7 minute read
Post-Pandemic Tech Hacks That Make Life Easier
If you are reading this column, you live in a community experiencing the following problems: Employers in every industry are struggling to find people who will show up to a job interview, let alone a shift of actual work.
Employees are struggling to find jobs that pay enough to cover gas, groceries and rent. Employers must factor increased mandatory leave, benefits and other factors into the budget for salary, which can be difficult for everyday workers.
The price of everything has increased because of a perfect storm of supply shortages, worker shortages and the fact that 80% of U.S. currency has been printed in the past two years. Too much money chasing too few products is the definition of inflation.
All of that paints a grim picture, but hardship and opportunity share the same foundation. While many in Generation Y and Z are using new tools to avoid the rigors and pains of living structured and scheduled lives, Boomers and Generation Xers can use the same resources to help shelter themselves from the impending financial, employment and cultural storms that linger on the horizon.
Here are a few tools and resources that have been developed or improved during the pandemic lockdown that can also be used to help you stay healthy, safe and productive should the recovery from the new normal last longer than the pandemic lockdown itself.
BANK FROM YOUR PHONE
Stop avoiding online transactions, but especially banking. You feel safe riding in vehicles that run on fire, explosive gasses and lethal chemical compounds. If you can trust an engineer to harness the physical and unalterable laws of physics, you can trust banks and commerce to rely on the equally unalterable laws of mathematics.
Financial transactions are encrypted so strongly they can’t be broken by anyone. If someone steals your identity or accesses your bank account, it will happen because you gave the bad guy the information to do so. It won’t be because hackers used Hollywood technology to break into your account. Paying a bill through your online bank is safer and more accurate than any process that involves humans or paper.
Your smartphone likely has the ability to act as your debit card and wirelessly pay for transactions at checkout. This is by far the safest way to pay for anything because it creates a direct encrypted payment from your bank to the business with no chance of anyone accessing your debit card, cash or personal information.
REMOTE WORK IS A VIABLE OPTION USE APPS TO MAKE SHOPPING EASIER
Ninety percent of my shopping time is spent on my phone.
For example, shopping for a $25 toaster used to involve reading tons of online reviews and then running to every possible retailer in town to check prices and availability.
Now every major retailer has an app that provides prices, sales and availability information for the specific store that I will be purchasing from. That means I know whether Target or Best Buy have the toaster in stock, how much it costs and whether I have enough loyalty points banked to use toward the purchase.
Further, when I see something on sale while shopping in the aisles of a store, I frequently check the apps of other local retailers to see if I can get a better deal elsewhere.
Apps will make your life so much easier and you will use much less gas by not running around.
Many people are afraid to use technology because they feel that it somehow increases their online presence. But the truth is, the apps only work because your presence is online. Rather than fear the digital tools that others use, I suggest you implement them to augment or even automate your life so you can streamline the day to day. ■
TALKING DIGITAL
BY ADAM COCHRAN Send your technology questions to Adam in care of Life After 50, or email him directly at AdamC@TalkingDigital.org
Working remotely is exactly what it sounds like. There are many companies that prefer to avoid the costs of real estate and maintenance by hiring people to work from wherever they are. If you are skilled in a type of work that doesn’t require you to physically work on-site, there are probably remote worker openings listed on Indeed.com or other job sites.
I have been a remote worker for my employer for six years. The pay, benefits and working conditions are the best I have ever had. If you are looking to improve your lifestyle and income, and have more quality time with your pets and family, use this era of staffing shortage to make some changes.
Here’s a tip: It’s important to use the keyword “remote work,” when searching for these types of jobs.
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How to protect yourself from holiday shopping scams
Keep scammers from playing the Grinch this year
Online scams cost Americans nearly $7 billion throughout 2021, according to the FBI, and with the holiday shopping season ramping up, it’s vital that people understand how to avoid falling victim to scams.
“Scams often increase with consumer spending, making the holidays ripe for scammers trying to take advantage of the season’s sense of urgency and scarcity,” said Amy Maliga, a financial educator with Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit counseling and debt management agency. “It’s not enough to be aware of scams, though. You have to learn how to watch for and avoid them so your happy holidays don’t turn into a nightmare.”
Maliga shared several things to watch out for to avoid falling prey to holiday shopping scams:
Use secure payment methods: Be wary of websites or sellers that request unusual payment methods like wire transfers, cashier’s checks or apps. Stick to secure payment options such as major credit cards or PayPal.
Check for site security: Look for “https” at the front of the site’s URL and the small lock icon in the browser window. These indicate that the website is secure, ensuring any data you share (such as credit card numbers or shipping details) will be encrypted when you submit it.
Watch for spelling and grammatical errors: If you notice a plethora of spelling and grammar mistakes on a website, social media posts or other promotional materials, you likely want to shop elsewhere.
Pay attention to reviews: Reviews can reveal much about online retailers and sellers. Are there lots of poor reviews from buyers who didn’t receive what they purchased? Or are there numerous glowing reviews that all read alike? Either may indicate the site isn’t what it claims to be.
Watch for “phishy” confirmation emails: If you receive a confirmation email for an order you didn’t place, ignore and delete it. Knowing people are likely making several orders, scammers will send a phishing email disguised as a confirmation notice from legitimate retailers. If it appears legit, try manually searching the order number on the retailer’s website instead of clicking on any included links.
Don’t let scammers steal your money or your holiday cheer. If a deal or website appears too good to be true, it likely is. ■
Additional resources
To combat financial scams and ensure holiday shopping success, explore Take Charge America’s Budget Tools at www.takecharge america.org/budget-tools
