When it comes to managing my life, particularly if I’m way from my computer, if I can skip or speed up a step I’m more likely to stay on top of things. Google Calendar allows me to quickly add events through my phone through SMS. I simply scroll to Google in my contact list and choose the option to send an SMS, type my appointment and hit send. Google texts back that the appointment was received. I also use it to send my self to-dos and notes that I don’t want to forget.
To set up the mobile option with Google Calendar:
Visit your Google Calendar online.
Click on the “Settings” option.
Click on “Mobile Set up”
Check to see if your Carrier is supported.
Enter your country and phone number, and then click “Send Verification Code”
You’ll receive a message back with a verification number. Enter that number in the “Verification Code” field on in the mobile settings on your calendar. (If you don’t receive the code, you can request it again through the Mobile Set up in the Settings.)
Click “Finish Set-up”.
To send a text of a new appointment:
Add Google Calendar’s SMS number to your contacts 48368
Send a text to the SMS number. Enter the appointment, date and time for example “Dinner 3/4 8pm” or “Soccer Saturday 10am”
Google Calendar will text back that it received the appointment.
Appointments I made through Text (SMS)
You can also have Google Calendar text your appointments to you. To receive the next item on your appointment schedule text “next” (without the quotes) to 48368. Text “day” to get the day’s appointments or “nday” to get tomorrow’s schedule.
Do you lay wake at night wondering how much you should be saving in order to pay for your child’s college education? Well you’re in luck because over at SavingForCollege.com you can use it’s World’s Simplist College Cost Calculator to find out.
Simply enter your child’s age and you’ll get results. You can modify those results based on your expected annual college costs (default is $25,000), number of years your child has left in high school, what percentage of college costs you plan to pay, and how much you already have saved.
When I first got my Palm Treo, it was more of a novelty than anything. I paid the extra for Internet access and bought all sorts of programs to go with it, but at the time I didn’t really need it.
Today, I have a Blackberry (although I’m taking a close look at the Droid) that I can’t live without. If there is no wi-fi for my laptop, I can check email on my phone. If I need to do some quick cost comparison research, I can access information from the Internet on my phone. If I need to capture a thought, I can do it on my phone either through text, recording or a service like Jott that will send it to my email or calendar. And while much of its use is related to work, not all of it is. I listen to Pandora, read ebooks, and locate where my children have wandered off to.
Here are my top three reasons why everyone needs a Smartphone:
1) You can carry your life with you wherever you go. Contacts, notes, schedule, music and more. You don’t have to carry a bulky planner with erasable ink scribbles in it. Your phone can do it.
2) Get information about anything, anytime, anywhere. Like phone service, your Internet access can be limited but as many times as I’ve hit a dead spot in my phone service, I have very rarely not been able to get online to access important information from my phone. Need to know the traffic or weather where you’re heading? Want to compare prices on that great new doodad you’re planning to buy? Just last week I used my phone in Blockbuster to figure out what disk a specific episode of Stargate was on so my son could rent it. You can even get GPS.
3) Mange your life. Worried about missing an important call or email? Need to update your blog or Tweet with your colleagues? Nearly every great web-based productivity site has mobile options to make doing your work or managing your projects fast and easy while on the go.
Tired of wasting time sitting on hold? LucyPhone can help. In three easy steps you can contact the company you need to talk to and let LucyPhone sit on hold.
In today’s challenging economy, any resource that can save you up to 50% is worth checking out. Most people think of gift cards as … well…gifts. But if you can get them from retailers you often shop from at a discounted price, they are a great resource for frugal shopping.
GiftCardGranny has partnered with resources such as eBay.com, Plastic Jungle, and Giftcards.com to bring you a one-stop resources for saving up to 50% off card value on gift cards. For example, today (5/10/10) it has a $50 Wal-Mart card for only $34 (32% off). If you’re a regular Wal-Mart shopper, that’s a pretty good deal.
The list of participating retailers is extensive and includes Target, Barnes and Noble, Lowes, Kohls, Papa John’s and more.
