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Author: dontspendmore

  • Cell Phone Radiation: Easy Ways To Protect Yourself

    Technology has drastically improved our lifestyles, and by drastically I mean a lot of areas in our life are impacted. There is no doubt that we have seen a dramatic improvement in the way we cook, the way we travel, the way we build our homes and the way we communicate.

    Speaking of communication, technology has made it possible to interact with any one, at any place on this Blue Planet. But such improvements are often packaged with some far-reaching and undesirable effects on human health. One such issue is that of cell phone radiation.

    Cell phone radiation and conflicting theories

    As surprising as it may sound, cell phone radiation has been a major source of contention. While some research findings claim that the radiation emitted by cell phones is too low and hence inadequate to create any deleterious effect on health, there are as many contrasting reports that are crying hoarse about the dangers to human health. Thus far all we can say is that the findings appear to be contradictory.

    Cell phone radiation dangers to human health

    There are a variety of health disorders that are being linked to cell phone radiation, but the most important and notable one amongst them is the increased risk of developing brain cancer/tumor. The radiation emitted from the cell phones is likened to that emitted from a microwave oven and the heat released from the cell phones during usage is said to slowly cook the brain and destroy the brain cells.

    These side effects are said to occur more in people who engage in prolonged and continued cell phone usage. Other health effects include loss of memory. All this has been debated but there is scientific merit on both sides.

    How to protect yourself from cell phone radiation?

    The simplest answer would be to completely avoid using any cell phones at all, but that is far from being practical. The most practical solution is to limit the duration of usage of your cell phone to the bare minimum.

    The next method that is commonly recommended by experts is to make use of text messaging instead of voice call, whenever you can. This method will definitely reduce your monthly phone charges as well (if that is any motivation for you to avoid cell phone radiation).

    Experts who have been doing research on this topic have found that the cell phones tend to emit maximum amounts of radiation when their batteries are under charged. So, make it a point to re-charge your battery before it touches base level and also avoid using your phone if you find that the charge is very low.

    Using wired headsets and switching the speaker option on, are both two easy steps towards protecting your body from unnecessary radiations.

    Another method known as the toggle method, which entails holding the phone away from your body while speaking and closer to the ear only for hearing, is also an useful method, but not necessarily convenient and acceptable to everyone.

    Different cell phones have found to emit different levels of radiation. People who are quite serious about avoiding cell phone radiation can opt to buy only those models that emit the lowest levels of radiations. FCC may have more to say on that, though.

  • How To Track Your Cell Phone: Easy Steps

    You should know how to track your cell phone even before you actually face a situation that warrants tracking it. As the two popular adages say — there is no point in crying over spilt milk, but it is always better to be safe than sorry!

    Tracking your cell phone

    You need to start the process of tracking long before you activate it and the first thing to do is to install the tracking apps. Depending on the model and category of your cell phone, you will need an app that is designed specifically for your smart phone/non-smart phone.

    There are plenty of apps to choose from. Check your provider’s specifications and website as a starting point.

    What to do if you have lost your phone and no apps were installed?

    Well, there is no reason to lose hope yet. Some smart phones do offer the ability to download apps remotely, even when your phone is not in your possession.

    If you want to check the latest location after that, you simply need to use another phone (ask help from your family/friends) to send a text message to your phone and type in the word “locate”. You will receive a reply text message with the exact location.

    iPhone users have an advantage

    iPhone users have their own category of apps to facilitate cell phone tracking. Make sure the app is installed on your phone.

    As soon as you do this, your phone’s location will be displayed to you on a map. If you just lost your phone and think that it is somewhere nearby, you can use this app to remotely signal your iPhone to make a loud noise for two long minutes.

    Non-smart phones may need assistance

    Non-smart phone users who forgot to install Google apps will have to contact their service provider for help. They can remotely activate the GPS chip on your phone, but this service may not be free and service providers are known to charge a fee for it.

