In the sea of social media, websites, and smartphone apps, it’s easy to miss the tools that can simplify your life and dial down stress. Sure, advances in technology help streamline day-to-day tasks, but they can also bring more clutter, more data, and more confusion. Add in a zillion passwords you can’t remember and a “smart” drive that busts, and the pressure is too much.
Who hasn’t lost hours of work after a power failure, crashed software application, or even the dreaded “blue screen of death”? Or who among us hasn’t missed a credit card due date and paid twice the balance in interest and penalty charges?
The good news: Smart companies and savvy techies are coming up with plenty of gadgets, apps, and services to help you stay on top of your digital game. Here are seven annoying scenarios of modern life that you never have to suffer again:
1. I forgot my password.
It’s not uncommon for people to have more than a dozen passwords for everything from online banking to upscale shopping. Experts caution against using the same password for multiple sites—or keeping a list of them on your computer called “Passwords”—since hackers who gain access to one account are able to crack the rest as well. LastPass offers a simple solution. More secure than typing in passwords yourself, this unique system also syncs your data to any computer that you use regularly.
2. I can’t make sense of my healthcare expenses.
Misplaced your last EOB (Estimate of Benefits)? That’s where CakeHealth comes in. Select your provider, connect your account, and the mounting paper stack becomes a thing of the past. The site has a simple user interface where you can check the status of claims, see a summary of benefits, find out when you’ve spent your deductible, and tally up out-of-pocket expenses.
3. I can’t find that document I wrote.
How many times have you needed quick access to your files when you’re away from the office? The Internet houses two cool services that enable you to gain access, share, and collaborate with ease—all for free. Google Docs allows you to share many types of files and folders (up to 1GB of space) with anyone who has an Internet connection. A second source, Dropbox conveniently syncs files in your Dropbox folder to any computer with the software installed—and you can access those files from the Web, too (up to 2GB of space).
4. I missed my payment due date.
Citi’s Simplicity® Card solves the problem with zero late fees or penalties if you miss your due date. You can even make payments using free online and mobile banking tools, and get free account alerts delivered right on your mobile device. A bonus: The terms of the original manufacturers’ U.S. warranties (three years or less) may be extended up to one additional year for most items purchased with your card.
5. What was that great idea I had?
Always have a personal assistant on hand. Evernote is like a digital secretary that records thoughts, captures interesting information or images from a Web page, and keeps your to-do list all in one place. A bonus: Evernote recognizes hand-written chicken scratch to help you more easily sift through notes later.
6. When was the last time I changed the smoke alarm batteries?
Keeping your home appliances up to snuff and remembering to do all your home maintenance chores isn’t easy if you’ve also got a full-time job or a family to run. Brightnest helps you take care of your home, tracking things like paint colors and home appliances (the app houses a number of user manuals in their system). The app pushes tips for maintenance and lets you create a house to-do list, with items you can schedule and assign to other family members.
7. I thought I had a coupon for that.
Have you ever been caught at the checkout stand searching through your handbag while the customers behind you start fuming? CouponSherpa is a free smartphone app that alerts you of coupons available for stores near you. A lot of these coupons offer discounts on purchases that have reached or surpassed a certain dollar amount.
https://www.citibank.com/womenandco/article/7-things-you-dont-need-to-worry-about.jsp
Who hasn’t lost hours of work after a power failure, crashed software application, or even the dreaded “blue screen of death”? Or who among us hasn’t missed a credit card due date and paid twice the balance in interest and penalty charges?
The good news: Smart companies and savvy techies are coming up with plenty of gadgets, apps, and services to help you stay on top of your digital game. Here are seven annoying scenarios of modern life that you never have to suffer again:
1. I forgot my password.
It’s not uncommon for people to have more than a dozen passwords for everything from online banking to upscale shopping. Experts caution against using the same password for multiple sites—or keeping a list of them on your computer called “Passwords”—since hackers who gain access to one account are able to crack the rest as well. LastPass offers a simple solution. More secure than typing in passwords yourself, this unique system also syncs your data to any computer that you use regularly.
2. I can’t make sense of my healthcare expenses.
Misplaced your last EOB (Estimate of Benefits)? That’s where CakeHealth comes in. Select your provider, connect your account, and the mounting paper stack becomes a thing of the past. The site has a simple user interface where you can check the status of claims, see a summary of benefits, find out when you’ve spent your deductible, and tally up out-of-pocket expenses.
3. I can’t find that document I wrote.
How many times have you needed quick access to your files when you’re away from the office? The Internet houses two cool services that enable you to gain access, share, and collaborate with ease—all for free. Google Docs allows you to share many types of files and folders (up to 1GB of space) with anyone who has an Internet connection. A second source, Dropbox conveniently syncs files in your Dropbox folder to any computer with the software installed—and you can access those files from the Web, too (up to 2GB of space).
4. I missed my payment due date.
Citi’s Simplicity® Card solves the problem with zero late fees or penalties if you miss your due date. You can even make payments using free online and mobile banking tools, and get free account alerts delivered right on your mobile device. A bonus: The terms of the original manufacturers’ U.S. warranties (three years or less) may be extended up to one additional year for most items purchased with your card.
5. What was that great idea I had?
Always have a personal assistant on hand. Evernote is like a digital secretary that records thoughts, captures interesting information or images from a Web page, and keeps your to-do list all in one place. A bonus: Evernote recognizes hand-written chicken scratch to help you more easily sift through notes later.
6. When was the last time I changed the smoke alarm batteries?
Keeping your home appliances up to snuff and remembering to do all your home maintenance chores isn’t easy if you’ve also got a full-time job or a family to run. Brightnest helps you take care of your home, tracking things like paint colors and home appliances (the app houses a number of user manuals in their system). The app pushes tips for maintenance and lets you create a house to-do list, with items you can schedule and assign to other family members.
7. I thought I had a coupon for that.
Have you ever been caught at the checkout stand searching through your handbag while the customers behind you start fuming? CouponSherpa is a free smartphone app that alerts you of coupons available for stores near you. A lot of these coupons offer discounts on purchases that have reached or surpassed a certain dollar amount.
https://www.citibank.com/womenandco/article/7-things-you-dont-need-to-worry-about.jsp