Gmail

Maybe you already have a Gmail email. Maybe you've thought about it. Either way I hope I can show you something new.

(Note: Log-in to your Gmail before continuing and the links below should work.)

Themes:
Have you tried out some of the Themes available in Gmail. Some of them even change depending on time of day!

Filters and Labels:
Did you know you can create filters to add a label to certain kinds of emails. I use this to label the emails I have forwarded from my old email account.

Labs:
You may also want to check out the Labs gadgets. There are many useful and fun. Things you can add to your account to increase productivity and uniqueness.

Archive:
I find it surprising how many people don't use or don't know why you would want to archive your email. To archive any email just click the button at the top or bottom of an email. This moves the email to out of your Inbox. To find an email you have archived just use the search dialog at the top of the screen. Alternatively you can click on "All Mail" on the left side of the screen (you may need to click "More" first). NOTE: The mail in all mail is stored chronologically so if an email has been sitting in your Inbox for a while it will be lower in the list than a new email archived at the same time.

Offline:
Do you have a laptop as your primary computer? Gmail has an Offline setting you can enable and you don't have to connect to view old emails...

Trash and Spam:
Accidental delete an email, its most likely safely in trash (if the email is less then 30-days old). Missing an email you know was sent. Check your spam. Spam catching is one of Gmail's strongest and most advanced (if under appreciated) features. But I'm sure it can make mistakes. (I have never had an email I needed in the spam and in the 5+ years I've have a Gmail account only 3-10 spam emails ever made it to my inbox. WOW!!)

Be sure to check out your "Settings" page every once in a while as options are added and changed every so often. If your a Google Apps user some of these options my not be available yet, but keep an eye on your settings page as well as options are added for you too.

Caleb

dd-wrt. Advanced wi-fi

This hack is mainly for advanced users. dd-wrt is a third party
firmware for wireless routers. Its VERY specific to certain hardware
but it does support a wide range of hardware. Linksys included, check if your hardware is supported here.
dd-wrt supports b. g. and n. Protocols. 10/100/1000mbps speeds. Auto
sensing ports ect...

oh and its freeware.

Welcome Facebook Friends

Well I'm just placing the links to my new Blog from Facebook so if your visiting from there Thanks!! Look and see if you find some articles that interest you (also check the archive), if so be sure to bookmark me, follow me on Twitter, and/or add my RSS feed. You can also follow me by Email for your convenience.

Here are some good articles to get started with: Make the most of your money, New Free Anti-Virus, Google Chrome, Free Budget software .

Be sure to leave a comment on how you like it or any questions you might have.

If you find any broken tools or links be sure to leave me a note so I can see that its fixed. Any advice on changes and improvements are also quite welcome.

Please Share my blog with your friends and if you have a blog that might be of interest be sure to leave a link.

∞Caleb

Keep Track And Make The Most Of Your Spending

• Use Cash

Lately I've been using cash almost solely.  I have noticed this helps me track and be acutely aware of how much I'm spending, and how much things cost!  Also I follow my budget closer.  I have my Credit/Debit card for emergences and business purchases.  But try not to use it too often.

• Gift Cards

I quickly use the cash to buy gift-cards for fuel, groceries, ect.  Many rewards programs also apply to gift-cards.  I get 1000 points for every $50 I spend in Speedway fuel cards.  I can redeem my points for a $10 gift card every time I buy about ten $50 gift-cards.  Or I can save up my points for the future when I'm running low on cash.

• Eat In / Pack Lunch

Lets say you eat-out for lunch five times a week, if you try to eat cheap you are most likely spending about $5 a meal.  Also lets say you have a nice meal once a week, for two people thats about $35 w/ tip.  That means your spending about: 

$5 x 5 days = $25 + $35 = $60 a week

$60 x 4 weeks in a month = $240 a month!!

Thats $2,880 a year!

Buy your food and cook at home, don't know what to make or how? Check out All Recipes.com they have a wide selection of choices you can see the ingredients needed and even chose the number of portions, only fixing for you?  Make 2+ portions and pack one for your lunch!  Looking for other lunch ideas? Check out this article by a fellow blogger "Brown Bag Brigade" whom has claimed over $1000 in saving a year! 

www.allrecipes.com

cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2008/05/brown-bag-brigade-your-one-stop-shop.html

∞Caleb

Top 5 Technology Trends of 2009

The "How Stuff Works" site recently featured this article. "Top 5 Technology Trends of 2009", It covers Smartphones, Netbooks, the PS3, the Search Engine Wars (Google, Bing, Yahoo), and Twitter.

Don't forget to follow R4ndom H4cks with your Twitter account.

If you have never heard of the "How Stuff Works" site before be sure to check it out as well!!!

www.howstuffworks.com
electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/5-technology-trends-2009

∞Caleb

Clipperz

Clipperz is a online password manager. It stores your web passwords, credit/debit card details, burglar alarm codes, and any other data you want to secure. It uses 128-bit security to encrypt your data. Clipperz is a zero-knowledge web application, meaning they don't know your password, or even your username! It uses Ajax with Java for browser encryption/decryption. If your worried that they might have holes in their protection feel free to take a look at their source code, in fact they encourage you too!! Here is a link to their security information.

Features:
-128-bit security encryption
-One-click login, create a “direct login” link, no need for copy paste, works on many sites like Facebook.
-Import/Export
-Password generator
-And coming soon, Sharing.

I'm trying it right now and so far I'm happy, its nice to have one (safe) place to store all your info. Helps Keep me from using the same password on every site (very bad habit!). It also free by the way (but they do ask you to donate every once in a while and that could get annoying to some people).

4 stars
www.clipperz.com

∞Caleb

Alice

Alice is an online store, it lets you select the things you need. From Shampoo to Gum, Batteries to Contact solution Alice has a little of everything. It lets you pick the products you use most (your fav shampoo) and put them on your "Shelf" for easy access anytime. You can have stuff shipped to you whenever you like.

Its features:

-Free Shipping!

-Its Free to sign-up with no fees.

-Prices seem competitive with the cheapest stuff I could find (keep in mind the free shipping too!).

-Reminders for those of us (ME!) whom are prone to forgetting these things till we are out, resulting in a last minute run to the store.

-Lets you sort by "Price Per Unit" to find the cheapest stuff.

-A neat "Budgeting" tab thats shows you were your money goes, what you buy most ect...

-An "Advance Planning" Tab that shows you what you need to remember every 2-6 weeks and months for planning.

-And a "Soon to be added" "Auto Ship" feature looks neat.