upgrades Archives

The $15 gadget that cuts your electricity bill

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It’s only March, and we’re nearing 100 degrees in Phoenix. I’m already sweating, dreading my power bills. It got me thinking about the stuff in your house that’s sucking up electricity 24/7, even when it’s turned off.

Phantom power may not seem like a big deal, but those little energy leaks can add hundreds of dollars a year to your power bill. The fix? A smart plug. It’s one of the cheapest smart home upgrades you can make, and it starts saving you money the second you plug it in.

💡 Smart plug 101

These tiny devices go between your wall outlet and whatever you’re powering — a TV, lamp, fan, coffee maker, you name it. Connect it to your Wi-Fi, then you can control the power from your phone or with your voice, using Alexa or Google Assistant.

You can set timers, monitor energy usage or just kill power completely when you’re not using something. Sweet.

💸 Here’s how it saves you money

Shuts off phantom load: Stops electronics from quietly draining power all night. Your TVs, microwave, game consoles, chargers and even that Keurig that only brews one cup a day are guilty.
Scheduled shutdown: Automatically turns off items like heated blankets or air purifiers after bedtime or when you leave the house.
Remote access: Forgot to turn something off? Don’t want to get your butt off the couch? Open the app and do it from anywhere.
Energy monitoring: Some models show exactly how much electricity a device uses, so you know what’s worth unplugging.

🔌 Best budget smart plugs (all under $20)

I did the hard work to tell you which ones are best and for what purpose. These are Amazon’s Big Spring Sale prices. So get ’em now before the sale is over!

Kasa smart plug (2 for $14, 25% off): Plug it in, download the app and setup is basically done. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Amazon Basics (2 for $14, 15% off): Super simple setup on this one, too. Good buy if you have Echos around the house.

EIGHTREE (4 for $20, 33% off): Sleek round design, and compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.

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The truth about Zillow’s Zestimate

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🙋‍♀️Raising my hand … Hello, everyone. My name is Kim, and I am a Zillow junkie.

I have saved every home I owned, own now and would like to own. It’s fun to track what Zillow thinks the places are worth in what they call a “Zestimate.”

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Staple of the team

📝 These nifty upgrades go a long way.

Turn any space into a mini-office with a portable lap desk (13% off).
When you’re at your desk, kick your feet up on an ergonomic footrest.
Keep your tech tidy with a valet tray (12% off) that charges ’em wirelessly.
More ports, less stress. This USB C hub (24% off) simplifies your dongles.
Scan and upload your notes to the cloud with a reusable spiral notebook.

💻 Privacy, please: Keep prying eyes away with a laptop screen for your MacBook or PC (10% off).

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Is your phone expired?

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No matter how well you treat your smartphone, it won’t last forever. Here’s how to tell when it’s time for an upgrade.

🆕 Sweet Windows 11 upgrade: A new optional update lets you pass files between your PC and Android phone faster and more easily using Microsoft’s Phone Link app. Bonus upgrade: Windows Narrator (the screen reader function) can scan more text. To update: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Make sure you download KB5041587 and then Restart your PC.

200M weekly active users

On ChatGPT, twice the count from a year ago. OpenAI says 92% of Fortune 500 companies (and mine!) use it. Upgrade your AI skills with my easy-to-read guide that’s great for beginners.

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5 hidden fees costing your small business money

Starting your own business can be exciting, but it often comes with a rocky road ahead. Those rocks will cut into your wallet through several expenses. Miscalculating the daily costs of running a company can hurt you in the long run.

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Free online financial calculators to get debt under control, plan for retirement and see your net worth

If you need help managing your money, you’ve come to the right place. We have tons of financial tips for investors and small business owners. Case in point: Here are 10 free spreadsheet templates to help you get a handle on your money.

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Black Friday deals under $25

😎 Because giving good gifts shouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket.

Electric salt and pepper grinders (20% off, $19) are a fun kitchen upgrade for the cook who has it all.
A new Crock-Pot (50% off, $25), because every family still has that crusty 30-year-old one that shows up at all the parties.
These memory foam slippers ($16) look like Uggs but are a quarter of the price.
Turn on the coffee machine before leaving bed with a voice-controlled smart plug (48% off, $13). So good.
This vitamin C serum ($21) is so popular, it’s almost always sold out! Grab it while it’s 56% off.
A lighted vanity mirror (53% off, $19) will help them reflect on how good their skin looks. 😏

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Smart ways to make more money and find new customers

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Small business owners must build trust, set trends and share their customers’ values. Connecting with customers is one of the most important ways to make money.

Success starts close to home. Before connecting with customers, you must build strong bonds with your teammates. Tap or click here for five leadership secrets every small business owner should know.

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How to stay safe on public Wi-Fi

You don’t leave your front door unlocked. So why would you use public Wi-Fi networks without protection? Defend your private data from cybercriminals in public places with these five tips.

If you listen to The Kim Komando Show and Kim’s podcasts, you know about digital dangers. Accessing the internet via public Wi-Fi networks can heighten these risks even more.

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Best early Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sales

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Amazon’s big Prime Big Deal Days sale isn’t for a couple of weeks, but there are already a ton of bargains to be had. By popular request, I’ve included a bunch below.

🛑 FYI: To score these deals, you’ll need a Prime membership. Use this link for a 30-day free trial.

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We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

How to sell your iPhone safely

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Ready to upgrade to the iPhone 16? Here’s your guide to selling your old iPhone and getting the most out of it!

Master Excel with these 5 genius tricks

You can’t keep track of everything on paper. Excel can play a significant role in your daily workload. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro user, there’s much to learn — like these five useful Excel tricks.

Want to become an Excel expert? It’s a good strategy for small business owners who want to grow this year. After all, you’ll generate tons of data. Speaking of which, here’s how to stop third parties from selling your data.

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5 free resources to grow your business

Entrepreneurs and small business owners need all the help they can get. When you’re a self-starter, you’re constantly on the go, multitasking and doing all you can to grow your company quickly. Luckily, there are a ton of free small business resources that can help you along the way.

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Top reason to upgrade your phone to iOS 18

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If you’ve got an iPhone, Apple’s latest iOS 18 update is free — and here’s why you should upgrade now.

Labor Day 2024: Best deals on tech and more on Amazon

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Ah, Labor Day — time for burgers, poolside relaxation and unbeatable deals! Whether you’re in the market to upgrade your tech, add smart home gadgets or finally score that item you’ve been eyeing, I’ve got you covered.

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Amazon Labor Day sales: Deals on home goods and tech

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If you know me, you know I love a sale. Amazon’s Labor Day weekend deals are here, and I did some digging so you don’t have to. Here’s a link to everything on sale if you want to browse. Have fun!

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We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

🎮 New Xbox consoles drop Oct. 15: The 1TB Xbox Series X now comes without a disc drive and starts at $450 ($50 less). The Xbox Series S gets a storage upgrade to 1TB (up from 512GB), but the price jumps to $350. The special edition Xbox Series X with 2TB of storage? $600. If you already have an Xbox, save your money and get a storage expansion card. Yup, Santa’s bag is going to be loaded.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Now is not the time to upgrade your smartphone

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With Google’s new Pixel phones costing extra for AI features and Apple’s iPhone 16 soon to be released, it’s worth holding off a bit longer.