tutorials Archives

The folks trading retirement for influencer status

Who do you imagine when I say “social media influencer?” I’ll bet a young, hot model or a chiseled guy into cars. It’s time to expand your horizons.

I love that Joy Ryan didn’t even get her passport until she was 91. At 94, she’s on a mission to visit every continent with her grandson. So far, she’s at four out of seven. Joy is also the oldest person to visit all 63 U.S. national parks.

She’s posting “Grandma Joy’s Road Trip” on Instagram. She’s part of the trend of “grandfluencers” (“grandparent” and “influencer”) racking up millions of followers and fans of all ages. Maybe this is your sign to get this idea going with your grandparents, parents or even yourself.

Defying stereotypes

You probably think grandfluencers’ fans are older adults, too, right? Nope, most are young adults.

Take 94-year-old Lillian Droniak, aka “Grandma Droniak.” She went viral by laying down the three rules she wants people to follow at her funeral: Cry, but not too much (don’t embarrass yourself); Bertha isn’t invited (Who’s she?); and get drunk afterward.

Her 14.6 million TikTok followers love her sass, and I do, too. After she was hospitalized for breaking her leg, she shrugged it off, saying she “slayed too hard.” Love her.

Then, there’s 78-year-old Joan MacDonald. She was overweight and struggling with health issues. With the help of her daughter, a fitness coach, she now deadlifts 175 pounds for her 2 million Instagram followers and sports a bodybuilder’s physique, along with crop tops. She’s proof it’s never too late for a glow-up.

Offering up wisdom

Navy vet Kenny Jary, or “patriotickenny,” tells stories and tries out new tech with his 2.7 million followers. The 82-year-old has a chronic lung condition and gets around with a mobility scooter.

When Kenny’s last scooter broke down, his followers raised money for a new one. He’s since paid it forward and helped 119 other vets with their mobility needs. How awesome is that?

Be yourself

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Tips to take the best holiday photos

Forget getting everyone together at Christmas for a photo opp and having them all say, “Cheese!” Instead, use words that end in ‑ah. These sounds put the muscles around the mouth to work, creating a genuine smile. Try “yoga,” “mocha” or “banana.”

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It’s a new year

🥳 So try something new! These all sound like a blast to combat the post-holiday blues.

This pickle kit lets you ferment and pickle anything your heart desires. My favorite? Red onions, yum!
Crotchet a cute little dinosaur with a crotchet kit for beginners ($25). The step-by-step video tutorials are so helpful.
Want to get into podcasts (ahem, like mine)? You need a nice set of earbuds like these* that sound great, have a 32-hour battery life and are a fraction of the price of AirPods.
This cocktail codex (52% off) shows you the fundamentals of drinkmaking and how to make every kind of cocktail. It even gives substitutes if you’re missing any ingredients!
Try your hand at calligraphy with this workbook for beginners (29% off, $20).
An indoor herb garden kit (19% off) lets you grow your own herbs and veggies. It comes with a bunch of different pre-seeded pods that make it easy.

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

Brush up: Microsoft offers free online training for Office programs, including video tutorials, interactive guides and practice exercises. Sorry, there’s no secret for making Teams better.

Small-biz boost: Amazon is giving over $250,000 in grants to small businesses that earn less than $1 million per year. Plus, it’s rolling out a new Small Business Success Studio — think free tutorials on loan applications and website optimization. Applications close May 24.

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

Don’t fall for it! Hackers are trying to get you to scam yourself

You’re pulling your hair out, trying to fix something on your computer. You Google it and find what looks like a helpful website or a tutorial with easy step-by-step instructions.

Phew, you’re finally solving your problem, but hold up! You’ve just walked into a “scam-yourself” attack. Cybercreeps use this clever strategy to trick you into compromising your tech so they don’t have to do the dirty work.

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Sick of spaghetti? How to get out of your cooking rut

I admit it. Whenever I look for a recipe online, I get annoyed that I have to scroll, scroll, scroll. Listen, I know your grandma had the best chocolate chip cookies, and chicken soup healed your soul back in 1997. I just want the recipe.

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Need to brush up? Microsoft offers free online training for its Office programs, including video tutorials, interactive guides and practice exercises.

🎨 AI prompt fun: The next time you have a few minutes, try your hand at creating art using AI. Whether it’s a logo or an image of a superhero for your autobiography, drop by here. Tap into the tutorials, too. Super fun!

Using new software at work? Online learning sites like Coursera, Udemy and LinkedIn Learning can help you get up to speed quickly. YouTube is a solid free option. There are a ton of helpful tutorials out there. You’ll have to watch an ad or two, but that’s no big deal.

Adobe Premium runs $20.99 a month: If you’re getting into the photo-editing game, start for free. Shotcut is a 20-year-old open-source platform that gets updates all the time. There’s a big library of tutorials, too. Sweet.

The Feds are coming: If you watched any drone and augmented reality YouTube tutorials between Jan. 1, 2023, and Jan. 8, 2023, congrats — you might be on a watchlist! Investigators linked a money-laundering suspect dubbed “elonmuskwhm” to these videos and got Google to divulge a list of everyone who watched them. The Feds say it was crucial for the investigation, but I think this sets a dangerous precedent.

Flex your creative muscles: Try the free, open-source digital painting program Krita. It’s got a clean interface and is super-easy to use, especially considering how much it can do. If you’re brand-new to digital art, check out the tutorials. Hello, new hobby.

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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AI jobs with mind-blowing paychecks of $375K a year

There’s no question that artificial intelligence (AI) is changing our lives. A bot that sounds almost human can author your emails, teach you a new language, book your trips or even be your friend. Check out direct links to try those out here.

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Have any of these apps installed on your phone? Delete them immediately

Here’s the bad news: Malware can come from anywhere. Just previewing a Word doc could infect your device. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe.

The good news is you can protect yourself with some knowledge and good practices. We’ve compiled a list of malicious apps that you must avoid at all costs, along with some tips on staying safe while still enjoying your tech.

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Fed up with Excel? This site creates formulas for you

Few things frustrate us more than the inability to crack an Excel task independently. We love formulas and conditional cells, but the best way to utilize these features isn’t always easy. Tap or click for tricks to get the most out of Microsoft Word and Excel.

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Struggling with Excel? 3 tips and tutorials to help you out

Ah, Excel. It’s been around since the ’80s, yet it can still stump many of us. There’s a lot to learn, from creating complex formulas to navigating pivot tables.

So, where do you turn? You can buy a paid course, which will give you a lot of bang for your buck, but you can also start smaller — and free.

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15 things you didn’t know you can get for free

Internet advertisers are master manipulators, and they want you to feel excited about their products when you browse the web.

They want you to feel dazzled when you look at targeted ads. These emotions inspire you to whip out your credit card and buy the cool tech gadgets and services lighting up your screen. Tap or click here for a few ways to avoid personalized ads on social media.

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Drive a Kia or Hyundai? You might have a hard time getting insurance

Did you know the type of car you drive may impact whether you can get insurance? Like how a smoking habit may affect your health insurance, a lack of safety features might put you in a pickle. If you drive certain Kia or Hyundai vehicles, pay attention. Some insurance companies are refusing these car owners a policy at all.

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