RoboForm: FREE Password Manager through April 13, 2014

April 12, 2014 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: RoboForm

If you routinely register for freebies, enter in the same information on a routine basis, and/or you have many online account usernames and passwords to remember, then you would benefit from this FREE year-subscription to RoboForm.

RoboForm Everywhere is one of my favorite time-saving tools. I used the FREE version for a number of years.

Last fall, I found a deal to get a FREE lifetime subscription to RoboForm Everywhere which I snagged. I saw the deal with only an hour remaining, so I did not post it. Sorry!

Though this deal from SharewareOnSale.com is not for the lifetime subscription, it is for 1 year. You can try it out and see if it works for you. I have enjoyed the full-version after using the FREE version for so long.

With the FREE version, I only got 10 usernames and passwords. With the lifetime version and this FREE 1-year version, one gets unlimited logins.

RoboForm Explained

This software is a password manager. When you download the software to your computer or the app on your device, you will establish a master password. Think carefully, and do not lose this password as you cannot change it once you create it.

Once RoboForm is installed, just operate as usual on your computer or device. When you come to a login screen and enter your information, a pop-up window will ask if you want to save this information in Roboform.

You can then title that login. When you hit enter, you will need to type in your master password (the one you cannot change). Then that information is stored in your RoboForm directory.

I also save my standard information – name, address, phone number, junk e-mail, etc. – for filling in freebie forms. When I come to a registration or entry page, I just click on my name on the toolbar. I have saved my identity information in RoboForm to make requesting freebies only one click to completion.

RoboForm Accessed

To access RoboForm, you can click on the icon which may be in your top menu bar or on your desktop or use an extension in your browser. Before extensions, I used the icon on my task bar.

Task Bar Icon

If I remember correctly, I went to settings and selected “show lower RoboForm toolbar.” The RoboForm toolbar stays at the bottom of my screen when I am on the Internet. This way, I can easily access sites I need.

For example, when I want to search, I open a new tab, select “logins” on my RoboForm toolbar, choose SwagBucks (which is what I named my SwagBucks login information), and watch RoboForm log me into SwagBucks.

Extension Icon

Currently, I use the Google extension for RoboForm. Here, I also use the lower RoboForm toolbar. To select that option:

Add the RoboForm for Google Chrome extension (see these instructions for adding extensions to Chrome)
Once installed on your menu bar, right click the icon
Select “options”
Choose “Show lower RoboForm toolbar” and “Show lower RoboForm toolbar for popup windows”

The toolbar will now show at the bottom of your screen when you are on the Internet.

In using time wisely, I find RoboForm a valuable tool to save all my login information (usernames and passwords) in one place. To snag your FREE year subscription, go to SharewareOnSale and click on the turquoise-colored “Download it now” button. This FREE software is only available through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2014.

Once your yearly subscriptions ends, you can still keep the FREE version. Just pare down your logins to 10. I know that will be tough, but 10 is better than none. I will also keep an eye out for more RoboForm deals.

You won’t regret getting this software as you will save yourself so much time online with all your usernames and passwords at your fingertips. Go! Get it now!

Question: Do you keep the same password for all your accounts, or do you select different passwords for each account?

Living without Regrets: Playing Hookie

March 27, 2014 by Tracy

I only remember playing hookie from school one day. I was in 10^th grade, and my mom kept me out for the day.

We went shopping and had lunch. There was something magical about the experience because everyone else was in school, including my younger brother.

My mom never regretted taking me out that day, and I have no regrets from missing one day of school.

Though I do not want my children to miss school work, I am careful about keeping them away from their studies.

With my children’s school scheduling an all-day outdoor service day and the allergies already flaring in our home, Paul and I took our kids out of school for the day.

We did sleep in this morning, but then we ventured out this afternoon to visit three museums. Admission to all three was FREE with our science membership.

Art Museum with Charles Dickens’ Works

The first museum had a scavenger hunt for the children to assist with the two-floors of art and culture during the 1800’s, specifically the life of Charles Dickens.

The children’s play room allowed my children to play and explore on their own, that is, until they found the same item with which to play.

Local History Museum

The second museum was next door to the first and housed local history. Though we have visited this museum before, we saw two updated exhibits and visited our favorite rooms.

Art Museum with Greek Culture

Our final museum visit was on the campus of a local university. This museum also had a scavenger hunt for the children. This art museum was the best one of the day.

My son is studying Roman and Greek culture this year, and this museum had a children’s area focused on Greek culture.

From deciphering Latin into English to solving Roman numeral puzzles, this play area encouraged learning and applying the knowledge from the Greek culture.

My girls enjoyed creating with mosaic pieces and shopping for fruits and vegetables.

The scavenger hunt was geared toward the composition of the art where even my 4-year-old could find the colors in the paintings and figure out the clues.

