Susie Skog knows Lake Norman Real Estate Inside Out

No matter how complex your computer password is, it isnt enough to stop a thief from using other methods to steal your personal information if they find or steal your computer.

A strong password may prevent someone from logging into your computer, but thieves can remove the hard drive and put it into another computer to access your files. They can also find other ways to copy files off the computer, and may even be able to reset the password and gain access to email, passwords and other personal information.

Encryption can help by jumbling data on important files or whole devices using a mathematical process. The encrypted areas can only be accessed with a password, known as a key; thieves wont be able to reset the password if the device is encrypted.

To encrypt your hard drive, you can use a free program such as VeraCrypt or do it yourself in a few minutes through programs already installed on Windows and Apple computers. Search How to encrypt on your computer and follow the simple directions.

Windows computers have a Device Encryption area in the System folder. Users must log into Windows with a Microsoft account.

If your computer doesnt support device encryption, you can use another built-in encryption tool called BitLocker. Its available only on Professional versions of Windows and above, though Home edition users can upgrade for $99.

Mac laptops are also easy to encrypt. A feature called FileVault encrypts an entire system drive and can be turned on in the Security & Privacy section under Preferences.

Dont store the encryption key (password) on the computer being encrypted. Instead, save it in a safe place in case you ever get locked out. Write it down and dont put it out in plain sight. Better yet, lock it in a physical safe that only you can access. Without the password, you wont be able to retrieve your information online if your computer is lost or stolen.

Modern iPhones and Android phones automatically encrypt data if a PIN or password is used. Encryption only needs to be turned on with a desktop or laptop computer.

Along with encryption, you should keep a good backup of your data on another hard drive"which you should also encrypt"or with a cloud service that keeps your data secure.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Saving for a home, retirement, a vacation or anything else can be difficult.

The median retirement savings of all working-age families in the United States is $5,000, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Given that many financial advisers recommend having about $1 million in retirement, that leaves many families far short of their retirement plans.

Don’t let such big goals keep you from striving for them. Many mobile apps help people reach multiple savings goals, often in painless ways that only require the change you’d normally get at the cash register.

For a retirement plan, home down payment or other large financial goal, you’re probably best off by maximizing automatic paycheck deductions or contributing regularly to a savings account. For smaller savings goals, here are some apps to check out:

Qapital: Set multiple savings goals and have money moved into savings based on rules you set. The service is free.

You won’t have to sacrifice the things you love buying. Buying an espresso every morning at your local coffee shop? Tell the app to save $5 every time you buy coffee. Or it can round up that coffee purchase by a lower amount, such as moving a $3.50 coffee to $4 and putting that extra 50 cents in your account.

Digit: This service has a different way of helping users save money. It connects to your checking account and analyzes your income and spending and finds money it can set aside for you. It never transfers more than you can afford, so you don’t have to worry about overdrafting your account.

Digit used to be free, but now charges $3 per month for its service. A 100-day free trial is available.

Acorns: This micro-investing app turns every purchase you make into an investment.

It connects your accounts and cards that you use to make everyday purchases and rounds your purchases to the nearest dollar. That spare change is automatically invested. You can also set up recurring or one-time investments.

Acorns costs $1 per month to use. For accounts of $5,000 or more, the fee is 0.25 percent per year.

SmartyPig: This online saving account lets you save for specific goals by making automatic transfers from your linked bank account. Want to save for a new TV? SmartyPig can help you set up an account for that.

The service is free. Up to six withdrawals per account can be made each month.

I hope you found this helpful. Contact me for more insights and info.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Whether you collect classics or like to put the pedal to the metal, heres everything you need to know about car condos.

High-End Accommodations

Owners can drop in for a weekend and live luxuriously while enjoying their car collections.

Private Test Tracks

Youll be able to open your car up on a professional performance track and put it to the test the way your car was meant to be driven.

Community of Automotive Aficionados

These developments are often equipped with private restaurants, bars and clubhouses that host social events for car-loving members.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Ask any jeweler how much money you should spend on an engagement ring and theyll likely give you the jewelry industrys long-standing rule of thumb"three months salary.

The average person spends about half that amount, according to Census data.

The jewelry industry isnt recommending three months of pay after taxes, but three months of gross pay"which adds up to about $8,500 for the average man age 25-34, according to Census data. The average person spends about $4,000 on an engagement ring.

A specific dollar amount or percentage of income shouldnt be the determining factor in how much you spend on an engagement ring. The main factor should be how much you can comfortably afford.

You can also consider your earning potential in the immediate future, as well as ways to ease the cost, such as using a family ring. Here are a few things to consider:

Your financial situation
Even if your income is high, your living expenses may be so high already that you cant afford to save much for a ring. Being in debt can make the major expense of an engagement ring more difficult to handle.

Financing a ring on a credit card can only worsen your finances if you dont pay it off within a month and pay late fees or interest charges.

If you dont have an emergency fund, an engagement ring purchase could leave you vulnerable if you lose your job or suffer another financial emergency.

Wedding expectations
If your significant other wants to get married soon, then you wont have much time to save up for an engagement ring, the wedding or anything else associated with it.

This may require you to buy a simpler ring for now and add to it or replace it later.

How to pay for the wedding ceremony, honeymoon and other things can be part of the discussion around the type of engagement ring thats appropriate for your budget.

Saving on an Engagement Ring
To save money on an engagement ring, some thoughts are to use a family ring, or buy a synthetic diamond or cubic zirconium ring, shop for a vintage ring, or buy the best ring you can afford and update it later.

Hope you enjoyed this tip. Contact me today for all your real estate questions!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.