  • Three Tips To Break Away From Cell Phone Addiction

    It really does not matter what thing, person or activity forms the focus of your addiction, because every addiction is potentially dangerous. Cell phone addiction is one of the many hazards gifted to humanity as a result of modern technology and development.

    Why does cell phone addiction matter?

    Cell phone addiction is a matter of concern because all addictions are dangerous but it also becomes a matter of huge concern when you look at the age group that is most vulnerable to this bane. While cell phone users fall in a wide age spectrum between ages of five and eighty, the ones that consider cell phones as a part/appendage of their own body are the teens and young adults.

    What dangers can cell phone addiction cause?

    In addition to the glaring lack of focus and attention in all the other activities that falls outside the sphere of the cell phone, there could be some serious issues related to health as well. None of the research studies have been conclusive yet, but there are widespread fears of long standing cell phone addiction leading to cancer, headaches, brain tumors, and other diseases. We can’t comment on these studies yet because there is intense debate within the scientific community.

    Is it possible to avoid this addiction?

    Nothing is impossible if you really are determined. The first step towards breaking this dangerous cell phone addiction is to acknowledge and accept that you indeed have a problem and you need a solution to it. Once you have that out of your way, here are three tips to break away from cell phone addiction that may be worth giving a try:

    Fix a time schedule for cell phone usage

    People who are addicted to cell phones display a common pattern of behavior. They keep checking and re-checking their phones to see if they have received any emails or notifications from their social media profiles. There is no harm in checking your phone once every two/three hours, but you will see addicts doing this once in every five minutes or less.

    Schedule a fixed time for checking your phone for emails and stick to this schedule.

    Focus on the moment

    Cell phones are meant to facilitate easy interaction and communication between people. Sadly, the current trend is that these gadgets actually interrupt and disrupt face to face conversations and interactions. Make it a point to either switch off or activate the silent mode of your cell phone while you engage in face-to-face conversations and interactions.

    This will not only help you break away from cell phone addiction, but also will add value to your face to face conversations. People around you would certainly appreciate your gesture as a sign of respect.

    Things are less important than you think

    Most of the cell phone addicts seem to share the common view that they might miss out on something very urgent if they do not keep checking their cell phones every moment. No, that’s a myth! If it’s so urgent as to warrant your immediate attention, you will receive a call. If the message is on email, it can definitely wait for at least eight to twelve hours.

  • Which Is The Best Cell Phone To Buy?

    Choices only make your decision-making process tougher; the more choices you have the harder it becomes to make the right selection. I can say it with so much conviction because it was very recently that I got a first-hand experience. To be honest I really did not expect that the toughest question to answer (only second to the chicken or egg question) would be “which is the best cell phone to buy?” Yet, there are so many choices out there and so many features that one cannot help but get confused. I finally managed to choose and so here are my tips:

    Which is the best cell phone to buy for a girl?

    The first thing you need to note here is that majority of the cell phones perform almost the same functions, but not all of them can be suitable for young girls/teens. If you are a young girl, you really need your cell phone to be pretty and in one of those girly shades (actually I was going to say pink, but then I really hate to be classified a stereotype, so …)

    You will also need to have a plan that facilitates unlimited conversations with friends and don’t forget the social media apps, please! Ah, yes, and the accessories that go with the phone. Isn’t it fun to match cell phone covers with favorite dresses.

    At DontSpendMore.com, we have plenty of cell phone plans for both girls and boys.

    Which is the best cell phone to buy for boys?

    Sir, are you looking for a rugged-looking cell phone. Nah, lots of games would work, isn’t it? Apps, GPS, data access … coffee-maker (oh, that was a stretch).

    At DontSpendMore.com, we have plenty of cell phone plans for both girls and boys.

    Practical tips

    The best cell phone to buy is the one that suits your personal whims, fancies, budget, and requirements.  That was the point I was trying to make all this while.