We concluded the day by meeting up with Daddy at the university’s dining hall. With a smorgasbord atmosphere, our children enjoyed going from station to station. It cracked me up that all three of them wanted cereal as there was a vast variety of flavors. The day was definitely special as we missed school without missing any school work.

Skipping school is not a habit I endorse. However, it was fun taking the day off from school to attend these museums and spend time together. In using time wisely, we played hookie while living without regrets. Happy living!

Question: Have you ever played hookie?

Time Management: Google Chrome Browser Extensions

March 12, 2014 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Google Chrome

In using time wisely while online, I find the Google Chrome browser extensions a great time saver.

Having mentioned accessing a couple of money-saving tools through these extensions, I will share how you can use them as well.

When I am shopping, editing a picture, or searching online, I use the extension buttons to access needed resources.

Before sharing how to add extensions, let’s start by understanding the terms.

Defining the Terms

Google Chrome Browser

A browser connects one from an internet signal to the World Wide Web. The most popular browsers are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Safari. For this post, I am only concentrating on Google Chrome, which is the browser I prefer to use.

Extension

The extensions used on Google Chrome are files that contain specific programming to complete tasks beyond the existing software. So, extensions are similar to apps, but they run on browsers rather than on a platform (e.g., android, Windows, kindle, etc.).

Installing Extensions

To view your current extensions or to add more, follow these directions:

1. Click on the button with three horizontal lines located on the right side of your screen under the red “x.”

2. Select “Tools”

3. Click on “Extensions”

4. With a view of your extensions, you may delete any extensions you no longer use. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can click on “Get more extensions.”

Once inside, you can view new extensions or search by name. My favorite extensions include the following:

Ebates – cash back site
Shop at Home – cash back site
Honey – promotional code finder
RoboForm – password and login filing system
Pocket – saves favorite blog posts for future reference
Awesome Screenshot – advanced snipping tool for capturing photos

To add one of these to your Google Chrome browser:

5. Select the “+ FREE” button

6. Click “Add” button to confirm the new extension

7. From this point, you can either add more extensions by searching or browsing, or you can return to your extensions page by following the directions to view your current extensions.

8. Once you have your favorites activated, you will see those extensions on your toolbar under the red “x.”

When you are on a website where you need one of these extensions, you only need to click the extension icon and a small window will open for you to use. In using time wisely, extensions allow quick access to information that would otherwise require visiting another website.

If you do not use Google Chrome but you want to access these extensions, then use SwagBucks or Google to search for adding extensions to Firefox or Explorer or whatever browser you prefer.

Though I find extensions helpful, you may not. On this journey to using time wisely, discover what works best for you. Happy using time wisely!

Question: What are your favorite extensions?

Preparing for Daylight Savings Time

March 4, 2014 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Checking my calendar for the week, I found a followup notation to check our supply for 9-volt batteries. With Daylight Savings Time arriving this coming Sunday morning, March 9, 2014, we will change out the batteries in our smoke detectors.

By changing the batteries twice a year, we avoid being awakened in the middle of the night with chirping sounds from a low battery in our smoke detectors.

We did have a carbon monoxide detector that squeaked at us early one morning because we did not realize there was a battery backup.

If you are seeking 9-volt batteries, then check out this search results page from Southern Savers, listing all the battery deals this week. With both CVS and Walgreens offering buy one, get one free sales, we can purchase any remaining batteries needed without paying full price.

For those of you who participate in Daylight Savings Time, you might want to start preparing now. I know some children really struggle with the change. If you have such a one, then try scaling your schedule back a little at a time throughout the week.

Losing an hour of sleep is not pleasant for most, but going to bed 10-15 minutes earlier each night for 4-5 nights is an easier adjustment than one hour earlier on one day. This is just a suggestion for those who struggle as we prepare for Daylight Savings Time. Happy preparing!

Question: Do you change the batteries in your smoke detectors at both Daylight Savings Times, at one of them, or do you wait until you hear the chirp?

Hump Day: Just Take a Breather

February 26, 2014 by Tracy

Photograph credit: Microsoft Images

Happy Hump Day! Having just completed the Blogelina Commentathon, whereby I read and commented on 58 posts written by bloggers of all genres, I’m in need of a lull.

This week has been busy with attending a school observation, taking a meal to a friend, dealing with a broken range, and completing the blogging event.

Coming up at the end of the week, we have a field trip, an oral presentation, a trip to Bruster’s for PJ Day, and a tearful goodbye to Miss 6’s teacher, who is about to have her first child.

With all these changes and emotional highs and lows, it is good to just take a breather.

Ah!

In using time wisely, I am planning to go to bed early tonight to get some extra rest before diving into the rest of the week.

If you are finding yourself extra busy, then try scheduling an early bedtime to re-energize yourself for the tasks ahead. You won’t regret the extra sleep. 🙂 Happy Hump Day!

Question: How busy is this week for you?

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