The streaming market is more crowded than ever — and every one of them wants your money. If you subscribe to Netlflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV or some combination of these, your monthly bill might be enough to make you rethink all these options. That’s why you need to look at the bottom line. In this Digital Life Hack, Kim has 9 insider tips to help you save big money and still get all the content you want.
Stuck at home? Make sure your vacation property is safe without having to travel
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Do you own a second home? It’s pretty common to own a vacation home or rental property. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 7.5 million Americans do.
With coronavirus (COVID-19) fears and travel restrictions ramping up, you might not be able to take that trip you were planning anytime soon. These are strange times and you might be worried about your other property if you can’t travel there.
That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and have safety protocols in place. This is a great idea, even when we’re not in the middle of a global pandemic. Securing your second home might sound difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are four simple ways to secure your vacation home.
1. Be neighborly
Even if you’re not BFFs with your neighbors, it’s a good idea to at least introduce yourself and get to know each other a little. That way, you can help each other out and keep an eye on each other’s property when one of you is away.
Give them a heads up when your home will be vacant so they can shoot you a text or give you a call if they see anything suspicious going on. This helps make the entire neighborhood safer.
You might not know this, but nearby homes become a higher risk after one burglary occurs in the area. Don’t give crooks a chance to sneak up to your property — stay on good terms with your neighbors.
2. Always make it look like someone’s home
Vacation properties are goldmines for burglars for the most obvious reasons: They’re vacant and the chance of thieves getting caught in the act is much lower than it would be in an occupied home.
The thing is, no one needs to know your property is vacant. If you’re not able to be there very often, hire someone to take care of the yard. Have them mow the lawn, rake leaves and shovel snow if it’s in a cold-weather area.
Another dead giveaway that a property is vacant is if it’s always dark. Install motion lights outside so if a burglar gets near, the lights turn on and frighten them away. For inside the house, consider installing lights with timers or use smart lights you can turn on and off from your device.
SimpliSafe protects your whole house in under an hour
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You’ve probably heard how easy it is to protect your family, home and valuables these days. It’s nothing like the hassle it used to be.
Technology has changed everything — and simplified it, too. That’s because wireless technology has made installing home security an afternoon project, rather than the all-day nightmare it was when techs had to drill holes in your walls, cut wires and mount a system that worked just OK.
3 critical features that make a home security system great
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Protect your home from intruders and other elemental hazards with help from our sponsor, SimpliSafe’s, complete home security system.
It’s easy to install, with no drilling involved — you can do it yourself in less than 15 minutes! Their service does not require contracts, and it offers 24/7 professional alarm monitoring for less than 50 cents a day.
5 must-have features for home security
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Throwing up a sign that reads, “Warning! Beware of dog!” isn’t strong enough security for your home. You actually need a system that will protect your most prized possessions, whether you’re home or away.
Every good security system watches your windows and doors, but you need more. Disasters like freezes, floods and fires could cost your home. We recommend our sponsor, SimpliSafe. If you’re thinking about home security, there is no better time, because SimpliSafe Home Security is offering my listeners their best deal of the year!
Comparing TV streaming devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast
Which streaming player is best? Kim breaks down the options and tells you why you may want to choose one device over the others. Whether you’re looking to cut the cord and ditch cable, or just get access to even more content, this complete guide to the top streaming devices can help.
Teen sexting
Making sure you teach your kids about online safety is important but you can never be too careful. This can come down to even the way they talk to their friend through text. Here is what to watch out for.
How to remove your personal data from broker sites and protect your privacy online
You might be shocked to see how much of your personal info is floating around online. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. We’ll show you how to keep your private information locked down and how to remove it from data broker sites that store and sell your details.
How to spot spy cameras in your vacation rental: Common hiding places | DIY Security
We’ve all heard stories of people finding hidden cameras in vacation rentals. If you’ve ditched hotels and prefer to book accommodations through sites like Airbnb and VRBO, how do you ensure your privacy isn’t being violated? In this DIY Security tip, Kim reveals common hiding places for surveillance cameras, plus shows you how sneaky hosts could conceal monitoring devices.
Why you never see brilliant blue fireworks
What’s in a firework? I’m sure you know some of it at least — a bit of gunpowder, a dash of color-changing chemicals, and a propellant to launch them into the air, right? Well, the chemistry behind fireworks is a lot more complex. Even tiny details like color are fragile enough to restrict firework makers. Now, see why blue varieties of fireworks are a rare breed to see.
Notre Dame: an exclusive first look at restoration work
Notre Dame’s tragic fire was a shock to the entire world. The centuries-old cathedral lost its magnificent gothic spire and roof in the aftermath of the blaze, but thanks to the efforts of the Paris FD, the structure of the building was saved. Now, restoration has finally begun — and everyone is excited to see Notre Dame restored to its former glory. Get a sneak peek at what’s coming in this insider video.
30 amazing colorized photographs from the 1800s
The 19th century may seem like a distant era of the past, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that long ago. After all, we had working cameras back then — even if they weren’t able to shoot in color. Now, thanks to the miracle of computers, we can see the subjects of these photos as they were in life. Will you take a step into the past?
Forget cats vs. dogs! Who would win, cougar vs. wolf?
Cats and dogs are traditional rivals for household dominance. Though some get along just fine, “fighting like cats and dogs” is so common that the image has become ingrained in popular culture. Now imagine that fight but taken to the extreme — with larger, meaner wild forms of our furry companions. Don’t worry, no animals were harmed in the making of this video, but this hypothetical match up puts two apex predators to the test.
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
Finally, one for the kids. Mickey and his friends tell three Christmas stories: “Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas,” a reminder that Christmas is so special because it only comes once a year; “A Very Goofy Christmas”, which finds Goofy trying to teach his son the joys of Santa Claus; and “Mickey & Minnie’s Gift Of The Magi”, which recreates the classic tale with the Disney icons.
There’s a deadly oasis in the Sahara Desert
In the desert, any patch of green may seem like a lifesaver, with water and shade. But for some places in the Sahara Desert, an oasis may not be so for all who travel there. For underneath the lush exterior, something more sinister waits.
‘The Tudors’ (Netflix)
This series is set in England during the Reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century. “The Tudors” follows the young king as he has to deal with conflicts inside and outside of his kingdom. If you decide to check out this series, you might recognize familiar faces such as Henry Cavill from “Man of Steel” and Natalie Dormer from “Game of Thrones.” This title is available to stream on Netflix.
Komando Dash Cam Pro now with Night Vision!
The new Komando Dash Cam Pro now has night vision! Record video from your card in HD 1080p, even at night. Have the evidence you need in the event of an accident or capture still images from a beautiful scenic drive. Get your Komando Dash Cam Pro in my shop today!
Block unwanted robocalls
Unsolicited robocalls have become a bit of an epidemic lately. A recent study shows that the number of spam calls has been rising across the country at an extremely rapid pace. Here are 3 ways to help stop them!
How to manage devices for Apple Music
If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, you might be running into a snag. In this Komando.com Flash Tip, we help you avoid reaching your device limit to keep the music playing.
Check out this weird Swiss sport that's a cross between baseball and golf
Unless you’ve spent some time in Switzerland, you probably have never heard of “Hornussen.” It’s this weird sport that looks like a mix of baseball and golf, and you play it with this really long, whip-like stick. Watch this video to see how it’s played.