Is sex appeal the key to online dating success? It used to be, but the pandemic changed our relationship goals. Here’s the new top priority, in 60 seconds.
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The biggest mistake I made buying a new phone
When Apple, Samsung or Google announce a new smartphone, it’s big news. The latest iPhone, Pixel or Galaxy phones are status symbols in their own right. Though there are more manufacturers, these are among the most popular in the U.S.
Not long ago, companies like Nokia, LG, Blackberry and Motorola were churning out phones that sold quite well. Some went on to become the bestselling phones of all time. Remember the Motorola Razr? Kim had one in hot pink! Tap or click here for 10 of the most iconic phones we miss.
I recently purchased a brand new phone, but even before then, I realized I had made a big blunder with my last one. Keep reading so you don’t make this costly mistake.
Here’s the backstory
In late 2019, I went to replace my iPhone X. It was a great phone, but I was ready for an upgrade. I wanted an iPhone 11 Pro Max with 512 GB of storage — the latest and greatest from Apple.
The salesperson asked if I would consider leasing the phone. He said I could pay a low monthly fee, which would stay about the same if I upgraded to a new phone the following year.
It sounded like a good idea! I signed an agreement for a lease and kept my old iPhone X to give to a friend.
We all know what happened in 2020. The pandemic hit, and there was too much going on for me to go through the trouble of getting a new phone. In 2021, I moved out of my apartment, delaying things further.
When Apple announced the iPhone 14 at its Far Out event this year, I watched it live while covering the story for Komando.com. The new phone features excited me enough that I ordered the 14 Pro Max with 1 TB of memory from Apple’s website a few days later. And I paid the full price upfront to own it.
Why didn’t I consider a lease? Well, I did the math to figure out how much I had paid for my 11 Pro Max from the day I got it until the present. And yikes, my monthly payments totaled more than the original $1,099 price I would have paid to buy it outright.
When my new 14 Pro Max arrived, I took it to T-Mobile so I could turn in my old phone. Had I purchased my iPhone 11 Pro Max, I could’ve kept it or traded it for some money. Instead, the store took it back, and I had nothing to show for it.
Booking a flight? Do it on this day of the week
Are you planning to travel this holiday season? If so, you want the most comfortable experience on your flight. Tap or click here for an inexpensive carry-on footrest to make your next flight more relaxing.
Now that you’re ready for a comfortable flight, it’s time to book it. But when exactly is the best time to book a flight? You’ve probably heard that it’s cheaper to book on a Tuesday. But like technology and people’s habits change, so do the optimal booking days.
Drive for Uber? These drivers fear they've been transporting drugs
Getting around town can be tricky at the best of times. Luckily, a few services are happy to ferry you to your destination. Depending on where you live, Uber might be the undisputed champion.
The company has been so successful that it launched a private delivery service two years ago. Instead of transporting people, Uber Connect offers same-day door-to-door deliveries, just like a regular courier company.
Free or low-cost internet? Here’s who qualifies and how to get it
Depending on where you live, you might not have many internet access options. That can leave you with a more expensive package than you budgeted for or insufficient speeds. However, things are slowly changing as some cable companies are offering free internet services.
Watch out for these scams surrounding the death of Queen Elizabeth II
The more widespread the news, the more scams and hoaxes you’ll see. The pandemic gave rise to countless scams involving fake news, fake testing kits, and dangerous misinformation disguised as legitimate research. We saw similar tactics when Russia invaded Ukraine.
One big mistake most remote workers make
Time management is an essential part of working remotely. However, you can get in trouble if you don’t have a solid schedule for your workload and deadlines. Several apps can help, or if you have a team that works remotely, here are some tips on doing it efficiently.
Watch out! 10 warning signs a job offer is actually a scam
Looking for a remote job? Tap or click for work from home jobs in high demand.
These positions were already in demand before the pandemic, as they offer more flexibility and a work-life balance you won’t find in an office position. But while you may be on the prowl for a job that won’t require you to commute, you need to be careful of what you’re getting yourself into. It could be a scam.
