Category Archives: How-to Guides

An Important Lesson Learned from the Megaupload Bust

data storage tips

Yesterday, Megaupload, one of the largest online storage services on the internet, was shut down by the Department of Justice over copyright infringement charges. Regardless of your opinion on filesharing and fighting online piracy, there is an important lesson to be learned from this fiasco: it is dangerous to store all of your data in one place.

The comments I’ve read in response to the Megaupload bust have been heartbreaking. I’ve read about bands and artists who lost all of their legally owned work because they used Megaupload as their primary data storage service. I’ve read about people who lost albums of family pictures, and students who lost their schoolwork, research, and thesis papers. Years of hard work were wiped out with no warning and very little chance of recovery.

Don’t think that because you didn’t use Megaupload that you’re immune to these troubles. If you use popular online storage services like Dropbox or Amazon Cloud Drive, then use this incident as a lesson of what can happen when you put all of your digital eggs in one basket. What would happen to your data if one of these companies disappeared overnight? Would you be in complete panic mode because you just lost all of your life’s work? Don’t scoff at these questions–Megaupload has taught us that even large companies with vast financial and legal resources can still disappear overnight. Don’t take any chances.

How to Store Your Data Safely and Effectively

The most effective way to store your data is to use multiple forms of online and offline storage. The key here is to diversify. Don’t rely too heavily on one form of storage. Here are a few quick tips to help you protect your data effectively:

  • Use TrueCrypt to encrypt your files.
  • Use multiple online storage services.
  • In addition to online storage, backups should be stored offline on a flash drive or DVD. For further security, keep the flash drive or DVD at a secure, separate location from your residence, such as a safe deposit box. This is to ensure that backups aren’t completely lost in case a disaster strikes your home.
  • Backup your data regularly.
Posted on January 19, 2012 in How-to Guides, News, Quick Tips
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Stop Procrastinating: 7 Tools that Limit Your Internet Use

Stop Procrastinating

Picture this: you’re sitting at the computer, all ready to get some work done. Suddenly, your mind wanders and before long you find yourself reading the news, watching YouTube videos, or engaging in other internet-aided procrastination. Does this happen to you? If it does, here is a list of programs that might help fight it.

Firefox Productivity Plugin

  • LeechBlock:  Allows you to block websites within a fixed time period, such as setting it to block Facebook and Twitter between the hours of 12 pm – 3 pm.

Chrome Productivity Plugins

  • StayFocusd:  Allows you to allot certain amounts of time to specific websites each day. After you have used up your time, you will be blocked from visiting those websites for the remainder of the day. Optional security features make the plugin difficult to disable so that you won’t be tempted to regain access to blocked websites.
  • ChromeNanny:  Combining the features of LeechBlock and StayFocusd, this handy plugin allows you to block websites for fixed periods of time, or allot a certain amount of time each day to a website.

Free Productivity Software

  • Cold Turkey — Windows Only – Allows you to block websites for a fixed period of time. Cold Turkey is intentionally difficult to circumvent, so you won’t be tempted into shutting off the program. The paid version also includes a program-blocking feature.
  • SelfControl — Mac Support Only – Blocks email servers and websites for fixed periods of time.

Paid Productivity Software (Free Trials Available)

  • Freedom — $10; free trial available. Windows and Mac support — Completely blocks access to the internet for fixed periods of time.
  • Anti-Social — $15.00, free trial available. Mac support only – Blocks access to social media websites for fixed periods of time.

If there are any other internet-limiting productivity tools that I forgot, then please let me know in the comments.

(Image courtesy of Zach Klein)

Posted on January 5, 2012 in Blogging, How-to Guides, Quick Tips
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How PNC Bank is Trying to Screw Me Over: A Cautionary Tale About Free Credit Reports.

PNC Bank Free Credit ReportA misleading advertisement I received from PNC Bank. Click picture to see more.

Today I received a piece of junk mail from PNC Bank that left me livid. It was an advertisement that claimed I was “eligible to review” a free credit report if I signed up for their credit report monitoring service. Here is the exact wording:

As a PNC Bank customer, you are eligible to review your Free Credit Report from one of the three major credit reporting agencies when you activate the Identity Protect Plus service at no cost for the first 30 days of service.

What made me so angry is that PNC deliberately left out the fact that every American is eligible to receive a free credit report by law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act mandates that every American is entitled to one free credit report a year from each of the major credit reporting agencies. You don’t need to sign up for any overpriced and unnecessary banking services to receive a free credit report. What PNC is essentially doing here is citing a federal law to make it seem like they’re personally giving you one heck of an offer. How sleazy.

As a PNC customer for over ten years, I am extremely insulted and disappointed that this is how I am rewarded for my loyalty. Instead of looking out for their customer’s best financial interests, they are trying to sell a crock of bullshit in an attempt to squeeze $12.99/month out of me. That’s what ten years of my business is worth to PNC. It’s this kind of behavior that last month drove Americans to join credit unions in record numbers.

Shame on you PNC.

Shame on you Brandon Ziroe (the man who signed this letter).

