convenience Archives - Komando.com

5 ways to get the most out of a Costco or Sam's Club membership

5 ways to get the most out of a Costco or Sam's Club membership

Retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club may be able to save you up to 30% on your annual grocery bill. However, just because you shop big doesn’t mean you’ll always come out on top.

Convenience, accessibility and, of course, price all vary by purchase. Luckily, we’ve got five tips to help you make the right choice every time.

1. Compare prices by weight or volume

Most grocery stores include the price per gram, pound or ounce on the shelf’s label. Instead of taking costs at face value, consider how much you’re paying per portion.

It pays to stock up on everything you need with each trip, especially if your nearest warehouse is far from your home. You can freeze any extras you buy and store shelf-stable goods in your pantry. Buying in bulk is one of the best ways to save money at big-box stores.

RELATED: Is it worth paying for a Costco or Sam’s Club membership to save on gas?

2. Don’t be shy about buying store brand

Kirkland Signature and Member’s Mark products aren’t inferior to more famous brands. In fact, many of these generic products are the same thing as your favorite big brands.

Some Kirkland coffee is actually roasted by Starbucks Coffee company and can be yours at a fraction of the cost. Why pay more for essentials like batteries and fancy imported cheese?

3. Think about huge yearly (and weekly!) expenses

Did you know you can get your car serviced at your favorite big-box store? Sam’s Club and Costco offer members deals on necessities like tires, gasoline and household goods.

If you buy gas exclusively throughout the year at Sam’s Club or Costco, the savings will most likely cover the membership cost. You can expect to save big money per gallon on the price of gas. It’s one of the best big-box store perks.

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Smile! You’re on cam at the airport

Smile! You’re on cam at the airport

Be on the lookout for face-scanning tech next time you fly. Airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando and a few other cities are using facial recognition to speed up the security process. Worth it or invasive? Depends on who you ask.

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Swap these disposables for reusables

Forget plastic baggies — swap in these reusable BPA-free bags (30% off) for sandwiches and snacks.
Beeswax wrap (15% off) is organic cotton coated in beeswax — and it’s 100 times less annoying than plastic wrap. Reuse it for up to a year.
Drop the single-use paper towels and replace them with cotton cloths.
You’ll love these glass straws (only $8). They’re made from super-tough borosilicate glass and are easier to clean than silicone ones.
Save money and keep the convenience of a K-Cup by filling these reusable cups (11% off) with, say, medium-ground coffee.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Your new side hustle? Digital notary! That is, if you’re in one of the 47 U.S. states that now allows notary publics to operate completely online. Once you’re certified, you can notarize docs from home at your convenience. Check out the requirements for your state on the National Notary Association’s website.

Are employees getting microchip implants for convenience and security?

Open/download audioMicrochip implants are starting to increase in popularity, especially for employers microchipping their employees. But, is this the next step toward a frightening 1984, Big Brother society that many have warned us about for years? In this episode of Komando on Demand, Kim looks at the technology behind embedding RFID microchips in our bodies, how some employers in Sweden are already starting to microchip their employees as well as how this technology works.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This powerful duster is so good I stopped using compressed air

This powerful duster is so good I stopped using compressed air

When you think of electronics and dust, what comes to mind? Yep, a good old can of compressed air. But here’s the problem: It runs out so fast. Before you know it, you’re halfway through getting the crumbs out of your keyboard and the can is empty.

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Earbuds always falling out? Try these 4 fixes

Earbuds always falling out? Try these 4 fixes

If you’re anything like us, you love the comfort and convenience of wireless earbuds. Like their wired predecessors, many find one major obstacle between tranquility and a constant annoyance: Why won’t these things stay in my ears?

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Swap these disposables for reusables

Forget plastic baggies — swap in these reusable silicone zipper bags for sandwiches and snacks. Pro tip: Flip ‘em inside out and wash them on the top rack of your dishwasher.
Beeswax wrap is organic cotton coated in beeswax — and it’s 100 times less annoying than plastic wrap. Reuse it for up to a year.
Drop the single-use paper towels and replace them with these cotton cloths.
These colorful silicone straws come with a travel case — pop them in your bag and leave the soggy paper ones behind.
Fill these reusable cups with medium-ground coffee and keep the convenience of a K-Cup — without the trash.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

How to tell Alexa to delete what you say

How to tell Alexa to delete what you say

There’s no denying it: Alexa is listening to you all the time. Every day, thousands of Amazon employees around the world analyze audio clips from users like you. Sometimes, they pick up private and personal audio.

