Imagine being able to play your favorite video games 30,000 feet above ground. German-based Contour Aerospace, in collaboration with FactoryDesign, hopes to make that dream a reality.

This futuristic chair concept, dubbed the ‘Not for Wimps’ (NFW), is designed to give passengers the ultimate gaming experience. While this model is currently in the concept stage of development, it is set to debut this week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo at the German Masse in Hamburg.

Features of the chair include built-in speakers on either side of the headrest, a noise-canceling bubble to reduce surrounding ambient sound and an overreaching arch that suspends the monitor several feet in front of the player.

I think we can all agree this would make time on a long flight fly by like no other, but it could be annoying sitting next to a 10 year old kid kicking your ass at a game. I would like to no how you would price a seat like this?

With the world still reeling from the effects of the global economic recession,

Listia – Savings and Recycling

A fantastic website making waves at the moment is Listia which has taken the idea of buying, selling and giving away used items online and refined it to make it better than eBay or Craigslist by making everything free.

Listia works on a system of credits (you receive 400 free) when you sign up, no cash is involved, only credits. The more stuff you give away, the more stuff you can get for free. The idea is to get rid of the stuff you no longer want, like old VHS tapes, cell phones, or toys; and as you give that stuff away on Listia, you get credits. Use those credits to get stuff you want, like a new iphone, video games, or clothes. The entire system is done on a auction basis, which allows people to give their stuff to those who really want it, and not just craigslist people who take everything you set on the curb.

This system effectively cuts out the “bid snipers” and others who bid on multiple items simultaneously as they have nothing to lose.  As soon as a bid is won the credits are deducted directly from the winners account so participants cannot simply cut and run on less attractive items as so often occurs on eBay and other online marketplaces.

If you are really looking to save some money on everyday items and maybe have some old items which are no longer useful to you but could be valuable to someone else, Listia is a website where you can find some unbelievable deals on the everyday things that everyone uses and needs in an infrastructure which protects you from cheats. The great thing about Listia, it will never cost you any more, it’s 100% free to use. If you have something to give away, then you can get something in return.

For more information, here is how Listia works.

The Piggy Bank – one Quarter (or $5) at a Time!

The piggy bank has been a favorite way for children to save money for thousands of years however the simple concept behind them holds up to this day – putting aside your small change into a container which is not easy to access and spend from is a great way to hold onto funds which you might otherwise fitter away.  Try and carry as little cash on you as possible and if you don’t already have one, then get a money jar and put all of your loose change in it whenever possible.  Studies show that we are far more likely to spend small change on things we really don’t need and are much less inclined to break a larger bill without a good reason!

However a dollar isn’t worth what it used to!  In order to really maximize your savings why not set aside every $5 bill?  $5 is now the amount which people are willing to break and waste so try taking each one and putting it into an envelope for savings.  At the end of the month deposit it into your account and you will quickly see the money begin to add up.

Transfer Tricks – Thrifty Cash Shifting

Another way to save money by making sure to transfer spare money from your savings account into a higher interest account which is not as easy to access.  For example, try transfer half of the surplus money still in your savings account into a higher interest account every payday so that you don’t end up squandering it.

Also try and use you credit cards for as little as possible.  You can get low interest or even no interest credit cards but these always have a catch – if you are late on any of your payments you are going to pay for!  Only sign up for these credit cards if you are absolutely sure that you can make the payments on time, every time!

Craigslist – Brilliant Bargains

A great website is Craigslist where with a little bit of research and luck you can save a small fortune. If you somehow haven’t heard of this website, among its many features and services it acts as an online marketplace where you can buy and sell locally simply by responding and placing free classified advertisements.

You can find some excellent deals on this site but unfortunately since being launched it has been abused by fraudsters, spammers as well as cheats who use software to snatch up many of the best deals before anyone else has a chance.  Nonetheless, if you are careful and check the site often you get furniture, clothes and just about anything at bargain basement prices or even for free!  You can also sell those items which are cluttering up your attic or garage and make some cash although don’t expect to get full price or even half the price of what you paid for them!

Conclusion

In 2011 it’s important to look for creative ways to be frugal while we wait for the global economy to recover.  From bringing back the piggy bank to using cutting edge websites like Listia to find the best deals there are many steps you can take to help you save money without changing your lifestyle.

The baby isn’t even a Jedi… but a storm trooper.

Conceived by Yacht Island Designs and BMT Nigel Gee, this floating ocean oasis will measure a whopping 155 meters, carrying an urban replica of part of the principality’s metropolitan elements. With a garden, a casino, a go kart track and countless extravagant living, dining and lounging spaces, the ‘Streets of Monaco’ yacht will prove to be the next hottest drifting travel destination.

The only question is, “what will cost more, a trip to Monaco or a trip to Monaco on the Monaco boat?”

Listia offers a new way to get all the things you want, but can’t afford. The idea is to give away the things you no longer want (old cell phone, VHS tapes, books… anything), and in return get new things, such as DVDs, video games, clothes or anything else you can find on Listia. Instead of just a basic exchange, however, you are given credits to use for their online auction system. Listia is completely free to use and by using an auction system, the people that really want something can actually get it, unlike Craigslist where first come first serve takes precedence. The more credits you get, the more free stuff you can bid on and win. You get credits by listing auctions to give away your old stuff. In other words, I got around 200o credits for auctioning off my old gameboy games and used those credits towards a new XBOX game.

Listia has reportedly held over 1,000,000 auctions and helped recycle hundreds of thousands of used items that might have otherwise been left for trash. This Christmas, consider cleaning out your closest, putting your things on Listia and get some new stuff you really want for free. Visit Listia today.

The DealMap

Looking for deals in your area? TheDealMap is a handy little Google Maps mashup that lists local discounts on shopping, restaurants, food, hotels, and much more. You can subscribe by e-mail to receive regular deal updates or download the iPhone or Android apps for deals on the go. I highly recommend you take a look at this as it is very easy to use and seems to have a pulse on the best deals around town.

Ookong

If you really have your eye on that special item… but it happens to be too expensive, then try using Ookong to keep track of the price. It will track any item you want on Amazon, or other stores so that you can be notified when price drops. As it drops, you can get the discount you have been waiting for!

SeatGeek

Nervous you won’t get those great tickets you want for the big game or rockin’ concert? You should be. They sell out fast, and they can get ridiculously expensive at the same time. SeatGeek wants to help by using that amazing magic called “math” to forecast prices and availability and when you should buy to save the most moolah.

For a full list of the PC Magazine Top 100 Websites of 2010, view here.

You have to admit… this is kind of cool. Plus, you could probably make a pretty cool explosion out of this.