Everywhere we look, it seems like "there's an app for that," and while many apps can help you save money, many more are just a reason to pay for yet another download.  Which ones are destined to cut your budget in a significant way?  We test drove six of the best and found that there really was money to be saved!

Whether you have jetsetting down to a science or you haven't been on a plane in years, airport security is a fact of life if you want to fly. And while you can't avoid it altogether, there are things you can do to make it quicker and easier.
  

Personal finance and money management is one of the most complex things you simply have to do.  Nobody wants to deal with taxes, credit scores, budgets, and bills, but they are necessary parts of life.  Luckily, it's become a whole lot easier for individuals to take control of their finances without having to hire professional help.

In today's shaky economy, the last thing one worries about is keeping up with fashion trends. With skyrocketing gas prices and a scarce job market, the expensive wares of top designers seem farther than ever. Nevertheless, just because you can't afford a look on the rack doesn't mean you can't get the look at all. There are many online resources available to help you get a high-end look on a shoe-string budget. Of course, once you've gone through all the sites listed, don't forget to check out BurdaStyle, our sewing community with loads of open-source patterns, techniques and thousands of passionate DIYers --- perfect for frugal fashion followers.

There's no longer an excuse to sabotage your diet when away from home: Smart phones go with you everywhere, and can even be used to encourage, educate, and hold you accountable to your fitness goals. So what tools are worth the hype? We share the eight downloads you'll want to check out before you start pursuing those ambitious diet objectives.

Camera accessories help you get the shot you want wherever you happen to be, which means your photos prevail in the Most Fun Life contest on Flickr. These toys will help you take iPhone photos in dark bars, bring your camera along on your rafting trip, recharge your batteries without sacrificing outlet space, and more.

Beamer iPhone Case, $38
This case has a built-in LED light, which acts as a flash for you iPhone camera. It's currently available for pre-order, which is why friends haven't already been blinding you over beers.

When winter hits hard, many in its path are barraged by snow, sleet and freezing winds. Even in the comfort of your home or office, many still feel the effects of winter's bite; drafts permeate through cracks and ice gathers on your sidewalk, creating an intense desire for spring's warmth.

Whether you're a small business owner or an individual, there are tons of social media and web resources that can help get you up and running quickly. Here are some of the best resources out there to make tax season, well, less taxing.

It's easy to take for granted the technology that makes our lives fun, productive and efficient. But there are products coming out every day that soon will be the things we just can't live without! So from the super fun to the super practical, here's a roundup of tech finds that will make life easier ... while also adding a little style and fun. Some of these won't be available for another few months, but they're worth the wait!

Cinemin Swivel Portable Projector
This projector weighs six ounces and is not much bigger than a cell phone, yet it can project a crisp image over five feet tall. It connects to all sorts of media devices ~ iPods, iPhones, Flip Video, PSP, netbooks and more. You can project movies, TV and images anywhere on to practically anything. Sure, it means carrying less on vacations or business trips. But the random possibilities are what get me excited! Crazy art projections at your party ... scary movies projected on the ceiling of your tent while camping ... inspirational designs swirling on the floor of your office.

It would be great if everyone could work from home - think of all those greenhouse gas emissions we'd save by not commuting! Alas, to prevent the economy from falling into an even deeper recession, most of the American workforce needs to schlep to and from the office every day. Luckily, a slew of new technology can make your journeys a little more eco-friendly. Read on for tips to help you green your commute.

Spring is coming, and with the inevitably warm weather comes the need for spring cleaning. This is often easier said than done, especially when it comes to your wardrobe. From too-small jeans to mementos from past trysts, our closets are often filled with things we can't (and shouldn't) wear. In 2010, it's time to give your closet an overhaul, and there are many resources online that can help you do just that. Here are a few notables:

Raising kids and building a business don't instinctively go hand-in-hand. It takes a certain amount of savvy, perseverance, and a unique amount of creativity to mesh your personal life with your professional life. While Moms have moved beyond the days of working in their pajamas and scheduling important calls only during naps, the struggles still exist. These three tech solutions can help a Mompreneur expand her working potential, without sacrificing her precious role as Mommy.