Watch out! These QR code scams are tough to spot
QR codes have been around for some time, but they saw an increase in usage as the COVID-19 pandemic became more serious. For example, the square black and white images made it safer for people to view a restaurant’s menu. Instead of physically handling it, they can see it on their phones.
Money tip: 9 ways to make sure you can return the things you buy online
Buying stuff is fun, but it sometimes doesn’t work out as planned. Your purchase is either defective or not what you expected. Not to worry — you can always return it for a full refund, right?
Did you know that Costco’s “100% satisfaction guarantee” statement can actually be taken at face value? You can bring back anything from a dead plant to partially eaten food! Tap or click to hear Kim tell you all about it.
Shopping for a used car? Here's a sure sign of a scam
Buying a new vehicle is expensive, and people still feel the pinch brought on by the global pandemic. Sales of new cars fell by 12% in June compared to the same month a year ago, with passenger cars the hardest hit. If you rent a car, this mistake risks your data and money.
Want to make new friends? 5 apps to meet a pal online or in your city
Making friends used to be easy enough. You met people at work, your local gym or community events on the weekends. Then the pandemic hit and made it much more challenging to meet new people.
Some turn to dating apps. But those are full of scammers that you don’t want to run into. Things are so bad the FBI issued a warning about dating apps. Tap or click here to avoid these romance scams that have cost victims millions.
These 5 tech tricks will make your life easier
It’s easy to be drawn into buying the latest and greatest tech. One of my goals is to give you ways to get more out of the tech you already own. Take Amazon Prime.
If you signed up to shop for this year’s Prime Day sales, don’t miss out on all the perks that come with your membership. Here are my favorite hidden Prime benefits.
It's not just you! Your smartphone might be ruining your memory
Can you remember any phone numbers other than your own? With the ability to store thousands of contacts on your smartphone, we no longer need to retain other people’s numbers.
And that is just one example of things we no longer need to remember. Social media apps can remind us when it’s someone’s birthday, calendar notifications warn us of upcoming engagements, and shopping lists keep track of things we need to buy.
Good news if you rent out your property on Airbnb: No more parties allowed
Imagine renting your beautiful home to a few guests, only to be woken up in the middle of the night by phone calls and a knock on your door. The couple who rented from you is throwing a massive party without your knowledge or consent. Tap or click here for how to find the worst Airbnb scams.
Gas stimulus checks: Who qualifies and how much you could receive
The price for a gallon of gas is unbearably high for many Americans. There are places where you’ll pay more than $6 a gallon, but it depends on the state and local resources. Tap or click here for a hidden map feature that will save you money on gas.
50+ museums you can visit online for free
It’s been a while since the pandemic first hit, but there are still lasting effects around the globe. You may not be free to travel wherever you like this summer, but you can still gain access to beautiful, educational, curious and historical sites from around the world.
3 work from home mistakes you're making
We’re beyond the two-year mark of working from home here at Komando.com. There’s a good chance you’re not far behind.
All these months later, you might still be making a few mistakes that make getting your job done harder than it needs to be. Hopefully, by this point, you’ve figured out Zoom or whatever video chat program your company uses.
5 silly mistakes putting your online privacy and security at huge risk
There are so many online scams and tricks out there I can’t cover them all on my website and national radio show. I make it my duty to inform you of the tactics bad actors use to fool you.
A great podcast was the episode when I dove into the mind of a hacker. Tap or click to listen to an episode of my podcast, Kim Komando Today, with an IBM social engineer. She spills the secrets hackers use to scare and confuse people.
Renting a car? This mistake puts your data and money at risk
Going on vacation out of state or on a business trip, you sometimes need a mode of transportation. Ride-sharing companies are one option, but it’s more convenient to rent a car.
For the most part, renting a vehicle is done through a reputable agency or a recommendation of family and friends. But a recent rental car shortage might have left you empty-handed and stranded.