The new year is almost here, and, like many people, you are probably working on some resolutions. Even though you are careful with your money, you probably can be even more frugal with your hard-earned cash in 2015. In order to be as financially careful as possible, use these four tips for using the cloud to save money:
Share Coupons With Friends
Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud-based services, according to Twelveskip. You can use it for backing up important files and for sharing photos and videos with friends and family. To accomplish your 2015 goal, use Dropbox to share coupons, deals and savings with friends and family by making your uploaded content available to the public. And, if you encourage others to post their deals on Dropbox, you also will have access to savings and deals.
Store Your Important Documents
As a wise soul once said, time is money. If you have ever spent hours looking for a car title, a birth certificate or other important piece of paper, you certainly understand the truth of this statement. A convenient way to store your valuable documents is to upload them onto the cloud. If you are concerned about safety, take heed—many cloud services offer security features. For example, Top 10 Cloud Storage explains that SugarSync uses the same type of encryption software that many major banks use. This means you can rest assured that your important and sensitive documents will remain confidential in the cloud, and that they will be easily and quickly accessible whenever you want them.
Watch Your Favorite Shows
If you cringe every time you pay your cable bill, you are probably not alone. It’s not unusual to pay at least $100 a month for these services, and in some cases you might not even get your money’s worth. However, as CloudTweaks notes, the cloud provides great ways to see our favorite shows and movies while saving a significant amount of money. For example, ZDNet describes Netflix as “the biggest cloud app of all,” and at only $8 a month, it is much cheaper than most traditional cable or satellite services.
Telecommute to Work
Commuting can be a bigger expense than you imagine between gas, new outfits, frequent car maintenance, eating lunch out and all of the other costs associated with working in an office. If your drive is a constant issue, the cloud might help you convince your boss to let you work from home, claims Mashable. With the cloud, you can access your projects and work documents and upload your completed work. Programs like Google Drive let you share and collaborate on documents in real time just like you would in person, and cloud meeting programs like Google Hangouts, Skype or GoToMeeting let you video chat with your coworkers. If you can convince your boss that you will be happier and more productive at home, you will save all the costs linked to your daily commute, helping you meet your 2015 resolution.