    But in case you need a quick checklist of points to refer before buying your next cell phone, here it is:

    • Price range of cell phone and your budget
    • Features in a cell phone that you simply cannot live without
    • Features in a cell phone that you do not want
    • Any free bonuses products that a particular cell phone company is offering to boost sales like a memory card, mobile accessories, and others
    • Unlimited calling, data, text
    • Cell phones having the latest / most updated software
    • Compatibility of the gadget at international locations

    These points are the basic criteria on which you should compare different cell phone plans. Good luck shopping. Click here to review and compare the latest cell phone plans.

  • The Best Cell Phone Offers, Comparison Takes A Hotseat

    We have become accustomed to comparing and shopping online, and cell phones are no exception to this trend. In just a few seconds, one can perform a comparison of the best cell phone offers.

    Cell phone offers comparison: Three reasons you should do it online

    FREE! Does anything ever get better than free? First, at DontSpendMore.com, you can review and select from a comparison of the top cell phone offers in the market. From free phones to a free month, we have the best of the best at your disposal.

    Second, a suite of benefits that will make the process of comparing cell phone offers a breeze. Convenience, side-by-side comparison, expert reviews, and lots of choices. Why would anyone take the trouble of visiting physical locations when you can do so in just a few clicks.

    Third, it is easier and practical to keep in touch with the latest cell phone offers by looking out for them online. Cell phone technologies change so rapidly, you can get instant e-mail notifications and alerts if you want to.

    The process of comparing cell phone offers online

    Take stock of the basic features that most cell phone companies are offering. How else would you know what to look for while comparing between the offers? This may seem redundant for seasoned cell phone users, but this article is meant to help every kind of cell phone user, and that includes the first time user, who has just decided to own a cell phone but has no clue about how and where to start.

    The basic features include the charges that would applied for each of the features, such as making local, national and international calls, sending text messages, sending multimedia messages, making a video call, using the Internet on your mobile, uploading and downloading charges, voicemail, chat, apps, and a host of other benefits that are packages with almost every cell phone plan.

    In addition to these, you also need to check out the free bonuses (if any) that are on the offer. Other interesting perks include discounted rates for; special discounts (like discounted movie tickets for using a certain cell phone service provider); unlimited calling; flat rate plans, and other similar benefits.

    By the time you complete your cell phone offers comparison, you should have a pretty clear picture about the cell phone service provider you are going to use.

  • Credit Cards Could Make You Money

    With some common sense precautions, you could earn a few extra bucks from your credit cards. Yes, the stack of plastic cards that you thought were money drainers could actually give you some extra cash every month, PROVIDED [caps intended] you approach the practice in a disciplined manner and exercise extreme due diligence all along. Done right, you could have some extra money every month but if you make mistakes you could end up losing a lot more money. Here are some ways your credit cards could make you extra money:

    Interest rate differentials could earn you extra cash

    If you have received an offer for a 0% APR credit card, that would be the perfect starting point. Generally, the way this process works is very simple. Let’s say you have a $5,000 credit line with 0% APR for six months. Some individuals deposit this money in an interest bearing account for the duration of six months and gain some additional cash due to the interest differential. Now, it is not as easy as it sounds.

    First, you have to read your credit card provider’s terms and conditions and your state and local laws to see if the practice is prohibited. Second, getting the $5,000 into your account may cost you some money in the form of transaction costs so you will have to do the math if the overall transaction is beneficial or otherwise. Finally, the 0% APR may not be availed of for certain transactions.

    You may want to read our article Credit Card Arbitrage Could Be Tricky for more details.

    Cashback percentage, rewards, bonus points, miles, travel rewards, and others

    Not much complexity here. In fact, this is very easy. Depending on the type of credit card you have signed up for, you could win various cashback incentives, rewards, and other bonuses. There is one catch, though, if you don’t repay your purchases in full (on time), you will incur the regular APR and that would nullify your earnings so the key is to repay in full whenever possible.