How to Get a Free Credit Report Without the BS

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Americans are entitled to a free credit report once a year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies—Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You can request free credit reports from all three agencies through AnnualCreditReport.com. This website is owned and operated by the three credit reporting agencies mentioned above and is trustworthy. It is the only legitimate third-party website that offers you the opportunity to request all three credit reports for free.

Anyone else that is offering you a free credit report is either trying to sell you something or is outright scamming you. It’s important to remember this because there are a lot of shady companies and scammers who prey on consumer ignorance about credit reports. Even trusted financial institutions like PNC Bank aren’t above using these sleazy tactics. Get your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com or the credit reporting bureaus directly, and don’t trust anyone else.

Posted on December 27, 2011 in How-to Guides, Rants, Saving Money, Scams
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A Beginner’s Guide to Credit Unions

credit union guide Photo by Fibonacci Blue

With each week bringing new headlines about large banks raising fees or engaging in shady investment practices, more and more consumers are switching to credit unions out of protest. While I try to keep this blog free of politics, I am throwing my support behind the movement to transfer money away from for-profit banks and into not-for-profit credit unions. Joining a credit union is a great way to save money, support your community, and avoid exorbitant bank fees.

To show my continued support for credit unions (I’m already a proud member of PSECU), I’ve compiled a quick guide about credit unions and a list of educational links that readers may find useful.

What is a Credit Union?

A credit union is a financial institution that is owned and operated by its members. If you have a bank account at the credit union, then you have an ownership stake in the credit union itself. You even get a chance to appoint people to the Board of Directors by voting in credit union elections.

Credit unions adhere to a business model that can best be described as “not for profit, but for service.” Unlike the large corporate banks, the goal of a credit union is not to maximize profits for shareholders, but to best serve the members of the credit union. Profits earned by the credit union are passed along to its members in the form of competitive interest rates, lower fees, and dividends. Whereas Bank of America has no qualms about instituting $5 debit card fees while reporting billion dollar profits in the same month, your local credit union is working hard to make sure they never have to charge an expensive and unnecessary fee to remain solvent.

How to Find a Credit Union

Many people shy away from the idea of joining a credit union because they don’t know how to find one, or because they mistakenly believe that eligibility is based on employment. This is unfortunate, because there are a plethora of credit unions out there who accept members based on geographic location, family connections, and groups such as schools and churches. You don’t need an employer to join a credit union.

The best way to find a credit union is to use the National Credit Union Administration’s Find a Credit Union tool. Don’t be intimidated by the form; entering only your city and state is enough to return a list of credit unions in your area.

Further Reading about Credit Unions

The National Credit Union Administration is the government organization that oversees and insures America’s credit unions. The NCUA website has several excellent guides and tools for people who want to learn more about credit unions. I’ve listed some of their more useful links below and encourage readers to check them out.

Facts about Credit Unions (.PDF)

Why Should I Join a Credit Union?

What Is a Credit Union?

How Credit Unions Protect your Money

MyMoney.gov: Basic Financial Education for Newbies

Posted on October 27, 2011 in How-to Guides, News, Saving Money
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Don’t Let the New Bank Fees Get You Down. You Have Alternatives.

banksThe big banks have been making headlines lately for increasing fees on their basic checking accounts. Bank of America first announced a $5 fee for using debit cards, then, days later, Citibank announced it was also raising fees. Folks, you don’t need to put up with this BS. Protest these changes with your wallet and move your money to a bank or credit union that values you as a customer. This is not only a frugal way to save money, but it sends a message to these companies that consumers won’t stand for the new ridiculous fees.

How to Find a Credit Union

You can use the National Credit Union Administration’s Find a Credit Union Tool to locate a credit union near you. Don’t be intimidated by the long form; just choosing a state and clicking “Find” will bring up a list of all of the credit unions in your state. Start narrowing down the list from there.

How to Find a Bank

The best way to find a local bank without the fees is to use Bankrate.com’s Find a Checking Account Tool. Simply type in your zip code, and they will give you a list of banks in the area along with their minimum balance rates and fee schedules. This makes it extremely easy to compare local banks and find one without outrageous fees.

ING Direct: No Minimum Balances. No Fees. No BS.

I strongly recommend opening an account with ING Direct. I’ve had an account with them for years without a problem, and I haven’t been charged a single fee in that time. Additionally, they pay great interest on checking accounts. That”s right—they pay you to handle your money! Among other ING Direct perks:

  • No minimum balances. You do not need to maintain a minimum balance in your checking or savings accounts in order to earn interest or avoid fees.
  • No debit card fees.
  • Generous interest rates on savings accounts and checking.
  • Free use at over 35,000 Allpoint ATM locations.

The reason why ING Direct is able to keep its costs low is because it’s an online bank. The way ING Direct works is that you are required to have a “feeder” checking account at another bank, which you then use to transfer money to your ING Direct account. You can access your money from ING Direct by either transferring between the accounts or using your ING debit card to get cashback at stores or ATMs.

Posted on October 7, 2011 in How-to Guides, News, Saving Money
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