🌡️ Thermostat myth: Turning it up won’t heat your home faster. Say you’re freezing and want to heat things to 70 degrees. Cranking it to 80 will make your HVAC unit run longer instead of working harder. It’s just an on/off switch. My husband keeps insisting we try 69, but I think we should keep the thermostat at 72 degrees this winter.
Freebie alert: Apps that pay you to play
There are plenty of apps that reward you for doing things you probably already do. I’m sure you’ve seen ads for them. You’re not going to pay your rent from the rewards you earn, but you might get enough perks to make your otherwise pointless scrolling worth it.
A quick word to the wise: These freebies aren’t totally free. Depending on the reward programs’ rules and privacy policies, you’re handing over a lot of your data just to make a few bucks.
Cash me if you can
You’ll notice a lot of the advertised freebie apps didn’t make my list below. Anything with seriously sketchy privacy policies didn’t pass muster.
Again, I want to stress these apps collect info, so always check an app’s privacy policy and terms and conditions before using it. You might be able to opt out of having your data sold to third parties in the app’s settings or by submitting a request form. Now, on to the list!
- Shopkick: Shop at places like Best Buy and Target to earn points in the form of “kicks.” Every 250 kicks equals $1 in gift card value, and you can get extra kicks by scanning barcodes and uploading receipts.
- Upside: I groan every time I see my tank empty, and I bet you do, too. The Upside app gives you cash back on gas, groceries and dining out. Download Upside* and use promo code Kim to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas.
- P&G Good Everyday: Procter & Gamble’s program pays out digital rewards for scanning receipts, answering surveys and quizzes, and more. Rewards vary, but 750 points will get you $5 off any P&G product.
- MISTPLAY: This one has a whole slew of games you play to earn gift cards or a payout via PayPal. Expect to make around $15 for three-and-a-half hours of gameplay.
- InboxDollars: Get cash for completing online surveys. Earn anywhere from 10 cents to $5 per survey.
- Microsoft Rewards: Get paid when you search, shop or play through your Microsoft account. Redeem for gift cards, sweepstakes entries or nonprofit donations. Around 5,000 points equals $5.
This idea is mint
Use an Android? Google Play Rewards gives you points for anything you buy in the Google Play Store, like apps, in-app items, movies, books and subscriptions. Open the Play Store app and tap your profile icon > Play Points > Join.
The Google Play Rewards program has four spending tiers. The more you spend on the platform, the higher you’ll rank and the better your weekly rewards will be. Higher tiers also get access to new mobile games before they’re released.
💰 And, finally, the Google Opinion Rewards program gives you Google Play or PayPal credit for answering surveys. Take a few in your spare time and earn a little extra pocket change. Cha-ching! Hopefully, I helped you make cents of it all.
Don’t get left tech-behind – Stay tech-ahead
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
- National radio show: Find your local station or listen to the podcast.
- Daily newsletter: Join over 650,000 people who read The Current (free!).
- Watch: On Kim’s YouTube channel.
- Podcast: “Kim Komando Today” — Listen wherever you get podcasts.
New font, who dis? Change your Kindle’s font to match your book’s vibe. Look for the toolbar (top of the screen) and hit the Aa icon. Select Font > Font Family and pick the style you want.
📸 Snap and convert: Apple’s HEIC photo format saves space but is a headache to open on a Windows PC. Switch your iPhone camera settings to JPG to fix it. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and pick Most Compatible. Then, head back to Settings > Apps > Photos and choose Automatic (under Transfer to Mac or PC) so it’s always compatible.
Save $3 a month: Switch to Microsoft 365 Classic if you don’t want the new AI tools. On your account dashboard, select Subscriptions > Manage subscription > Cancel subscription. Scroll past the warning about losing your OneDrive storage to find the Classic plans. Click Switch plan > Confirm your new subscription > Buy.
Did you know you can do it online? Setting up term life insurance, that is. Fabric makes it fast and easy to do online. Answer a few questions and you’re on your way to checking this off your list.
🎮 Gamify your goals: Let an AI chatbot motivate you to make some extra cash. I have just the prompt: “Turn my side hustle goals into fun tasks. Ask me about my objectives, then break them down into tiny steps. Set a goal and a reward for finishing each one. Make a list of five tasks for this month.” You’ll feel like the winner.
Ask Rufus: Wondering where something you’re about to order on Amazon was made? On the product page, click Rufus on the top left in the Amazon toolbar. Ask it where your item was manufactured, and it might tell you; I find it knows about 50% of the time.
Feeling left behind? Download NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.
👉 Make your point: Give your mouse cursor a glow-up. On a PC, click Start > Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. Switch things up, like the color, size and thickness. For Macs, head to the Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Display (under Vision). Scroll to Pointer and make yours more “you.”
A new feature to try: Google can call businesses for you with questions about prices and availability. Go to Search Labs and hit Turn on. When you search for a store, you’ll see Ask for me under the map. Press Get Started, answer a few questions, and enter your email or phone number for updates. It’s in beta and works for nail salons and auto shops for now.
🚘 Check your car now: About one in five cars (58.1 million!) is driving around with an open recall. Check if yours is one of them on the NHTSA website. Enter your license plate or 17-digit VIN and hit Search. There are tabs for car seats, tires and other equipment recalls, too. Drive safely!
Love this: Last week, I wanted to go to a new restaurant that’s always packed. I used OpenTable to make a reservation, but the only openings were weeks from now. I booked one, and then I noticed a new button for Notify me, which adds you to the list in case someone cancels. Yup, we got in.
I take two scoops of collagen a day: It’s good for bone density, makes your nails and hair stronger, and can help smooth wrinkles. Use this link for 45% off if you want to try it, too.
A no-brainer if you have a dog: Fido Alert is like an Amber Alert for pets. Register your furry friend and you’ll get a free ID tag that includes a QR code. In case your pet goes missing, alert the Fido network. Then, if someone scans the QR code, they’ll get your contact info and you’ll get a notification. I keep an AirTag on my golden retriever, Abby, and she wears a smart collar.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Need a new LinkedIn picture? To minimize neck fat and extra skin, jut your head forward slightly so it’s closer to the camera. At the same time, elongate your neck and tip your chin down a little bit. Looks strange in person but right on camera.
Hot and cold: Ever played that game? The Find My Fitbit app is just like that. Open the app and pick your lost Fitbit from the Seen Devices screen. Hold your phone in front of you and walk slowly. The app will show Cold, Warmer and Hot (three to five feet away) on the screen. Hit the I Found My Fitbit button when you spot it. Use an Apple Watch? Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then tap My Watch > All Watches > Find My Apple Watch.
There are over 1 billion malware programs: Antivirus software scans your system for viruses, ransomware and other threats and removes them before they cause damage. Protect five devices for only $19.
Oops: To delete an entire word at a time, hit Ctrl + backspace on a Windows computer. On a Mac, it’s Option + Delete.