Life’s hard enough if we don’t get tripped up by life’s inconveniences — or worse, get in our own way. So let’s talk about some everyday inconveniences that can derail your morning commute, cause you to cough up some late fees, or just fall behind.
Inconvenience: You aren’t scatterbrained — you just messed up. OK, maybe a little scatterbrained. Most of us have been here. Our keys are inside our car and we are outside. Locked out.
Solution(s): If your phone is also trapped in your vehicle, this situation gets even harder. You might need to ask to borrow a stranger’s phone. Once you’ve reached your smartphone, search for a local locksmith. They’ll be able to get you out of your pickle. Our area has a plethora of both locally and nationally owned companies that are on standby just waiting for this all-too-common mishap.
“Most of the time, they just forget. Other times, the wind blows the door,” Jocey Rivera of All Valley Pop-A-Lock said.
One thing you may not know is that your insurance might even cover the cost of the dispatch to unlock your car.
“We do have those calls for different insurances,” Rivera said. We get them and they are covered for their services. The insurance will call on the customer’s behalf and then the customer is contacted by their technician.” This is a very modern process these days. You’ll receive a text and ETA for the relief on the way.
Inconvenience: Are your bills piling up? No, are they actually piling up on your kitchen counter, coffee table, or wherever your monthly statements and balances are kept? If you have trouble remembering due dates or how much you owe, the first step is to get digital or get organized. Here are some tips.
Solution(s): Millennials and Gen-Zers should have no trouble setting up an app that can get all of their finances lined up. EasyTechTrick.org lists the top 20 Bill Reminder Apps with “Bills Monitor,” “Bills Manager and Reminder,” and “Prism Bills” topping their list. And if you’re a little more old fashioned or don’t feel comfortable in putting this much information into an app, you can print out a bill organizer or even find an organizer at a local bookstore.
Inconvenience: Even before the COVID-19 outbreak and stay-at-home orders, going to the grocery store is usually not a fun task. One positive we’ve seen from this situation is that getting groceries has stepped into the 21st century.
Solutions(s): H-E-B, Walmart, and Sprouts have curbside and online shopping lists to maximize convenience and limit your time in public spaces. Services like Instacart and Shipt also will bring groceries to your door, but remember to tip your grocery runner and pay attention to company policies and charges.
Inconvenience: A first-world problem is defined as a modern inconvenience — something that really isn’t that big of a deal, but it still irks us. One of the greatest first-world issues plaguing online shoppers is that annoying feeling of paying full price for an outfit, video game, or anything online — then finding out you missed a sale on another website. You throw money down the drain and you probably can’t get it back.
Solution(s): To avoid missing out on the big deal during your online shopping spree, there is a helpful website that’s designed to save your cash. “Honey” is a plug-in that you can add to your favorite browser that will seek out the best deals, promos, and limited offers. The service will scour the web for codes and make sure you don’t overpay. It works for travel, retail, and thousands of online marketplaces. Don’t get burned by missing out on savings again!