    The 0% APR on purchases offer could be a money maker

    If you have an introductory 0% APR on purchases credit card, it could be a source of additional income as well. Some individuals pay for their purchases using the credit card for the duration of the 0% APR offer and deposit a similar amount in their interest bearing account while repaying a minimum balance during the duration of the offer. Just before the expiration of the offer, they repay the entire amount in full to avoid incurring any interest rate charges.

    Again, the same precautions apply. You need to calculate all transaction costs meticulously in order to avoid incurring unreasonable fees.

    Note: If you do not adapt to the various parameters, you could end up losing much more money than you expect to make so be very careful. As always, you should seek the advice of an investment professional and an attorney.

  • Is A Fake Friend Lurking Around In Your Social Network?

    fake_friend_alert

    I love being a netpreneur. Running an online business has allowed me to explore areas I would have never considered if I had not been in this business. Then there is the other side: I come across scams and fraudulent online marketing schemes that thrive on [misplaced] trust. I am not talking about the famous “e-mail me your routing number” or “date me abroad” types. Those were perhaps at the kindergarten level in the world of sophisticated scams — maybe a training school for rookie Internet scammers.

    Here, I am talking about live human viruses that may be lurking around in your social networks already. These could be individuals who have already gained your trust and are masquerading as your friends and well-wishers. From game invites to roses and funny one-liners, they adopt a wide range of strategies to gain your trust and indirectly seek your blessings to crawl their way into your friends’ networks, often at the cost of the reputation and trust you enjoy with them.

    100_million_people

    Unfortunately, these operations are so subtle and difficult to spot that even the savviest of social media users fall prey to some very damaging machinations. Worse, over 100 million people blindly allow strangers into their networks. Before getting into the basics about protecting yourself, you should become familiar with how these fake friends manage to get into your network in the first place.

    One friend innocently opens the mythical “Pandora’s Box” and lets the flies loose

    The operation invariably starts with a fake account (human or a bot). It is not that hard to get one. All you need is a valid e-mail address and voila you have your passport to officially eavesdrop on millions of social media conversations.

    At the next level, the fake account makes a concerted effort to join groups, fan clubs, community and interest-themed pages, celebrity hangouts, large brands, and other areas where it is easy to connect with a large number of people. Furthermore, having a common interest makes it easy for these individuals to make more friends and initiate conversations without giving away their true intentions.

    Once this background is setup (or simultaneously), the fake account starts connecting with individuals randomly or in a targeted fashion. Once they make a friend, they will slowly start sending friend requests to that individual’s network and make their way through a Web of people, often mimicking search engine robots in the process. It is not that hard to accept a request from a friend’s friend, right? You may be surprised but over ninety percent of individuals will accept a friend request if it comes from a friend’s friend. Social manners!

    So, what do they do with all these connections?

    A lot more than you know. At a very basic level, they could use their relationship with you to gather more “likes” or ask you or your friends to click on questionable websites and send traffic their way. Often, this viral traffic is sold or auctioned off for a profit — without your informed consent. If you receive “$5 for 1,000 friends” spam you know what I am talking about.

    What else could they do? A lot. Even if your privacy settings are very secure, your friends will still be privy to the information you post and share. Just by evaluating your social media habits they could paint your profile, spy on you, find your address, and do so much more damage.

    Some genuinely good people see the world as being a mirror image of their own personality. They share pictures of “first paychecks,” “first credit card approvals” and even children’s information. That is a lot of ammunition for unscrupulous con artists. Seriously, just zoom the check’s image and you have the routing number, account number, and so much more. Great! Shopping spree! Let’s ship the goods to another continent.

    You may have come across news stories of how houses were burglarized because the homeowner posted the family status as being at “XYZ Place” (hundred miles away from home). Perfect timing. We have two hours to swipe the house squeaky clean.

