Do you think adding a warning label to social media will actually help all the issues they’ve created?
House swapping is hot right now – Do it the right way
Want to try out a new city or travel over the long term for cheap? You need to know about home swapping. There are dozens of home-swapping groups on Facebook for everyone from women over 50 to vegans who like baseball. But it’s not for everyone, and you have to do your homework.
Swap smart
My advice: Eat the fee the first time and use a third-party site to see if home swapping is for you. (I’ve got options and costs below.) You can try it by yourself to avoid fees, but be sure to do your due diligence and create an agreement.
🚩 Secrecy is the biggest red flag. If the other party refuses to video-chat on a platform like FaceTime or sign a formal agreement, move on. Ask about security systems and anyone else who has access to the property while you’re staying there, too.
What about your home?
If you’re a renter, check your rental agreement for restrictions and rules around subletting. And if you own your home and still owe on your mortgage, see if your loan agreement lets you rent your place.
Take precautions. Have a plan in place for unexpected maintenance problems and a local contact for your swapper to reach out to about plumbing issues, TVs or pests.
Lock any closets and rooms off-limits to guests, and store all your valuables in a portable safe (this one’s $19).
Insurance is part of this convo, too. Ask if your renter’s or homeowner’s policy extends to anyone you swap homes with. You may need additional coverage.
🦺 Guardhog and Pikl specialize in insurance just for home sharing. Who knew?
Arrivederci, beaches
When you’re getting started with home swapping, going through a vetted third-party website is your safest bet. Here are a few to check out:
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Get smart
Given how often smartwatches save lives, you need one. They can spot health issues and contact emergency services if there’s a fall or accident. Bonus: They’re all on sale right now.
- The Apple Watch Series 9 is the latest and greatest, with all the bells and whistles.
- The Apple Watch SE is a more budget-friendly option.
- The Pixel Watch 2 is perfect for Google and Android fans.
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 pairs with a Galaxy phone.
🤣 Having a smartwatch is great. On the one hand, you have something you can use to answer calls; on the other hand, you don’t.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Your car is watching
Automakers and insurance companies are teaming up to share data on your driving habits. Also, EV sales are struggling, and there are issues with Airbnb. I speak with a guy whose identity was stolen, and now the scammer is using his info to con others.
Don’t buy one: After about two years of use, Apple’s M1 iMacs reportedly get dark horizontal lines across the screens. The issue appears to be hardware-related, and unless you have AppleCare+ coverage, repairs run up to $700. FYI, the M3 iMac (2023) is rumored to have this problem, too.
$300,000
For a souped-up Land Rover Defender … that’ll probably break down. Fans of the Defender are modifying iconic older models notorious for mechanical issues. One guy dropped six figures (paywall link) to trick out his 1986 Defender. Meanwhile, his gas gauge still doesn’t work. 🤦
✈️ U.S. air control systems are outdated: They won’t be modernized until 2030 at the earliest. Why the delay? Because some systems are over 40 years old, making parts hard to find. Add in FAA management issues (slow to start new projects, poor oversight and planning), and we’re running on seriously old tech. Reassuring, right?
Selling your wares on Amazon? Amazon’s new Amelia AI assistant helps third-party sellers with advice, queries and account issues. It can also assist you with prepping for the holidays or getting a quick overview of your sales and inventory reports. Find Amelia in Seller Central. It’s in beta and available to select users for now.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Last messages from the Titan submersible: The crew experienced communication issues en route to the Titanic but said things were “all good here.” At about 3,350 meters deep, with pressure at 4,900 pounds per square inch, they sent a final text — “dropped two wts” (weights) — and then contact was lost. So sad.
Wi-Fi master: Angry IP Scanner keeps track of everything connected to your network. It scans for IP addresses and other information about the devices connected. It helps troubleshoot tech issues and catch hackers or moochers since it pinpoints unknown or suspicious devices.
🧑🚀 All suited up with no space to go: Two NASA astronauts are stranded on the ISS because of ship thruster issues. One return plan was for the pair to hitch a ride on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Bad news: Their spacesuits aren’t compatible. Even if they were, the Dragon capsule is full with no room to plug in.
🚨 How Charmin! Major TP-Link warning: U.S. lawmakers want to investigate TP-Link over fears China could use these routers to spy on Americans and the U.S. military. TP-Link is a hugely popular brand, but with routers made in China and a history of security issues, the concerns are real. Feeling uneasy? Here are a few steps to secure your router.
🙏🏻 Let’s say a quick prayer: A mom saw a baby on TikTok who closely resembled hers, diagnosed with a rare terminal illness called Sanfilippo Syndrome. The baby also had the same symptoms as her child: Ear infections, distended belly and sleep issues. Testing confirmed her fears. Sadly, there’s no cure yet.
👀 Insurance spies in the skies: Homeowners insurance companies are using drones to spot potential issues. One guy had his policy canceled because of moss on the roof … that he cleaned up after the drone had already snapped a pic. I warned this was happening back in April. Listen here, in case you missed it.
Parenthood is the scariest “-hood” of all: A new study shows that kids who are glued to TVs, phones, computers and tablets are more likely to have emotional and social issues later in life. Early warning signs include brattiness, possessiveness and addictive behavior around screen time. Share this fact with parents of young kiddos.
Quick cleanup: Clearing the cache on your browser can fix annoying display or loading issues. With your browser open, hit Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows, or hold down Shift and click your browser’s Refresh button (the one that looks like this — ⟳ — next to the address bar).
📶 Wi-Fi issues on Windows 11? Forget the network and start fresh. In the taskbar, click the network icon > the network status button (top left). Right-click the network you’re on, then hit Forget. Now, go back to the network icon, click the arrow next to the wireless icon, and re-add your Wi-Fi network. Lovely.
Commitment issues: Remember when meeting the parents was a big relationship milestone? Now it’s saving someone’s full name in your contacts. Folks these days aren’t wasting precious phone memory on casual flings (paywall link). It’s all fun and games until you text the wrong date.
You’ll hear no objection from me: People are turning to small claims courts to tackle social media account issues, especially with Meta offering little to no help. Ray Palena got his Facebook account back this way after all other methods had failed. Smart idea, really. Facebook’s customer support is totally useless, and filing fees are typically under $100.