10 Awesome Tech Hacks to Save You Money, Time, and Stress.
SAVE MONEY
1. Old Tech, New Purpose
Before tossing out the older, less-efficient version of a tablet or cellphone, consider using it as an upgrade for another home accessory. With an app for pretty much everything, an old cellphone could become a digital alarm clock on your nightstand, or an outdated tablet could act as a digital picture frame on the mantel. The more creative you get, the more opportunities you’ll think of, so next time you upgrade your gadgets, think twice before tossing out the old ones.
2. Ebook to audiobook
In case you happen to run across a book you would like to listen to during your commute or work-out session, but don’t have a copy of its audiobook, then just try using the reading tool on your device or download a reading app. This makes any ebook, an audiobook. If you don’t have the audiobook or the ebook, then you may want to download the libby app. This allows you to borrow books digitally by connecting through your local library.
3. Coupons, Codes, and Savings:
Honey, Slickdeals, and Camelcamelcamel are a few websites that may be able to help save you some money. Whether they are tipping you off about when or where to find the cheapest deal or by showing how you can get a discount or two, these websites are definitely worth a look.
SAVE TIME
4. Know Thy Wifi
Don’t waste time pacing around your house searching for the spot with the best wifi signal. Download a wifi analyzer app and make the appropriate changes it suggests. Gizmodo can give you some advice on which of these apps may be the best choice for you to find where the internet is strongest and how to possibly improve it if it’s weak.
5. Get Smart with Your Management Apps
Give your smart home assistant access to your project management apps to allow you to verbally add items to your to do list, schedule a meeting, or set a reminder. With the busy lives we lead, allowing a smart device to help you manage your day can save you time and make your life more efficient.
6. Google Search Within a Website
Do you want to search for a video on youtube but skip the step of going to youtube? Or you want to search for an article you knew was on a certain website but can’t find it? In Google search, you can search within another website by typing in “site:” followed by the website you want to search within, and then put a space and write out what you want to search. Google will then only show you content that is from that domain. For example, your heart has been longing to see a puppy’s reaction to meeting a duckling, and so you just type, “site:youtube.com puppy and duckling.”
7. Voice Typing Tool
If you’re a slow typer or you are multitasking and your hands are busy, turn on the voice typing tool on your computer. Then all you have to do is speak. Especially great for a digital journal or people who process thoughts better out loud. If your computer microphone is busted, fret not. You can actually plug your headphones into the mic outlet and use your headphones as a mic (however, it obviously doesn’t work as well as a real microphone, so you wouldn’t want it as a full time substitute).
8. Browser Extensions
If you are looking for ways to increase your productivity, try downloading some browser extensions. There are extensions to help with grammar editing, organizing your calendar, managing your passwords, easy screen recording, and more. Make the most of your time by ensuring you have the extensions that work for you.
SAVE STRESS
9. Create a QR code for your wifi
Want people to be able to use your wifi without knowing your password - simple. Create a QR code of your password, print it off, and let guests scan it to use your wifi. No need to keep sharing your passwords with people.
10. Google Search Like the Pros
Tired of trying to Google a topic, only to have all the wrong websites pop up? By learning the tips and tricks of Google search, you can improve the accuracy of your searches. Use the dash to let google know what info you want it to leave out; if you want to look up the Titans, but don’t want search results related to Greek Mythology, then simply search: Titans -“Greek Mythology.” Also by putting things in quotation marks, it will search for the words in that order; if not, it will search for the words you entered regardless of word order. Also, if you happen to accidentally close a tab that you still wanted, remember this: ctrl + shift + t (windows) / command + shift + t (mac). It will open the last closed tab.
Bonus: Log Out of Facebook from Another Device
Log in on someone else’s device but forgot to log out? Don’t sweat it. You can log out of that device from your phone or laptop, simply by going to “settings,” then “security,” then to “when you’re logged in.” From here you can log out of any other device you may have been signed-in on.
Sources:
“Eight Tech Hacks For Better Managing Your Daily Workload.” Forbes. Jan 7, 2021 (visited 3 April 2022)https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2021/01/07/eight-tech-hacks-for-better-managing-your-daily-workload/?sh=55d53f771320 Saltzman, Marc. “12 awesome tech hacks to save you money and time.”USA Today. 4 May 2020 (visited 3 April 2022).https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2020/05/04/hacks-help-with-apple-airpods-alexa-google-save-money/3058670001/ Saltzman, Marc. “10 Easy Hacks to Get More Out of Your Devices.”AARP. 7 December 2020 (visited 3 April 2022). https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2020/easy-tech-hacks.html Tillman, Maggie. “52 Best Tech Life Hacks Ever.” Pocket-lint. 28 December 2021 (visited 3 April 2022). https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/135709-the-best-tech-life-hacks-ever Nield, David. “The Best Apps for Fixing Your Wifi.” Gizmodo.com. 10 June 2020 (visited 3 April 2022).https://gizmodo.com/the-best-wifi-analyzer-apps-to-troubleshoot-your-networ-1843957301 Alexander, Anson. “How to Search Within a Website Using Google Search [Tutorial]” Anson Alexander. Youtube: 3:45 28 August 2012 (visited 4 April 2020)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLWqvALqAsE “12 Best Google Chrome Extensions For 2022 [Most Popular List]” Software Testing Help. 3 March 2022 (visited 4 April 2022)https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/best-chrome-extensions/ 