Some of my recommendations for using tech for time management include virtual assistants, syncable family calendars, virtual voice recorders, etc. Well, with the infusion of the iPhone into more people’s lives, staying organized has never been easier while on the go.
Ratedcolleges.com just posted an article I wanted to share called 100 Awesome Time-Saving iPhone Apps for Students and Web Workers which many of you with iPhones may find helpful. Enjoy!
So many of my clients have issues with too much paper in their homes and offices and would like to go paperless and be “green”, but they aren’t sure where to start and don’t want to spend a lot.
So here are some cheap and easy tips, with special thanks to Chris Nichols, owner of the Nichols Law Firm, who provided much content for this article. Chris consults with Attorneys interested in going paperless, so please contact him for an appointment if you’re interested or check out his blog.
- For do-it-yourselfers, Chris recommends the Xerox Documate and PaperPort software that comes with it. They allow for bulk scanning of multiple documents by inserting a blank sheet of paper in between them. Chris recommends that before puchasing equipment, decide how much scanning you'll be doing, then consider the document feeder capacity, speed, and the ease of use of the software that comes with it. He also recommends scanning at 200 dpi for faster scanning. His other tip is to purchase a 2nd monitor; one for the active work you're doing, and a second for document scanning.
- Don't have time to scan it yourself? Shoeboxed.com
will do it for you -- everything from documents, to receipts, to business cards and will even pre-categorize receipts for you so you can immediately run reports to see where your money is going. Get 2 months free if you sign up for 1 year of service!
Or use a Virtual Assistant software which will covert your voicemails into emails:
Remember the Seinfeld episode where George’s wallet was so fat he sat at an angle? Well, there’s even a tip for wallet and keychain clutter…
If you’re like most people, you’ve got a whole stack of club cards in there….a bulk warehouse card, a card for every grocery store, a Blockbuster card, etc. Or you may have a keychain that weighs a ton and is so crowded with mini-cards that you can’t get to your keys easily. Wouldn’t it be nice to carry only 1 card instead? Now you can.
Try these 2 sites:
www.justoneclubcard.com
www.keyringthing.com
Just enter the barcode numbers of all your favorite club cards, then print out one single card on your home computer or have them ship you one for every family member. Put that in your wallet and ditch the rest!
Or for those of you who prefer a more “high-tech” approach and have an iPhone or smart phone, try the CardStar app. Just enter the membership numbers and it’ll generate the barcodes on your phone for the cashier to scan. Amazing!
Ever wonder what to do with all your old eyeglasses, prom dresses, or electronics parts? Here’s a great article to help you donate and sell your used (and unique) items.
Another neat article about recycling or selling old gadgets I thought I’d share for all you techies out there whose collections of old cell phones, ipods and digital cameras keep eating up valuable storage space.
A few years back I had my credit card number stolen (not the card itself) and was lucky enough that my credit card company thought something was suspicious since it was out of state and they called me immediately to verify the transactions. They immediately cancelled the card as the thief was in the middle of another transaction.
I remember being very angry at this stranger and felt completely violated, but I knew I wasn’t helpless. I immediately called the stores where they transaction had taken place, spoke to the clerks who rang the thief up to get a description, and had them set a copy of their surveillance tapes aside for the local police to pick up. You may not have to go to that level of playing Nancy Drew if you’re a victim, and can follow these steps instead, courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website. There’s a wealth of information on Identity theft, as well as their recommendations if you think you’ve been a victim:
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert.
Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you’re entitled to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.
Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It’s important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.
If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or has fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions or if the company accepts the FTC’s ID Theft Affidavit. Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.
When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
You can file a complaint with the FTC using the online complaint form; or call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.
By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them.
Additionally, you can provide a printed copy of your online Complaint form to the police to incorporate into their police report. The printed FTC ID Theft Complaint, in conjunction with the police report, can constitute an Identity Theft Report and entitle you to certain protections. This Identity Theft Report can be used to (1) permanently block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report; (2) ensure that debts do not reappear on your credit report; (3) prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft; and (4) place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.
Call your local police department and tell them that you want to file a report about your identity theft. If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a “Miscellaneous Incident” report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. You also can check with your state Attorney General’s office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.
When you go to your local police department to file your report, bring a printed copy of your FTC ID Theft Complaint form, your cover letter, and your supporting documentation. The cover letter explains why a police report and an ID Theft Complaint are so important to victims.
Ask the officer to attach or incorporate the ID Theft Complaint into their police report. Tell them that you need a copy of the Identity Theft Report (the police report with your ID Theft Complaint attached or incorporated) to dispute the fraudulent accounts and debts created by the identity thief. (In some jurisdictions the officer will not be able to give you a copy of the official police report, but should be able to sign your Complaint and write down the police report number.)
For more information about Identity Theft or what to do if you suspect you’re a victim, visit the FTC’s Identity Theft website.
There’s a cool article on MSN that talks about some great gadgets and tips to prevent laptop theft. Thought it was worth sharing!
When working with my clients on organizing their computers, I recommend that they take the time to inventory their computer hardware to protect against theft, damage, or hardware failure. It makes reporting, returning or repairing your equipment much easier and the goverment has a great Computer Hardware Inventory form to speed it up a bit!
One of the most frequent questions I get is “How do I get more ‘me’ time?” This question usually comes from my clients who are busy parents, and let’s face it, what parents aren’t “busy” parents?
So here are a few tips to get you started:
With all the new websites and gadgets out there to help keep people organized, here are a few of my favorites to help you manage your time and combine your calendars:
