If you own a mobile phone, you need to keep your battery charged and ready to go.

Batteries vary in staying power, and how often you have to recharge will depend on how often you use your phone. For some people, simply having phone chargers that plug into an outlet at home are enough, and they only need to recharge overnight. For the rest of us, we need a bit more. This is when phone chargers that take alternate power sources are a must.

One popular alternative to home phone chargers are ones that plug into your lighter in your car or truck.

These work great for people who must travel a lot, or have long commutes to and from work. In many cases, you can plug your newly charged mobile into one of these car phone chargers and use that power source for calls while in your car. This saves on your battery power.

Chances are there is more than one mobile phone in your home.

If you have the same brand, you may be able to share chargers, though this is not always convenient. This is great when one gets broken or lost, and you haven’t been able to replace it yet. My husband and I both have LG phone from Verizon, and even though they are different models, our phone chargers are interchangeable. Our hands free sets are also compatible.

If you didn’t get the phone chargers you need when you bought your phone, you can buy them separately or as a package with other items.

The cost will depend on what brand you want. Some mobile phone companies have their own accessories, or you can find some made by other companies that may fit your phone. You should ask a sales representative to help you choose what will work best with your phone. Not all phone chargers are created equal, and you want to find the most durable one you can find so you don’t have to keep replacing them.

Look for packages if you need more than one thing. You may be able to find a set that has phone chargers, hands free, and other goodies all in one package for a great price. As with anything you buy online, ask about return policy if something doesn’t work right, and make sure everything is in good working condition the moment it arrives.

You can also find phone chargers online, but remember to find out if it is compatible with your mobile phone before buying.

editor's note: I got my portable charger this summer and its very, very convenient.