Most of us have a drawer full of old gadgets lying around. Letting them pile up and collect dust isn’t just a waste of money but also a missed opportunity. You’d be surprised by how many useful things your old phone is capable of. In this Komando DIY, we’ve got four things you can do with your old smartphones after you upgrade.
The $15 gadget that cuts your electricity bill
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.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The truth about Zillow’s Zestimate
🙋♀️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.”
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.
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How to sell your iPhone safely
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
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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.
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.
Top reason to upgrade your phone to iOS 18
If you’ve got an iPhone, Apple’s latest iOS 18 update is free — and here’s why you should upgrade now.
Now is not the time to upgrade your smartphone
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If you don’t have antivirus software, you’re putting every internet-connected gadget you own at risk. Something as simple as an unchanged router password can be an entry point for an invader to shut down your phone or even taunt your children through a security camera or smart speaker.
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If you’re trying to find a job on LinkedIn, you’re facing stiff competition. It’s estimated that around 40 million people look for jobs on the site weekly. That means you should do everything possible to stand out from the crowd.
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