Our Client Appreciation Program blog postings are broken down into subject categories.  You can look at all of the newsletters on a specific topic:

Buying a Home — Family and Leisure — Financial Literacy

Home Improvement — Lawn and Garden Care — Personal Development

Real Estate Market — Selling Your Home — Technology

Every month we send out a newsletter to our best clients, friends and customers.  Each one of the newsletters provides information about a different, carefully chosen topic.  We believe that they are always relevant and contain valuable information that can be used by everyone.

It’s Time for a Digital Detox

One thing that we can do that will help in the process of shifting our thinking is to perform a Digital Detox.  Many of us have spent months switching between big screens and little mobile screens.  This can make us feel virtual fatigue.  Taking time off from your tech is a good way to reset and improve your day-to-day focus.  It is a large part of Self-Care that can help you Sleep Better.

Naturally, your mindset won’t completely shift overnight.  You just need to take it one thought at a time.  Over the next few months, pay attention to how you feel and note the differences.  When you do this, you’ll be able to calm your busy mind and feel happier in your day-to-day!

As we come through the impact of COVID-19, contactless payments and cashless spending have become more common over the past several months.  We believe that going forward, they will be important in everyday life.  Contactless payment tech is easy to use.  It is also healthier than exchanging cash.  This makes it an attractive option for consumers.  These days, we need to look for safety and convenience at the grocery store, takeout counter or in some cases, the gas pump.

This technology will continue to catch on in your community and across the world.  We wanted to provide you with a quick guide to how it all works.  This information explains the various forms of contactless payment and where you can use it. 

We’re also providing some security tips for paying with your phone.  You’ll learn more about popular peer-to-peer payment apps that allow you to pay someone back without handing off cash.  This will also impact your budgeting.

We don’t think that our society is going totally cashless anytime soon.  Contactless payment is proving to be a secure, cleaner option at the checkout counter.  We hope this helps you out next time you’re on a grocery run!

Isn’t it amazing how technology has given so many workplaces the ability to keep teams working remotely?  Many of us have set up temporary shop in a home office (or maybe on a corner of the dining room table).  We are starting to spend most of our working hours on home networks.  That being said, if we aren’t hopping online safely, we could unknowingly open the virtual door to hackers and cyber attacks.

To help protect yourself online, we want to share a few some tips for cyber security when working from home.  You can find out what a strong password really looks like.  You can learn how to identify email scams at home.  Finally, you will know what to do to make your devices less vulnerable to hackers.  We are also including ways to keep your kids safe on the web, as they also start to spend more time online.

Cyber safety should be a priority, especially during these unprecedented times with so many professionals working from home.  We urge you to encourage your entire family to stay cautious while browsing.  We want you to keep your digital health in great shape!

UPDATE PENDING — More than 17.6 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2014 alone.  Most victims discovered their information had been compromised when their banks contacted them about suspicious activity.  Identity thieves can strike at any time.  While the majority of people take steps to Protect Your Information from Thieves trying to steal your  identity, there are situations where it may be difficult to prevent.  We’re providing you with several ways that thieves can steal your information, from ATM skimming to email and phone scams.  We hope you find it helpful!

Many of us use our smartphones for more than answering emails, sending texts and connecting with friends on social media; we may also use them to manage bank accounts, pay bills and apply for jobs.  While having them makes it easier to manage our lives, it also makes our information more vulnerable to thieves and hackers.  Can Thieves Crack Your Code?  We’re providing tips to help you keep your smartphone as safe as possible.

UPDATE PENDING — Never Stop Learning — Learning isn’t reserved for children and college students.  In fact, people who continue to learn and gain skills after they’ve graduated tend to have healthier and more active minds as they age.  This month’s information features several web sites and apps designed to make it easy to learn something new outside of the traditional classroom!

Download These Learning Apps Today! — There are several really good Apps that you can download (some for free) to your mobile device that can help you learn something new every day and strengthen your mind.

UPDATE PENDING — Five Ways to Use Pinterest to Make Your Life Easier — Did you know that you can use social media to streamline your life and make planning almost anything easy?  The popular social media website Pinterest can help you plan everything from home renovations to meals and even the most special events.

UPDATE PENDING — Protect Your Tech — There is nothing worse that accidentally dropping your expensive smartphone on the ground or in water and damaging it. However, there are ways to protect your device from damage should it take a spill. We’re providing you with a few suggestions to help you keep your smartphone in good shape.

Oops, I Dropped My Smartphone! — No matter how careful we are, accidents can happen at any time.  Since many of us carry our smartphones in our hands, pockets or purses, it only takes a second for them to fall to the floor and sustain damage.  It’s also easy to lose them. But, there may be hope. We provide you with some information about what to do if you drop or lose your phone.

UPDATE PENDING — Apps to Achieve Your Goals — Stay accountable to your goals with a little help from technology. These apps will help you stay motivated and on track to achieve your goals.

UPDATE PENDING — What Does that Light Mean? — On-board car diagnostic gadgets tap into your car’s computer so that you can track performance, diagnose problems and keep your car in top condition.

Top Smartphone Apps for Your Car — Did you know that you can get a deal on gas, avoid traffic and keep track of your vehicle’s maintenance and repair with your smartphone? This month’s information features a few smartphone apps designed to help you save money on gas, get places faster and make sure your car is running in top condition.

UPDATE PENDING — Find the Right Site to Sell Your Stuff Online — While garage sales are an ideal way to get rid of the stuff you don’t want anymore, the Internet may be the best place to sell valuable items that you want to get rid of for top dollar. Here are a few sites to help you get started.

UPDATE PENDING — The Best Home Scheduling Apps — Your smartphone and tablet are powerful tools to help you maintain your family’s schedule. There’s a variety of scheduling apps available that promise to track every meeting, business lunch and activity in your life. They also offer other helpful features such as to-do lists and event and birthday synching from Facebook.

Five Tips to Improve Your Family’s Time Management — Life is chaotic, so some simple steps can make the day go smoother.

We mail out the newsletters on a monthly basis … some by postal mail and some by e-mail (depending upon what they would like).  Many of our clients tell us about how this information has helped them in one way or another.  We would love to hear which of these articles you find useful.  You can Contact Us for more information about any of these articles or about our Client Appreciation Program and the special benefits we offer.