📚 Turn “da-da” into data: Get your kiddo ready for the future (and AI) with these 30 free STEM resources. The list includes apps, games and classes to teach youngsters stuff like coding, aeronautics, mathematics and, yes, data science. You could have the next little Elon.
Turn your yard into serious cash
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One of the best calls I’ve had recently on my show came from a listener named Stacy. He casually told me he’s made $80,000 renting the vacant land he covered with gravel behind his house.
That’s it. A rectangle of rocks. No building. No tenants. No fancy business plan. Just a patch of dirt he wasn’t using. Stacy listed it on an app called Neighbor, which connects people who need storage (RVs, boats, trailers, buses) with folks who have extra space.
Since listing it, he’s had over 60 people park everything from luxury campers to school buses. He charges $90 to $200 a month, and he’s booked solid.
He didn’t build anything. Didn’t babysit anyone’s stuff. Didn’t even have Wi-Fi out there. And it’s paid off big-time.
Want to do the same?
You don’t need acres. Got a driveway? A garage you haven’t opened since 2011? A little side yard? People are willing to pay for space to park or store their stuff, and apps make it ridiculously easy.
Yes, Neighbor is one option. But there’s also:
- Spacer and JustPark for driveways and parking spots.
- Hipcamp, if you’ve got land and don’t mind a camper or two.
- Sniffspot, yes, you can even rent your fenced backyard to dog owners.
Real people are doing this:
- A guy in Indiana gets $175 a month for his dusty garage.
- A couple in Arizona stores a neighbor’s boat in their side yard for $250 a month.
- One woman turned her unused barn into year-round RV storage. She doesn’t want to say how much she makes. I bet it’s a lot.
So take a walk outside and look at that forgotten patch of land or extra space. That’s your weird-flex-but-OK income stream waiting to happen.
🤔 If you do give it a shot (or have another unique way of making money), let me know. I want your success story on the show next.
This hidden setting stops fraud in its tracks
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Here’s something you probably don’t know. Your banking app is packed with credit card tools that can help you fight fraud, track every dollar and even shop safer online.
Yep, your boring old banking app is secretly a money-smart ninja. You just haven’t poked around enough.
How to find 'the one' on dating apps
Tricks that increase your chance of finding the right person by a whopping 40%.
A grave situation: People are turning to grief apps like Untangle to cope with the loss of loved ones. These apps let you connect with other mourners, share stories and get advice from AI chatbots. But what about data collection? Many of the apps’ developers sell your info to third parties, who could exploit your mental state.
Food companies hate this app
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Healthy eating isn’t just trending, it’s something I’ve lived my whole life. I read every label, choose organic whenever I can and try to never eat processed foods. Knowing what’s going into your body matters, and I’ve always believed that.
Tech how-to: Check your phone for signs someone is watching
support.apple.com, discussions.apple.com, support.google.com, © Albertshakirov | Dreamstime.com
I get so many calls during my national radio show and DMs from folks who think they’re being stalked. Sometimes, the person is seeing signs that aren’t there. Other times, it’s clear there’s something going on. It’s not surprising, given how easy it is for tech to watch someone’s movements.
📸 Snap and convert: Apple’s HEIC photo format saves space but is a headache to open on a Windows PC. Switch your iPhone camera settings to JPG to fix it. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and pick Most Compatible. Then, head back to Settings > Apps > Photos and choose Automatic (under Transfer to Mac or PC) so it’s always compatible.
Tip tap: Navigate with just your keyboard. On a PC, hit the Windows key + T to highlight the first icon on your taskbar, then use the arrow keys to move through the bar. Press Enter to open an app. On Mac, hold down Cmd + Tab for a list of open apps. Use the arrows to navigate, and release the keys when you reach the one you want.
Delete location sharing apps – How to share in the ones you use
Support.Google.com, Apple.com
Location sharing helps you worry less. Whether your friend’s late for dinner, your kid’s almost home or your partner’s on the way from the airport, it sure beats sending a bunch of texts back and forth.
The bad news is more and more location-sharing apps have been caught selling your data to third parties. You don’t need a separate app for location sharing; it’s baked right into the apps you already use.
Most accurate weather apps depending on where you live
© Irina Igumnova | Dreamstime.com, play.google.com, weather.com
I was talking to my brother, who got 7 inches of snow in Florida the other day. Wow!
We’re on the edge of a weather forecasting revolution. Google’s AI weather forecasting system, GenCast, can predict as far out as 15 days with up to 97% accuracy. We’re entering the age where severe weather will no longer surprise anyone.
Nosy, nosy: On your iPhone, bring up a list of all the apps with access to your contacts. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Contacts. Tap Limited Access for any that shouldn’t get every little detail.
Quick tech cleanup: Do this every 3 months
© Iakov Filimonov | Dreamstime.com
When was the last time you cleaned up your digital life? It’s not fun, but just a few minutes of physical and digital decluttering can work wonders. It boosts productivity, clears mental clutter and leaves you feeling like you’ve done something great. Ready? Let’s do this!
Clear your iPhone’s browsing data: It’s a quick and easy way to improve performance and privacy in one swoop. Open Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Then, choose the timeframe and tap Clear History to confirm. Surf on, dude.
Steer clear: Willow, a company that fronts bill money to customers, left over 240,000 private records in a non-password-protected database. It included customers’ names, numbers, transaction amounts, bank account details and partial credit card numbers. This is why I never recommend hot, new finance apps.
Delete programs you don’t use: On a Windows PC, click the Start menu button and look for the app or program. Press and hold (or right-click) on it and select Uninstall. On a Mac, click the Finder icon in your dock, then Applications. Drag the program you’re done with to the Trash.
🔋 Battery-saving tip: Background App Refresh lets apps update in the background so they’re always ready when you open them. Handy, right? But it drains your battery and data. If your older phone is chugging, try turning off this feature. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and switch it off for some apps or completely. On Android, head to Settings > Apps > [app name] > Battery > Background Activity and turn it off for specific apps.
Talk about great coverage: The state of Texas sued Allstate. They say the insurance company paid app developers millions of dollars to sneak in their code, then tracked 45 million folks’ locations. The apps the lawsuit names include Fuel Rewards, GasBuddy, Life360 and Allstate-owned Routely. I’m sure this happened in all states, not just Texas.
🤢 This is gross: Creepy AI apps are allowing folks to create videos of real people making out without their consent, like this one, which uses a picture of a young girl and her older male crush. These videos can be generated in seconds. The worst part? Most of these apps are listed as safe for teens in the app stores. YouCam, Fotorama and Mova AI are just a few examples.
How to protect your teen from scammers
Got a teen at home? Scammers have them in their sights! From shady AI apps to influencer scams, here’s how to keep your kids safe.