Whether it’s a natural disaster, a war, zombie apocalypse, or some other dangerous situation, bug out gear can be essential for survival. We’ve come up with 13 key categories you’ll want to consider to make sure you have all the bug out bag essentials. That way you also know what to put into your bug out bag. Start with the items listed in this article and build on to customize it for your needs. Remember, the best bug out bags are filled with the necessities. So keep in mind that every items counts towards the weight you will carry but also may determine your survival…

Are you looking for a friend who can tell you the answer to anything? Maybe Alexa can help you out! Amazon Echo, aka Alexa, can answer questions you have by using a wake word. Most people use Alexa as their wake word, however, if someone in your household is named Alexa you may want to choose a different word! 😉 Alexa can also help you order things online, call your friends, play music and more. We review Alexa to see if she’s really as helpful as the hype suggests…

Nest is one of the best Wifi thermostat products on the market. It continuously learns about your heating and cooling preferences, so you don’t have to worry about adjusting the thermostat multiple times throughout the day. After one to two weeks of use, the thermostat will remember your habits and begin to set the temperature automatically. You also have the ability to make changes from the Nest app, so if you want to make any adjustments when you’re away from home, you can. Read the rest of our Nest learning thermostat review to see if it’s a good fit for your household…

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…

You likely heard the buzz earlier this year when WikiLeaks revealed that the CIA has been spying through Samsung smart TVs and other devices. While most of us don’t necessarily have to worry about the CIA, we do need protection from hackers looking to steal our identity or financial information. And this threat isn’t just to our laptops, PCs and smartphones. If you have smart devices connected to your home’s network, they’re all susceptible to hackers and malware. Yes, this includes everything from baby monitors and security cameras to smart dishwashers and microwaves. In fact, hackers look specifically for vulnerable devices — and every smart device is up for grabs. That’s why protecting your entire smart home network is invaluable. So, what can Cujo do for you? Keep reading to learn 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…

Torrential rains flooded your garage and basement over the weekend, causing some structural water damage to your home. You have a home insurance policy, but is water damage covered by homeowners insurance? Things can get pretty murky when trying to determine what is and isn’t covered, but we’re here to give you some helpful information and guidelines…

In our house, we donate all of our unused clothes, shoes and household items to Goodwill. The items are still in good shape, we just don’t find ourselves in need of them anymore, which is why it’s nice to give them a second life. Donating to Goodwill is also a good tax deduction, so those who donate also get a “reward” for their goodwill. In this article we’ll discuss the tax benefits of giving, not to mention how important donating is whether you benefit from it or not…

Self-driving cars are no longer an alien concept or a dream of the future. The question isn’t whether they’ll revolutionize the way we drive; it’s when. Dozens of automakers and tech companies are in the process of developing self-driving, or fully-autonomous, cars. And some are closer than you might realize. For all of those technology and car enthusiasts out there or those of you who can’t wait to relinquish the wheel, we’ll give you the latest info on the state of self-driving technology…

Want a one-stop shop for securing a personal, auto, small business or home loan? Proceed carefully, as there’s lots of companies out there that will leave you with less than you started. LendingTree is a popular online loan marketplace, which connects consumers with lenders offering different types of loans. LendingTree has one of the largest networks in the U.S., with more than 300 lenders. Our expert dives into LendingTree to see if they’re as good as the hype…