Do you know what you spend every year on your phone, TV and internet bills? If not, put on your guessing hat. How much does the average American spend annually on all three services combined? Is it … A.) $1,500, B.) $2,500, C.) $3,000 or D.) $4,000?
The answer: C.) $3,000. That’s more than $200,000 in a lifetime. On one hand, ouch; on the other, we do get a lot of joy out of those screens.
Tags: bills, internet, internet bills, phone, screens, services, TV
Need a brain break? Visit Wonders of Street View, an interactive map of some of the wackiest stuff on Google Maps in one place. Click “Random” in the top right corner for a new wonder. I spent too long exploring an abandoned mining town in Beaverhead County, Montana.
Fake business grants are on the rise: Red flags: You got it without applying, they contacted you on social media, and/or you’ve never heard of the “federal agency” behind the grant. They may also ask for upfront payments, say the funds can be used for “anything,” and then ask for personal info you already sent in your application. Watch out.
🔒 Use Facebook or Instagram? Meta changed its two-factor authentication rules to automatically “trust” any devices you’ve regularly used its apps on over the last two years. Disable this. Log in to either platform, then go to your Settings and click Account Center > Password and Security. Tap or click Two-factor Authentication to turn it off.
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.
I’m a clover, not a fighter: A thrifty shopper found a $655 gaming graphics card in mint condition for just $8 at Goodwill. But don’t expect the same deal anytime soon; Goodwill usually flags high-ticket items to sell on their website instead. I’m stopping by the next Goodwill I see!
Quick Amazon privacy fix: Remove items from your browsing history to avoid revealing your gift ideas or embarrassing purchases. Hover your cursor over Account & Lists and click on Browsing History. For each item you want to hide, tap Remove from view.
Quick sharing tip: Want to share a specific section of a webpage? In Google Chrome, highlight the text, right-click your selection and choose Copy link to highlight. Paste in that link, and it’ll send your recipient right to that spot.
