Internet and Network Security

Couple’s life changes bring Nicholas E. Pierce Technologies to fruition

Security for the Digital World

Efficiency Computer Tips

• Create a family calendar.  Use a program such as MS Outlook to create a family calendar for the month. Place all soccer games, PTA meetings, birthday parties, dance lessons, doctor appointments, school vacations and any other events on the calendar. Then it can be easily updated and printed out. This will help everyone remember where they need to be and who’s responsible for car pool which night. Plus you will not have multiple schedules cluttering up the refrigerator and you can throw away meeting notices as soon as they are entered. Stress and confusion can also be eliminated by having a family calendar so everyone knows when and where the next game is. No more excuses for showing up late or at the wrong field and disappointing the kids and frustrating your spouse.

• Create a contact database.  Rather than keeping an old address book with everyone's information in it, use MS Outlook, Act! or My Mail List and Address Book to automate the entire process. There will be no more searching to find a misplaced address book when you need a phone number or having to white out the old information when someone moves. Plus you can categorize entries into multiple groups such as family, friends, and even Christmas card list. When the holidays roll around you can select the holiday card list and print either mailing labels or envelopes, which will save you hours in getting your cards out during a very busy time of year.
• Create a gift list.  Rather than shopping at the last moment for birthday and holiday presents you can plan ahead. Save time and money by shopping throughout the year whenever you find something special or on sale. Wrap the gift, label it, and place it in a designated place. Log the gift into the gift list with which it is for, what holiday or occasion it is for, what it is and the designated storage place. Use Microsoft Excel to create your gift log with headings for the recipient, what it is, cost of item, the holiday or event it is for and where it is located.
• Organize your recipes. Instead of keeping a card box full of tattered and stained index cards or magazine clippings, type or scan the recipes you use and then print on 8.5" x 11" paper to keep in a 3-ring binder with page protectors for easy access. Save all the recipes in a file folder on your computer named 'My Documents/Recipe Book'.    Categorize recipes in the binder by: Appetizers, Casseroles, Meats, Desserts, etc. Use these categories to name the files such as Dessert-Bread Pudding.doc.  This will allow you to reprint a recipe should it become soiled or you need to mail or e-mail a copy to a friend.
• Send electronic greetings. Save time and money by sending electronic greeting cards to friends and family for birthdays or anniversaries. There are services on the Internet that offer free personalized cards which can even be set up to arrive on a particular future date. As a bonus you can even be notified of delivery by e-mail.