It's the season for love.  While long walks on the beach and romantic visions under the stars are stuff movies are made of, some of us have come to love partners that are a little less Mack Daddy and a little more McFly.  Isn't it about time we embrace our geeky significant others with a gift that shows we truly appreciate them?  Check out this list of 10 innovative and heartfelt gifts to give this Valentine's Day.  (We're pretty certain that they'll <3 them).

Last year we saw a flurry of green innovation in consumer electronics, but that's nothing compared to what's in the pipeline for 2010. From chargers that harvest energy from human movement to street-ready electric vehicles, oh-ten is sure to revolutionize the eco-friendly tech sector in a big way.  The Greener Gadgets Conference that is coming up on February 25th will highlight some of the latest and greatest green gadgets that are coming down the pipeline to a store near you.  Until then, check out our picks for the top five greener gadgets to look for over the coming months:

nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator)

Tremont Electric is currently developing a charger that harvests kinetic energy, the power produced by movement, to generate electricity. Not only does the device eliminate the need for coal and fossil fuel-based power for charging small electronics, but it's especially useful for outdoors-y types who may not have access to electrical outlets. Users can simply plug the small charger into handheld electronics like cell phones, GPS units or MP3 players, and place the charger and device vertically in a backpack or purse. As people walk, run, kayak or engage in basically any type of movement, the PEG will bounce up and down, harvest that energy and charge the attached device. Tremont Electric plans to launch the PEG commercially later this year, but pre-ordering information is available online.

For all the complaining you hear about kids these days watching too much television, you'd think they would actually be, well, watching television. But many of them aren't.

As it turns out, young people are increasingly turning off the tube and turning on their laptops when they want video entertainment, but it's about more than silly YouTube clips.

Original web TV programming and streaming options for popular traditional TV shows have people asking the question, "Why do we need cable?" It's difficult to come up with a good answer to that one, so here are a couple reasons you don't.

I often hear about fun things going on about town, but I'm not ready to schedule them into my day/week/month. Other times, I find myself and my kids with a free hour or afternoon and wonder, "What can we do with this little snatch of time?" After years of stumbling along with both of these problems, Google Calendar (and a little no-duh thinking) has presented me with a solution: my own personal events calendar which I call "Possibilities."

Super Bowl Sunday is almost here, and there's plenty of fun to be found online both now and on game day. (Not a fan? Esquire rounds up "11 memorable attempts at Super Bowl Counterprogramming" like Puppy Bowl and the ill-fated In Living Color Live). 

Super Bowl Video Online

Unlike the State of the Union Address, you can't technically watch Super Bowl XLIV streamed online. But Hulu's NFL Network has added eight shows you can watch online, including Super Bowl Highlights and Season in Review. Plus, watch video highlights from past seasons of all the NFL teams. CBS's Countdown to Kickoff is a frequently updated news and video feed. And of course, if you just watch the Super Bowl for the ads, you can catch a preview of some of the best and worst ads online now - and watch them as many times as you like (more on that later).

I love Alton Brown's approach to food in general, but in particular I love his take on kitchen gear that makes any passionate eater/home cook's life easier and simpler. In his terrific book Alton Brown's Gear For Your Kitchen he has a funny and smart (just about everything Alton says and writes is funny and smart, isn't it?) chapter titled "Small Things with Plugs." It wouldn't be a stretch to call this post my interpretation of "Small Things with Plug's Greatest Hits."

Inspired by a Rocketboom Tech segment 11 Useful Web Apps, I thought it was time to pay homage to the 25 (or so) key applications and services helping me get the most out of the Internet. These apps help me be super productive, connect to important sources of information and they allow me to be mobile so I can devote myself to family, work and life when and where I'm needed most. These are the applications and services I use, ones that fit my personality and needs. Most are free, and some offer premium services if you pay a subscription.