This tech mistake is costing you money every single month

It’s easy to overspend on consumer tech or make a purchase that won’t last long. For example, you don’t need to pay for Microsoft Office and shouldn’t waste money on cheap chargers. Tap or click for five ways you’re wasting cash on tech.

Then there are all the subscriptions you pay for and don’t use. Streaming services are a major culprit; there’s only so much time in a day, and you can’t watch everything. Tap or click for my guide to watching your shows for free instead.

You probably don’t know that you can share various accounts with family and friends or, at the very least, get a nice discount. It’s not your fault. Tech companies don’t promote this money-saving secret you can thank me for later.

Let’s start with Amazon

If you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership, you might not realize it’s much more than free shipping. Tap or click here for my favorite perks. I suggest getting a 30-day free trial to ensure it’s worth it because it’s not cheap.

An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 monthly or $139 a year. You can split this cost with a friend or family member and still reap all the benefits.

Amazon Household allows two adults to share Prime benefits and digital content like e-books. Each person gets their own account, so you do maintain some privacy. Keep in mind you will have access to each other’s payment methods. Only share your account with someone you trust.

You can also add up to four teens (ages 13 to 17) to the plan for free. Each teen will get their own Amazon login, and an adult must approve all purchases on the plan.

Visit amazon.com/myh/manage to create or manage your household.

While talking about Amazon, the tech giant knows a lot about you. Prepare to be shocked. Here’s how to see it all.

Apple makes it cheaper to bundle

Apple One bundles Apple services for a lower monthly price than you’d pay for each service on its own. These savings may be worth it if several family members use iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV, Apple Music and iCloud.

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

Tech 101: How to record your computer screen

Sharing your screen can revolutionize video meetings. Whether on Zoom, Google Meet or Skype, you can use many features to enhance your experience. Tap or click here for five pro tips for making the most out of video conferences.

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Work for a nonprofit or school? The more you get for free (or cheap), the better. TechSoup is a solid resource for finding discounts and free stuff you might not know about, like Microsoft Office or IT help.

Cassette sales skyrocket, side gig brings in 40K/mo and secret keylogger signs

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Plus, I was in the pool when a spy drone hung out in my yard. I’ll tell you what to do if this happens to you. You don’t have to waste money on Microsoft Office, get out of people search sites, and the best way to get internet off the grid.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Money tight? 14 great things you can get for free

There’s always something new to spend money on regarding tech. Here’s a secret some companies don’t want you to know: You can get a lot without spending a dime.

Speaking of money, I hear from people all the time who want to cut Netflix, Hulu, and other expensive streaming services. Did you know that mobile carriers offer free streaming service subscriptions as part of their plans? Here’s what T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T are offering.

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10 tech freebies to grab now: Software, phone service, logos and more

There’s never a dull moment when you own your own business. You don’t report to anyone but are on the hook for all the big decisions. You have complete control over what you spend your money on, but the bills never stop coming. Tap or click for small business tips that will save you money.

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How to ditch Office for Docs and Excel for Sheets

Microsoft Office has been around for a long time, and understandably, people love the familiarity with its applications. But it is expensive.

As more businesses and educational institutes switch to Google programs such as Docs and Sheets, it can’t hurt to check them out. And you can save money by switching.

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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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PC acting up after the latest update? Try this

The latest update from Microsoft fixes 14 issues in Windows 10, but it’s not going smoothly for some.

There is always a chance that something can go wrong during an operating system’s update, and the last patch is creating havoc for some users. It’s not as severe as past update consequences, but it can still hamper productivity.

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5 small biz freebies to save you some cash, from shipping materials to logos

Owning or working for a small business is full of joys: Seeing your business take off, working closely with a small team and watching your ideas flourish.

It’s not all a walk in the park, though. Small teams, limited budgets and not enough time in the day can make things challenging.

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Use Outlook or Microsoft Office? Malware red flag uses a new twist on an old trick

Cybercriminals constantly update their techniques to make malware, viruses and other cyber-threats as hard as possible for humans and artificial intelligence to spot. Antivirus apps check for infected files and malware, but there’s one kind of attack that humans and apps are relatively bad at noticing.

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The best free templates for Microsoft Word and LibreOffice

When Microsoft Word came out in 1983, it was a game-changer for college students and business professionals alike. They could say goodbye to typewriters and use a straightforward word processor to get the best results.

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Update your PC to patch 6 zero-day flaws, 90 vulnerabilities

The first major updates of the year from software developers pack a bit of a punch. Microsoft released a swath of vulnerability fixes in what has become known as Patch Tuesday. Tap or click here to find out why you are seeing more ads on Microsoft Edge.

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9 free software copycats that work better than the real expensive programs

There are more features and tricks hiding in your Mac or PC than most people will ever know. You can do even more if you know the right software to download.

If you’re relying on your computer’s built-in spell check to catch all your grammar mistakes, for example, it’s time to upgrade. Here are five stellar options to make you sound smarter.  

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Update your PC - New Windows fix patches 55 bugs and major vulnerabilities

Microsoft released another round of updates on what is commonly known as Patch Tuesday. The November edition is a significant one, as it fixes several zero-day exploits. No more passwords? Microsoft says you can ditch yours and use one of these secure methods instead.

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Use Google Drive on the go? You're going to love this new offline feature

Google Drive is a great online application to collaborate with people and keep documents in one place. Even if you don’t have Microsoft Office, Drive allows you to use Google’s similar tools. Tap or click here for 15 smart ways to get more out of Google Drive.

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Stop paying for software! 7 free versions of popular programs everyone uses

Some of the best software for your professional life comes with a heavy price tag. Luckily, there are a ton of great resources that carry you through heavy tasks. For example, you can visit free editing websites to check your writing for grammar issues. Tap or click here for five free sites that keep your writing professional and typo-free.

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Patch your Windows PC now to stamp out 50 vulnerabilities

Microsoft has rolled out another slew of fixes for Windows vulnerabilities in the June edition of Patch Tuesday. The second Tuesday of every month is when major software developers fix problems with their software.

The latest update corrects 50 security flaws. It includes six zero-day vulnerabilities and a handful that have been marked as critical or high priority. The new version of Windows might be on the horizon, but Microsoft isn’t slowing down on updates.

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Kim's 5 reasons to set up a financial Chromebook

Do you have a Chromebook in your arsenal of gadgets? If you don’t know, they are similar to a laptop but just a little bit different. Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, which was specifically built to be used with an internet connection.

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Tech how-to: Sign any document digitally

Think about what we had to go through to sign documents and send them back in olden times. If the person wasn’t in the same room, you probably had to print it out on paper, sign it with a pen, snail mail it or scan it on your PC and email it back.

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