Tap or click here to find out what your Amazon Echo can discover about your life by listening in. (Hint: It’s a lot.) Luckily, we know a trick you can use to wipe the slate clean every day.

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How to track your mail-in ballot

How to track your mail-in ballot

Most people in the U.S. can vote by mail now. The convenience factor is undeniable. It’s beneficial to those who are elderly or otherwise homebound. Do you vote by mail? Tap or click here for steps to change your address if you move.

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Review: Smarter Keurig lets you brew coffee from your phone

Review: Smarter Keurig lets you brew coffee from your phone

For many of us, that morning cup of coffee is necessary to start the day on the right track. It’s usually more than a couple of cups for me, but I could rarely get through a whole pot when I used to own a traditional brewer.

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Review: Anker Soundcore Frames merge sound, sunglasses and style

Review: Anker Soundcore Frames merge sound, sunglasses and style

Remember Google Glass? This, let’s say unique, introduction to smart eyewear was supposed to change the tech world as we knew it. And when it was finally made available to the masses in 2014, it certainly made headlines … but not in the way Google had hoped.

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Is banking on your phone safe? 6 ways to make sure you're not scammed

Is banking on your phone safe? 6 ways to make sure you're not scammed

Banking on your phone opens up a whole new world of convenience — as well as a new world of risks. Nowadays, you don’t have to drive down to your local bank branch to make a deposit. Instead, you can bank from the comfort of your home.

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Review: Smart locks from August, Yale

Review: Smart locks from August, Yale

Just about everything in your home, from your thermostat to your refrigerator and coffee table, has been given the smart home treatment. While many smart home gadgets are meant for convenience, others are designed with security in mind.

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Sanitizing Amazon boxes, taking Uber and getting food properly during the coronavirus pandemic

Sanitizing Amazon boxes, taking Uber and getting food properly during the coronavirus pandemic

Suddenly, without time for much preparation, Americans were told to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19. Remote working was no longer an option just for adventurous millennials. Parents were also asked to become full-time teachers.

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Which internet browser is best? Comparing Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge and Tor

Which internet browser is best? Comparing Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge and Tor

We all have our preferred browser. Maybe you did the research to find the best option for you, or you stick with the one that came pre-installed on your computer.

Well, if you haven’t put much thought into which one you use to surf the web, now is the time. Spam and phishing attempts are hitting astronomical rates, and your browser can go a long way in keeping you safe from clever cybercriminals.

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Tech how-to: Send texts from your computer

Tech how-to: Send texts from your computer

Our phones have become the central hub for all forms of communication. Many of us are often plastered to our devices, even when we’re at our computers. Responding to a never-ending flow of messages while trying to get work done can be exhausting. If only we could reply to texts without having to pick up our phones!

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Money-saving trick to stream everything you want without breaking the bank

Money-saving trick to stream everything you want without breaking the bank

Are you a cord-cutter who relies on streaming services? Perhaps you’re a cord-never (those who have never signed up for cable) who utilizes apps like Roku, Apple+ and Pluto TV for watching television, or maybe you prefer a combo of cable and streaming services.

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Why autocorrect makes so many mistakes on iPhone and iPad and how to correct it

Why autocorrect makes so many mistakes on iPhone and iPad and how to correct it

Autocorrect is everyone’s best friend and worst enemy. Yet, it can be frustrating, especially when it misses things it should have caught and when it corrects things it shouldn’t — we’ve all experienced that. Apple has simple solutions to help fix the small bugs of autocorrect.

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3 million cars vulnerable to serious hacking attacks

3 million cars vulnerable to serious hacking attacks

Connected cars are continually increasing in popularity. With that comes an increase in susceptibility to cyberattacks. Now hackers are using that connection to take control of smart cars. You won’t believe how they were able to do it.

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