5 Tips for Using Technology to Simplify Your Life

Technology can simplify your life, free up time and keep you organized. More and more people are also seeing how using technology can be eco-friendly, too.

Paperless Banking and Billing

If you haven't discovered the joys of electronic deposits, you need to get with the times. By eliminating paper, you do your part for the environment even as you speed up the payment process. Let your employer transfer your paycheck to your account directly and you can have your funds immediately.

While you're doing the technology-simplifies-money thing, look into the options your bank offers for electronic bill pay. Most banks provide this service, which allows you to go online and tell the bank which companies need to be paid, how much and when. The bank will cut and mail a check automatically.

Keep it Together While You're Working Around the House

Check out the Dell Latitude XT2, a full-size laptop computer that features a touch-sensitive screen. It's like having the use-it-anywhere functionality of a pen and paper with the full power of a Web-connected computer. As easy to use as a regular desktop computer, the Latitude XT2 lets you store documents and notes, or hit the Web for references and shopping no matter where you're at. Use a stylus, or even your finger, to flick through Web pages and reports, zoom in on photos and a lot more.

Ditch the Filing Cabinet ... and the Rolodex

Filing cabinets, Rolodexes, drawers full of business cards and folders stuffed with receipts all take up space and eat up time to go through. Recycle it all -- after you grab a scanner-and-filing system.

NeatDesk is one of the best systems for its features and your budget. In general, here's how these types of systems work: load the scanner with receipts, business cards and documents. Press a button and let the scanner work. Important information (contacts, vendors, sales tax forms, etc.) is automatically detected and stored. Documents are placed in a searchable PDF. When tax time rolls around, you'll kiss this little guy for all the time he's saved you.

Don't Remember the Important Things

In this day and age, most people have too much to do and not enough time to do it. So don't think about everything you have to keep up with; let someone else do it for you.

Utilize a reminder service that will send messages straight to your cell phone or in an e-mail. They'll keep track of the important things and remind you when they're near. Jott is probably one of the most widely used, but there are at least a half dozen out there including HassleMe and Freminder.com.

Combine It

Instead of a GPS, cell phone and PDA jangling around in your purse, combine them. Make a list of what you need -- video, Web access, communications, etc. -- and look for a smart phone or other device that puts everything in one place. BlackBerrys and Apple iPhones are probably the most prevalent, but there are several others out there, too.