time, I've decided to invest in a standalone smartwatch that can replace my phone.

Understanding the Basics: LTE vs. Bluetooth

Before diving into the specifics, it's essential to understand the key difference between LTE and Bluetooth in smartwatches. LTE-enabled watches feature 4G connections through eSIMs, supporting both cellular calls (including wifi calling) and data use when wifi isn't available. This means you can use an LTE smartwatch independently from your phone. In contrast, Bluetooth smartwatches require a connected phone nearby for full functionality, limiting them to basic features like timekeeping and step counting when not connected to a smartphone. Naturally, LTE smartwatches tend to be more expensive than those with Bluetooth only.

Additional Criteria: NFC and GPS

Besides LTE connectivity, my criteria for selecting a smartwatch include NFC support for mobile payments through Google Pay or Apple Pay and built-in GPS for navigation without a phone.

Smartwatch Compatibility with Mobile Network Providers

The availability of LTE-enabled smartwatches varies significantly by country due to compatibility with mobile service providers. In the UK, only three brands (excluding kid's watches) offer LTE-enabled smartwatches: Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and Google Pixel Watch. The compatibility with mobile service providers and international roaming options also varies, affecting the choice significantly.

Currently, EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three are the four main network providers in the UK offering monthly plans compatible with LTE smartwatches.

Brands and Models

As of April 2024, the following smartwatch models are on the market:

• Apple Watch: Available models include the Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Each model caters to different budgets and needs, with the SE being the most affordable, the Series 9 in the mid-range, and the Ultra 2 as the premium option.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch: The LTE variants available include Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch5 4G.
• Google Pixel Watch: The Google Pixel Watch 2 is currently available but has limited support among mobile service providers. Notably, EE and Vodafone both offer plans for the Pixel Watch, but to buy a Google Pixel Watch plan from Vodafone, you’ll need an Android phone (running Android 8.0 or later) on their plans. EE does not have this restriction. 

Making My Choice

After considering my options, I decided against the Apple Watch, primarily because both Apple and mobile network providers typically expect users to have an iPhone, which contradicts my goal of replacing my smartphone. Additionally, my current phone is a Motorola, which would not be compatible.

The Google Pixel Watch was also ruled out due to its limited compatibility with network providers and the specific requirement of having an Android phone on their plans.

Ultimately, I chose the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, which offers the independence I seek at a reasonable price. It's available for £289 on Amazon with a £7 monthly plan from a mobile network provider, making it an excellent choice for my needs.

I hope my journey will help you making your own choice on smartwatches.