Best money-saving software, websites
If you’re looking for ways to cut costs on everyday spending, you can do so from the comfort of your home. Several online sites and software programs allow you to save big on everything from preparing your next tax return, to household items, to prescription drugs. Here are a few of our top picks. Free tax software Only about 13 percent of taxpayers are expected to itemize on their... READ MORE
Tech startups focus on caregiver needs
Want to learn how a loved one or patient with macular degeneration sees the world, or what navigating the day is like for someone with dementia? Then you might want to try the virtual reality (VR) simulations created by Embodied Labs to help you experience key problems and issues facing older adults and their caregivers. With the software and a VR headset, family members, caregivers... READ MORE
Get a sale price even when there’s no sale
If you don’t see a sale sign, it doesn’t mean you can’t get a deal. Here are four ways you could save money the next time you shop online or in person. 1. Sign up If you’re willing to supply a retailer with some of your personal information — such as your name, address or birth date — you could get deals in return. “Consumers can visit the retailers’ website to sign up ... READ MORE
Best apps for busy people, self-employed
Whether working, retired, or somewhere in between (working independently as part of the “gig economy”), many of us have so many different tasks to perform on a daily basis that it can get overwhelming. Fortunately, with a smartphone and some helpful mobile apps, you can stay organized and focused. These are my 15 favorites, some of which are particularly good for... READ MORE
Some online bargains too good to be true
Online shopping could be hazardous to your wealth — and your health. An investigation by the Government Accountability Office, a federal watchdog agency, found that many products sold by third-party sellers on popular websites such as Amazon.com and Walmart.com were counterfeit — and dangerous — and were often a total waste of money. Cheap, substandard phone chargers could... READ MORE
Are electric cars ready for prime time yet?
I recall two moments distinctly from my recent drive in a Volkswagen e-Golf, an all-electric car. The first was marveling at how this vehicle’s instantly available torque made it the best car I’d ever found for the cut-and-thrust of city driving. The second came only 80 miles or so later, as I was feather-footing the same car in the right lane of a divided highway, windows fogged... READ MORE