    How to spot a fake friend

    You could use various strategies to spot a fake friend but being vigilant to your friends’ activities is perhaps the best way to gauge their intentions. Some common threads I have discovered include:

    – Huge disproportion between number of friends and other activities. This morning one of my business pages received a like from someone who had two friends and nearly 1,800 likes. Tells a story? Seriously, if you want to fake it, do it the right way. I removed him immediately. Always review your potential friend’s activity to understand what he/she is into.

    – Picture-perfect models. More often than not, they will use images of picture-perfect models to either hide their nationality or give you the impression that a legitimate Greek god or goddess is interested in your friendship.

    – The win-your-trust strategy. If you just posted information about a personal tragedy or an emotional roller-coaster, this is the perfect timing for them to win your trust. Be wary of strangers wanting to empathize with you.

    – An unreasonably large number of photo tags. We all tag pictures but if you see a super-high number of tags, be careful.

    – Super-human profile. Wide range of interests, 400-pound bench pressing skills, extra-benevolent personality … chances are the fake friend will try to charm or flirt his/her way to your friendship.

    – Insufficient personal activity. If you see very few personal pictures and a large number of places or things, be alert. Red flag.

    Of course, all of these could be manipulated to give you the impression that the person is real, but common sense and some basic research (Google!) should help you spot the fake. Nothing wrong in being open to friendships. Just a little discretion could go a long way toward safeguarding your own safety.

  • How To Cut Your Cell Phone Bill To Less Than A Dollar

    As much as we love our cell phones, paying the bill is certainly something we don’t look forward to. Fortunately, there are many legitimate ways to cut your cell phone bill to literally pennies a day. We will share a few strategies that have worked in the past:

    Go prepaid

    If you have access to a phone at work and home, it would make a lot of sense to cut down your cell phone use. In addition to the reduction in “radiation absorption,” you will be padding your bank account with hundreds of extra dollars every year. It is much simpler than you think.

    Instead of opting for a monthly contract, consider signing up for a prepaid cell phone plan. You can choose prepaid plans with a variety of options. From monthly usage plans to “pay only when you use” plans there are plenty of options, some as low as a few cents a day.

    Furthermore, you pay for prepaid plans in advance so there is very little scope to go overboard. In fact, prepaid plans should be named “re-paid” plans as they are so effective in cutting cell phone bills.

    Flat rate options are the best

    Cell phone carriers are a competitive lot and if you follow the industry closely, you will notice that there are less than ten major carriers that control a major proportion of the market share. Often, in a bid to out-perform each other, these carriers roll out promotional plans and deep discounts that ultimately benefit consumers.

    Some plans offer low cost, unlimited use plans with the option of bundling unlimited phone time, texts, and Web and data use for a low flat monthly rate.

    Family plans are easy on the budget

    Cell phone carriers love “volume customers”. If a family of seven signs up with a single carrier, it could be a win-win for everyone, including the carrier. Often, the savings are passed on the consumers in the form a low cost family plan. In addition to the savings, calling family members within the same network could be very cost-effective (and sometimes free) as well.

    Eliminate features you don’t need

    Some features are absolutely necessary whereas others are just “money makers” for cell phone companies and these are the ones you can usually do without. Go through your cell phone bill with a tooth comb and find out if you are signed up for features that you don’t really need. Eliminating just a few of these “extras” could bring your bill down significantly.

    Say goodbye to apps you don’t need

    Some smartphone users are charged with a heavy bill for excess data utilization. You may be surprised but a few apps could consume a lot of bandwidth and increase your monthly bill accordingly. Don’t download apps that you don’t need. Stick to the ones that truly benefit you.

  • Fight Debt Like A Warrior: Simple Tips To Become Debt Free

    How to become debt free

    Debt is a growing problem for millions of people and getting rid of debt is on the wish list of everyone. But it is an not easy thing to do and you need lot of sacrifice and commitment to do so.

    It is stated that the average American family caries a credit card debt of about $15,000 besides car and mortgage payments. With average 15% rate means that the debt of almost $15,000 will add up annually and the debt will keep on increasing if some drastic measures are not taken. If you choose to pay off minimum payments then it will take you almost ten years to clear the debts.

