Sally Jones

While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s graduate school for journalism and public relations, Sally began a long career researching and writing about hard-to-understand topics, such as insurance and finance. Her additional experience in marketing, fundraising, public relations and financial planning at various foundations and nonprofit organizations over the years has given her the practical tools to inform consumers about making the smartest business and personal financial decisions. Her work has appeared in many notable media outlets, including The Washington Post, Entrepreneur, People, Forbes, Huffington Post, and more. Speaking of smart living — growing up in the (at-the-time) per-capita murder capital of the U.S. (Richmond, VA) taught her a thing or two about the need for personal and home safety. Sally stays on top of all the latest gadgets and services to protect her and her teenage daughters from potential predators and thieves. And she brings this knowledge to every article she writes.

Man holding smart lock app next to front door of house outside

Best Smart Lock: Schlage vs Kwikset Kevo vs August vs Danalock & More

Now you no longer have to worry about those duplicate keys you gave to your sitter or house cleaner. You can say goodbye to leaving a key under the mat for guests. Smart locks are growing in popularity, thanks to the convenience and added security they give you. But what are the various features available, and what’s the best one for your home (or business)? Let’s unlock the findings in our best smart locks review!

Best Smart Lock: Schlage vs Kwikset Kevo vs August vs Danalock & More Read More »

woman with an ipad monitoring her home security system cameras with dog sitting in her lap

Best Home Security System For Pet Owners: Pet-Friendly, Wireless, For Dogs, Cats, And More

Indoor motion sensors are the biggest concern for pet owners looking for a pet-friendly security system. If you don’t want to sacrifice this important home security feature, you still have some great options. We’ve spent a lot of time researching equipment offered by all the top companies and have narrowed down the best systems for pet owners.

Best Home Security System For Pet Owners: Pet-Friendly, Wireless, For Dogs, Cats, And More Read More »

Person's hand holding smart phone with VPN on the screen, coffee mug and plant and journal on desk in the background

How To Setup A VPN Step By Step: iPhone, Windows, Mac, Android & More

Are you looking for better methods to secure your online privacy? Have you read about virtual private networks (VPN) — one of the best ways to ensure your confidentiality online? Understanding VPNs, how they work and how to set them up is confusing, for sure. Here, we’ll give you a rundown of how to setup a VPN step by step, whether you’re using your PC, mobile device or your home server.

How To Setup A VPN Step By Step: iPhone, Windows, Mac, Android & More Read More »

Close-up of a hand writing the word 'Testament' with an ink pen. Caption: How To Create An Online Will

Best Online Wills: LegalZoom Vs Rocket Lawyer Vs U.S. Legal Wills Vs Quicken WillMaker & More

Who will take care of your children if you and your spouse meet an unexpected demise? What will happen to your assets, like your home, savings, family heirlooms and investments? No one wants to think about end-of-life issues, but it’s up to you to protect your family the way you see fit; otherwise you’re taking a huge risk. If you die without a will, the state will step in to settle everything from child custody to the distribution of your assets, and may do so in a way that’s not what you would have wanted. If you don’t have a will, you should — and it’s not as daunting a task as you might think.

Best Online Wills: LegalZoom Vs Rocket Lawyer Vs U.S. Legal Wills Vs Quicken WillMaker & More Read More »

closeup of a man using a VPN on iphone sitting wearing jeans

Private Internet Access Review: Is It A Good VPN?

Searching for the best Virtual Private Network (VPN) on the market that fits your budget? VPN’s like Private Internet Access (PIA) help keep your data and identity secure and protected from prying eyes when logging into unprotected Wi-Fi networks (such as those at airports or coffee shops). They can be applied to any connection, wether you’re on your laptop, home PC or smartphone — and all at a remarkably low monthly price. Private Internet Access also has one of the best reputations in the industry. Our Private Internet Access review gives you the lowdown on this top-ranking service and why we chose them as our number two best VPN provider.

Private Internet Access Review: Is It A Good VPN? Read More »

A man sitting in the driver's seat of a self driving car with hands off the steering wheel wearing suit with a blurry street scene

How Does A Self-Driving Car Work? Safety, Legality, Autopilot & More

The future is close at hand, or rather, out of your hands, when it comes to self-driving cars. It’s both an exciting and daunting prospect. You may be wondering, how does a self-driving car work? And can you trust a self-driving car (also referred to as an autonomous car) to get you to your destination accident-free? Read on to find out about self-driving technology, which companies are on the move, and where the state of autonomous cars stands today and down the road.

How Does A Self-Driving Car Work? Safety, Legality, Autopilot & More Read More »

A man's hands typing on a Macbook air with WiFi symbol and map of hotspots and lock icons overlay

How To Secure Your Wi-Fi And Keep Out Prying Eyes

Do you often get online at your local coffee house, a hotel when traveling, or other public places (called WiFi hotspots)? If you’re not already aware — public WiFi access has the potential to severely compromise your online security. And hackers can get into your computer in no time (as in, 2 seconds!). So, what steps can you take to protect your online presence and your identity if hackers come calling? Keep reading to find the best ways to keep your private online self as secure as possible.

How To Secure Your Wi-Fi And Keep Out Prying Eyes Read More »

Hands forming roof over blue house icon

Choice Home Warranty Reviews: Plans, Customer Service, Claims, Coverage, & More

Choice Home Warranty has one of the worst reputations we have seen. There is a government write-up on the company’s Better Business Bureau page stating that the company allegedly sold a home warranty to consumers and then denied consumer claims. This is a big red flag in our opinion, so if you are seriously considering Choice Home Warranty we recommend you proceed with caution. Below is the review we initially wrote prior to learning about the government write-up.

Choice Home Warranty Reviews: Plans, Customer Service, Claims, Coverage, & More Read More »

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