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It’s easy to overspend on consumer technology or make purchases that don’t last long. For example, you don’t need to pay for Microsoft Office and you don’t have to waste money on cheap chargers. Tap or click for five ways you’re wasting money on tech.
Then there are all the subscriptions you pay for and don’t use. Streaming services are the main culprit; There’s only so much time in the day and you can’t see everything. Tap or click my guide to watch your shows instead.
You may not know that you can share separate accounts with family and friends, or at least get a great discount. It’s not your fault. Tech companies don’t advertise this money-saving secret, thank you later.
If you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership, you might not know that it’s more than just free shipping.
(iStock/Amazon)
Privacy Tip: 5 Ways You Should Stop Being Tracked Right Now
Let’s start with Amazon
If you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership, you might not know that it’s more than just free shipping. Tap or click here for your favorite benefits. I suggest you get a 30-day free trial to see if it’s worth it to you because it’s not cheap.
An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139.99 per year. You can split this cost with a friend or family member and still get all the benefits.
Amazon Family allows two adults to share essentials and digital content such as e-books. Each person gets their own account, so you maintain some privacy. Remember, you get access to each other’s payment methods. Only share your account with someone you trust.
You can also add up to four minors (ages 13 to 17) to the plan for free. Each teenager gets their own Amazon login, and an adult must approve all purchases on the plan.
Visit amazon.com/myh/manage To create or manage your home.
Speaking of Amazon, the tech giant knows a lot about you. Prepare to be shocked. Here’s how to see them all.
Apple makes it cheap to pack
Apple One bundles Apple services for less than you would pay for each service separately. If multiple family members use iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV, Apple Music, and iCloud, these savings can be worth it.
An individual Apple One plan costs $14.95 per month and includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and 50 GB of Apple iCloud+ storage.
A family plan is $19.95 per month. It includes all the same services and 200 GB of storage.
The Premier plan is $29.95 per month and includes News+ and Fitness+, with 2 TB of storage.
Here’s where the cost savings come in: Family And Premier As long as plans are in the same country, you can share them with other people using Family Sharing. That’s right, you don’t have to live in the same house.
To set up Family Sharing on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
go to settings.
Tap your name.
Tap Family sharing And then tap Organize your family.
Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your family and invite family members.
Click here for instructions on setting up iCloud+ on all your devices..
Apple TV+ subscription. This is where the cost savings comes in:FamilyAndPremier As long as the plans are in the same country, you can share them with other people using Family Sharing. That’s right, you don’t have to live in the same house.
(via Apple)
If you are a Google family
Like Apple, Google offers extended family plans with storage that five people can share. Group members can’t see each other’s files, but they share storage space and can see how much space others are using. All members must live in the country of the head of household.
Google accounts include 15 GB of storage for free. Here’s what it costs to upgrade to Google One for more capacity:
The basic plan runs $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year for 100 GB of storage. You also get access to support Google experts.
The standard plan is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year for 200 GB of storage. This level earns 3% cashback on Google Store purchases.
The premium plan is $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for 2 TB of storage and 10% cash back on Google Store purchases.
Both Normal And Premium Plans can be shared. To set up family sharing, go to family.google.com/families. Sign in with your Google account and follow the on-screen instructions to add members.
Has your Google account been disabled? are you I’m sure? Tap or click the quick and easy security check you should be doing every month.
Consider your phone bill as well
Most mobile service providers will give you a good discount for the number of lines you have in one plan.
You can use deals if only one person on the plan is eligible. For T-Mobile’s affordable 55+ plans, for example, only one person must be 55 or older. Full disclosure: T-Mobile is a sponsor of my national radio show.
The same is true for military and first responder discounts. Verizon works the same way. You only need one person on the plan to qualify, and members don’t have to live under the same roof.
Here are five ways to save money on your phone bill and possibly get free service..
Easy ways to split the cost
Now that you know what you can share, what are the best ways to split subscription costs? The last thing you want to do is chase someone for a few dollars every month. Here are a few options.
Let an app do the hard work: Apps like in a distributed manner It helps you easily track and pay shared expenses. This option is great when you plan to split multiple bills.
switch off: You can’t change your payment method every month, but you and anyone you split can switch off every year. You pay for one year for a particular service, then you pay for another year.
Get the payment out of the way. For services that only cost a few dollars a month when split, consider paying your friend back (or asking for that money) in six-month or one-year lump sums. It’s easier said than done to send more than $6 each month.
Like Apple, Google offers extended family plans with storage that five people can share. Group members can’t see each other’s files, but they share storage space and can see how much space others are using. All members must live in the country of the head of household.
(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
HACKERS LOOK FOR GOOGLE ACCOUNTS; Give this safety check now.
Keep up with your technology
My favorite podcast is called “Kim Commando Today”. It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips and callers with tech questions like you from across the country. Find your podcasts wherever you find them. For your convenience, click the link below for the latest episode.
Podcast selection: Update your iPhone, travel hacking, self-destructing email
Listen to the latest tech talk in 30 minutes. It’s time to update your iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac. Also, if you run your own business, Cameo is a smart idea: use celebrities for marketing. And once you use digital bag tags, your flights will never be the same. I’ve got the inside scoop on this life-changing travel hack — and which airline is using it.
Find my podcast “Kim Commando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast player.
Just search my last name “Komando”.
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Learn about all the new technologies on Kim Commando show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and advises on everything from smartphones and tablets to today’s digital lifestyle. Online privacy and data hacking. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.
