Message to self

Message to self: Did you know you can message yourself in apps like WhatsApp and Slack? See if your DM app of choice does it. Yeah, it sounds a little weird, but it’s a smart way to keep something you want to remember front and center. Plus, you’re the only one who’ll see it.


Smart tips for enjoying the sun's total eclipse safely

Turn around, bright eyes — a total eclipse of the sun is coming on April 8 (they played that song at my high school prom! 💃). This is your last chance to see a full eclipse from the lower 48 states until 2044

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Shop safer online with virtual cards

Scammers love to dupe you with fake deals, get you to pay for subscriptions you don’t need, or grab your payment info on a spoof checkout page that looks just like the real deal.

On the other hand, I want to keep you safe and save you money. One of my go-to tricks for secure online shopping might be one you’ve never even heard of. 

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Be AI aware: Facebook’s new algorithm is filling people’s feeds with AI-generated images, and older adults are falling hard for their tricks. Quick crash course: Look for unnaturally smooth textures, gibberish text, and unusual teeth and fingers. I do a deep dive in tomorrow’s newsletter about spotting election fakes online, so be sure you don’t miss it.

Talk to an actual person at Amazon

For confusing situations, skip the forms and bots. An Amazon customer service rep will call you if you know this trick. 

  • While logged into your Amazon account, go to the Contact us page. 
  • Choose the issue that most closely matches your problem, then go through the form. At the end, choose Request a phone call.
  • Click that, enter your phone number, and you’ll see an estimated time before you receive the call. I’ve never waited more than three minutes. Have your order number handy!

📲 If you do need a phone number for Amazon Customer Service, it’s 1-888-280-4331. You might want to save that in your contacts. I don’t want you to get scammed by Googling support numbers that turn out fake.

Quick security boost: Check to see that no one else is poking around your account.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Is Apple’s new Journal app a major privacy nightmare?

Apple’s new Journal feature is all about capturing those little moments in life right on your iPhone. But posts started blowing up on social media that (oh no!) because of it, anyone can find your full name and location as well as read your deepest thoughts. Yikes.

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When to book a flight for summer vacation

There’s no getting around it: Seeing the world is expensive. I just went to Japan (you should totally go if you ever have the chance), and the costs add up. Sushi was one thing, but the flights? Oof.

My biggest mistake was waiting too late to iron out my plans. Hey, consider this my good deed of the week: I made the mistake so you can save a bunch of money. Let’s look at when to book and what flight to go for to make sure you make it to your destination.

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7 Mac and Windows tricks only the pros know

Think of all your good habits. You brush your teeth twice daily (and maybe even floss, right). Perhaps you make it a point to get in your steps every day or at least get some Vitamin D.

What about a little bit of tech hygiene to keep your computer happy? When you’re done browsing a webpage, press Ctrl + W on Windows or Cmd + W on Mac to close the tab you’re in.

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Crappy Wi-Fi is the worst

Your walls, furniture, baby monitor and microwave might be making your connection worse. Let’s fix that for you with a few tricks of the well-connected trade. 

  • Choose the path of least resistance. Ceilings, furniture and other physical obstacles can weaken your signal. Instead of putting your router in a cluttered room, go for an open space.
  • Get it away from metal, brick and concrete; they’re notorious for blocking Wi-Fi signals.
  • Put your router up high, like on a shelf or mounted near the ceiling if you can.
  • If your router has antennas, move them around so they’re all pointing in different directions.
  • Keep your router around three feet away from other devices, especially baby monitors, kitchen appliances, cordless phones and Bluetooth-enabled gadgets.

I’m a tech expert and you need to make these tech changes now before it’s too late

Sometimes in life, you just can’t go back. I’m thinking of all the folks I’ve talked to who lost crazy amounts of money to scammers pretending to be in love.

We can’t go back to our old devices, either — as much as I miss that hot-pink Razr. On second thought, the iPhone it is. The same goes for certain steps in our digital lives. Follow the steps below, then pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

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Would you pay $2,565 for a good night’s sleep?

I feel like crap if I don’t get a good night’s sleep. I bet you do, too. We’re not alone. The National Sleep Foundation says one in three of us isn’t getting enough ZZZs.

Shorting yourself on shut-eye can cause big problems, everything from less creativity and heart issues to increasing your risk of depression. And that means some folks are shelling out major cash on luxury sleep retreats, aka “sleep tourism.” Just when you think you’ve seen it all.

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