You could very soon leave your wallet at home and use your cell phones instead. So-called "wallet phones" that let you buy things, check your bank accounts and credit cards are already in use in Japan and South Korea. Now eight of the 10 biggest U.S. banks offer basic services like checking balances. Some offer more features now, and more are to come.

VISA launched a pilot program last week that sends text alerts to cell phones seconds after unusual purchases are made. The services are handy and -- best of all -- free.

----

A tech tip to pass along, and it could help you save big on your next power bill. It's no secret that leaving your TV or computer on all the time will really make your power bill jump. But your electronics consume about 15 percent of your total energy bill and standby power is about 75 percent of that.

Using power strips to connect several appliances or gadgets lets you cut off the power to all of them, saving the energy they use while sitting idle. Some new products "talk" to your computer or smartphone and let you cut them on or off remotely. And other items let you change their power settings to save energy.

Bottom line: turn off those electronics during the day when you're not home or during the night when you're not awake. The Internet will still be there when you turn your computer back on.