    The following steps will help you pay off the debts:

    The first step is to believe in yourself that you will pay all your debts. Once you have that belief then take a piece of paper and write down all the debts in the order of highest interest rates first.

    Then make another list which should include all your financial commitments and necessities like rent, gas, food, utilities, clothing, entertainment and all other expenses. Add all of these expenses.

    Next step is to calculate your net income from all sources. Deduct the expenses from the net income. The figure that comes out at the end is called discretionary income. This amount will be paid to pay your debt. If the figure is too small then what you will need to do is cut down on your expenses in order to generate funds to pay debts or secure a second source of income, if possible.

    You can also sell some of your assets and use their proceeds to pay the unsecured debt having the highest interest rate. We hate this, though.

    The unsecured debts with highest interest rates should be your priority and most of your discretionary income should be spent to get rid of them and use much smaller portion for all other debts. Keep doing this until all of your unsecured debts are paid off and then pay secured debts like car payments.

    Debt settlement

    If you have other investments in the shape of bonds and stocks, then decide which savings you are willing to sacrifice in order to pay down the debt. Add these proceeds with the sale of your unnecessary assets.

    Now the most important step is to contact your creditors with highest interest rates first. Then negotiate with their supervisor and ask him to give you a total which will be acceptable to you in order to make a full payment. Ask for a letter from your creditor mentioning that total payment after which you will be free of their debt. Remember that settling for less money than you owe is possible only if you are more than three months behind your payments. Furthermore, you should make certain that this step will benefit your credit score. Clarify this point. It is always preferred to seek legal counsel.

    Finally, pay your creditors as promised in full and ask for confirmation letter that all the debt has been paid in full.

    After paying off one creditor, use that payment to settle the debt from another creditor with highest interest rate and so on.

  • Highly Effective Ways To Improve Your Credit Score

    These days, credit score is of vital importance if you need to rent an apartment, buy a house, a car, or  even get a job. Yes, if you will be dealing with sensitive financial information or hold a position of accountability, your employer may check your credit score. Now the million dollar question is how can you improve your credit score? Although, there is no magic required to improve your credit score but some self-discipline, motivation and proper planning can help you raise your credit score.

    It’s a marathon, not a 100-meter race

    Just remember that you will be able to improve your credit score over a period of time. So be patient and start working gradually. You might be able to raise credit score up to 200 points within three years if you take the right steps. Of course, it is possible that some people will not achieve this number. It is entirely in your hands.

    Pay monthly bills on time

    In order to maintain a good credit score, what you need to do is pay monthly bills on time. Even a slight delay can cause a few points to be deducted from your credit score. That’s why it is important that as soon as your bill reaches your mailbox, pay it immediately. If possible, you can also register for automatic recurring payments.

    Don’t charge over 25% of your credit limit

    In case you are just about to start and have a meagre credit report, think about opening one or more credit accounts. Don’t go above 25% of the credit limit and always try to pay your balance in full, if possible. It is not required that you overdo it but it is a healthy habit to maintain accounts which will later on help you build a higher score.

    Keep balances low                                 

    Just keep your balances low at all times and keep within the 25% range, if possible. In case it goes over this limit, then stop charging and try to pay off your debt first.

    Negotiate a lower APR

    If you are a regular and a loyal customer for some time then you can ask the customer service to negotiate a lower APR. This may take some effort and persistence but is theoretically possible.

    Check your credit reports

    Carefully study the credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and Transunion and check each and every entry on the report. If you find any inconsistencies, then go ahead and dispute them. Once it gets fixed, you will be delivered an updated report.

    Don’t close all your paid accounts

    There is some debate on this one and we have heard different opinions. It is not necessary that you close all the accounts that you are not using. Keep the ones which you have had the longest. Its advantage is that it will make you more credit worthy because the duration of credit history plays an important role in credit score.