Tech hacks
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Print physical copies of tickets as a backup that works without battery power or tech.
Paper does not require charging, and some locations may not accept digital versions.
- Some cases may not accept the paper printout.
4 people, independently
Save photos of your wallet's contents to your phone before traveling.
It helps you know what needs replacing and allows cancellation of cards if stolen.
- Muggers may steal your phone too; keep a printed copy or cloud backup.
one person who lived it
Place a large sheet of paper with your name and contact information inside your luggage.
Luggage tags can fall off.
one person who lived it
Scan permission slips and email them to teachers as a backup in case the physical slip is lost.
It provides a record if the physical slip goes missing.
- A simple photo may not be sufficient legal protection compared to a scan.
one person who lived it
Ensure the entire QR code is visible and moderate in size before scanning.
If it is too big or small, the scanner cannot read it.
one person who lived it
Turn off blue light filter apps before scanning barcodes, as they can prevent scanners from reading them.
Blue light filters can prevent barcodes from scanning.
one person who lived it
Screenshot electronic permits or tags in case you lose cell service while in remote areas.
One person encountered a game warden on a remote river with no signal and could not access their app.
one person who lived it
Avoid using high-end or flashy luggage if security is a concern.
They are easier targets for thieves.
one person who lived it
Photograph your parking lot space number at the airport.
One person learned this lesson the hard way.
one person who lived it
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Treat your coat check ticket like valuable currency and store it securely in your wallet.
Losing the ticket means losing the coat.
2 people, independently
Ask a partner to take a photo of your vaccination card and keep a copy.
Having a backup photo helped when one person forgot their phone at home.
one person who lived it
Check airport monitors for gate updates rather than relying solely on your screenshot or wallet app.
Gate info may not be updated in your screenshot.
one person who lived it
Screenshot your boarding pass early or print it out before reaching security.
Airport internet is often poor, and phone batteries may die if delayed.
one person who lived it
Take photos of your luggage before traveling, especially when taking multiple connections.
Photos allow you to show police what the bag looks like and help with travel insurance claims.
one person who lived it
Turn phone brightness to maximum when displaying barcodes to ensure scanners can read them.
Dim screens may fail to scan, causing delays at security or gates.
one person who lived it
Disable auto-rotate on your phone before scanning tickets.
The screen may rotate while the scanner does not, causing scanning failures.
one person who lived it
Screenshot movie, event, and restaurant coupon tickets for offline access.
Cellular data service at venues may be iffy.
one person who lived it
Screenshot or photograph maps and other essential information before traveling to areas with poor coverage.
You may not have access to this information or remember it by heart without internet.
one person who lived it
Carry photocopies of passports while traveling abroad and leave the original in a hotel safe.
Photocopies can help prove citizenship to embassies for replacement IDs if the passport is stolen, while keeping the original secure reduces loss risk.
- A photo or copy of a passport generally cannot be used to board a flight; it is only for proving identity to authorities.
- Digital photos of passports stored in cloud services pose privacy risks if accounts are hacked.
2 people, independently
Use browser autofill for your email address, but verify the information is correct before submitting.
Browsers can auto-fill wrong info easily, and users might not notice if they rely on it too much.
one person who lived it
Have your ID or passport out and ready when approaching security or gates.
It is extremely helpful for staff to verify your identity quickly.
one person who lived it
Convert sensitive documents to PDF format before sending them to prevent unauthorized editing.
PDFs preserve formatting and are harder to edit than Word documents, protecting the integrity of the information.
- Unscrupulous actors can still alter PDFs, though it requires more effort.
one person who lived it
Use a scanning application instead of taking a photo when submitting handwritten assignments electronically.
Clearer problem sets may lead graders to be more lenient.
one person who lived it
Work out your possessions based on the difficulty of replacing them; if losing an item causes significant trouble and a copy is possible, create that copy.
one person who lived it
Maintain separate folders for business and personal expenses.
It simplifies tax reporting.
one person who lived it