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Tech fix: One household email makes sense

Ever wonder why you didn’t get that alert from the city telling you your water usage is high, or from your streaming service about a price increase (again), or from the landscaper, who needs your OK to replace the dead plants?

In most relationships, one person handles certain things and the other picks up the rest. For example, I order the groceries, handle all financial matters and, of course, oversee the tech in our lives. Barry deals with the contractors working around the house, our insurance for everything and our car collection.

When you live with someone, there are tons of decisions you make together — big ones, like “Should we buy a new house?” and smaller ones, like “Do you want chicken or salmon for dinner?” Then, there’s the question that lands somewhere in the middle: “What’s the login for Netflix again?”

The solution: A joint email account for shared services

This works great for us, so I wanted to share it with you as a way to simplify your tech life. Creating a joint email account is an easy way to make your shared life smoother. Here’s how it works:

  1. Pick your email platform. The where is up to you. If you’re both Gmail fans, go for that. Prefer Outlook or Yahoo? They work, too. Make sure to pick a platform you’re both comfortable using. 
  2. Create a new email address. Choose a name that’s easy to remember and identifies the account as being for you both. It could be something like “LucyAndRickyHome” or “TheRicardoHousehold.” You can also go for a shared interest or inside joke both of you would recognize instantly.
  3. Set up forwarding and notifications. Make sure you both have access to this joint email account. You can set up forwarding rules so emails sent to the shared address are forwarded to your personal accounts, too. This way, you won’t miss important messages, even if you forget to check the shared inbox.

When to use the joint email

  • Shared services: Subscriptions and memberships you both use, such as streaming services, grocery shopping and meal deliveries.
  • Household accounts: Utility bills, mortgage payments, home maintenance services and anything else related to running the household.
  • Finances: Bank accounts, loan information and credit card accounts where both of you need access to receive statements and notifications.
  • School or kid-related accounts: If you have children, use this joint account for school communications, extracurricular activities and medical appointments.
  • Caregivers: If you’re caring for an older adult or disabled family member, consider using one email account for pharmacy orders, medical updates and calendar notifications.

Keep your personal emails separate

While the joint account is handy for shared matters, it’s still important for you to have your own personal email account for individual interests and professional needs. Whether you’re catching up on Lucy’s job at the candy factory (wasn’t that the funniest skit?) or choosing who manages home insurance, you’ve got an email setup that works for everyone.

A little Lucille Ball wisdom to leave you with: “A man who correctly guesses a woman’s age may be smart, but he’s not very bright.” 😂

Don’t get left behind – Stay tech ahead

Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.