plans Archives

Small business owners, it’s time to upgrade

If your company is growing, you may need more than just Microsoft Excel to keep track of everything. You need high-quality finance software that gives you the complete picture. With our sponsor, NetSuite by Oracle, you can:

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Plan a picnic

Bedsheets, old quilts, checkered tablecloths — OK, picnic blankets.

Lightweight ripstop nylon that’s heat- and moisture-resistant and comes with stakes? Great picnic blanket. Plus, it’s 17% off ($9.97).
Stash your fixins in these colorful silicone collapsible containers that you can throw in the dishwasher when you get home (33% off, $19.99).
Skip disposable plates and go for this colorful wheat straw set with silverware, cups, plates and bowls — 20% off.
A little folding table (or two) to keep your plates off the ground really elevates things. This two-pack is just $21.99. Bonus: They double as lap tables once you’re back inside.
Don’t forget a portable speaker to add a little ambiance. This JBL model is 20% off, has a metal carabiner to clip it to your bag and boasts 10 hours of runtime.

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

Get a little space: Virtual desktops on Windows let you keep work, play, vacation planning and whatever else separate. Hit Windows key + Ctrl + D to create a new virtual desktop. Use Windows key + Ctrl + the left or right arrows to move between your desktops. When you’re done, hit Windows key + Ctrl + F4 to close your current virtual desktop.

Bryan Johnson says he's aging in reverse

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Remember Bryan Johnson, the tech millionaire trying not to die? He says his body now ages only 7.6 months for every 12. We’ll also cover how employers are luring people back to the office and why Apple is changing plans for the Vision Pro headset.

“Let’s double-click”: The latest corporate buzzword, “double-click” (paywall link), means to dig into something further, like, “I’ll double-click that media plan tomorrow.” Fun fact: The creator of the double-click, Apple designer Bill Atkinson, regrets it. He thinks an extra mouse button would’ve been better.

38% of millennials and Gen Z

Love travel agents. Turns out, planning a trip takes a lot of work. After nearing extinction, travel agents are making an unexpected comeback. Only 12% of Gen X and 2% of baby boomers felt the same. I hear you: “I need six months of vacation twice a year.”

AI is only as good as the prompts you give: Here are three quick ways to make yours better. First, give examples of what you want. Second, if you have an intended audience, say so. A note to your uncle and your boss should look quite different. Third, ask for a step-by-step response. It’s helpful for more complex questions, like, “How do I write a business plan?”

A buck is a buck: If you stream music on Spotify, you’re most likely on the $11.99-a-month plan that includes 15 hours of audiobooks a month, too. Don’t use ‘em? Go into your account and downgrade to “Basic” ($10.99 per month). Hey, it all adds up!

1 trillion people

How many Jeff Bezos wants to send to colonize space. It’s still more of a pipe dream than a plan. From building 20-mile-long space habitats to growing food and, ahem, doing the wild thing in space, experts say saving Earth is still a way easier option.

😎 Super useful: ShadeMap shows where shadows fall around your home at any given time of day. Smart to check if you’re taking photos, installing new blinds, planning a garden and so on.

Power move: T‑Mobile is shelling out $4.4 billion to acquire almost all of UScellular’s network and customers and compete with the Big Two (Verizon and AT&T). If you have UScellular or T‑Mobile, expect better 5G service across the country, especially in rural areas. UScellular customers can keep their current plan or switch to T‑Mobile.

🖼️ Hackers are branching out: The same hackers who infiltrated half of all Americans’ records in the recent Change Healthcare breach are at it again. They’re planning to leak names, ID numbers and birthdates from 500,000 wealthy clients at Christie’s auction house unless Christie’s pays up.

DIY on the cheap: Some local libraries rent out power tools. Who knew? If you’re planning a summer project, it’s worth stopping by your nearest branch to ask.

🎓 Share this AI tool with a teacher: Khan Academy’s AI teaching assistant, Khanmigo, is now free for teachers to whip up quick lesson plans, thanks to a donation from Microsoft. You can bet this is going to make a huge dent on teachers who sell their lesson plans on TeachersPayTeachers⁠.⁠com.

I vote for puns and pundits: Bipartisan lawmakers in Washington, D.C., finally drafted an AI plan — a 31-page “roadmap” that includes $32 billion of research and development. Then, the plan is to hand off the legislative work to Senate committees. I’m seriously thinking I should volunteer to help them out.

Plan for the future: AARP has you covered with its retirement calculator. Answer a few questions to find out how much money you need to live to retire comfortably.

Just plane awesome: Ever miss a connecting flight? Airlines are using AI to schedule planes to wait for late passengers, knowing everyone will still arrive on time. Those aboard? You’ll get real-time text messages about what’s happening. Plus, the AI pre-plans the most efficient routes, saving millions of gallons of fuel … and tons of pissed-off passengers.

Slap on the wrist: Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile will pay $10.22 million to a group of states to settle claims of false advertising. Their ads promised unlimited data plans and free phones, but guess what? Restrictions applied, conditions had to be met, and hidden fees lurked in the fine print. Check your bills.

ChatGPT prompts for planning events

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On a slim budget but want to get ideas for that big day? Here’s where AI can step in.

Get a little space: Virtual desktops on Windows let you keep work, play, vacation planning and whatever else separate. Hit the Windows key + Ctrl + D to create a new virtual desktop. Use the Windows key + Ctrl + the left or right arrows to move between your desktops. When you’re done, hit the Windows key + Ctrl + F4 to close your current virtual desktop.