Digital resolutions to start the New Year

By Chris McGinn

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It's that time of year! Fresh starts, new beginnings, promises to keep. This year add a few tech resolutions to your list to make your life run a little smoother in 2010.

Out with the Old

Spend time this month organizing your email inbox. Delete those messages you are keeping for no good reason. Sort the ones you need into folders in your mail program. This doesn't have to be done in one marathon session, but instead spend a few minutes each time you check your mail and you'll have it under control in no time.

While you are at it, review your email subscriptions and prune those that you no longer want. If you signed up for a site's specials but it has been more than a year since you made a purchase, unsubscribe. Same for all those email newsletters you never have time to read. All of them have a simple "unsubscribe" option at the bottom of the email. One click and your inbox will thank you.

But don't stop with your inbox. Review and archive your working files as well. Whether it is your work computer or your home computer, back up your important files and delete ones you no longer need. Again, a few minutes at a time every day until it's done.

Safe Start to the New Year

Resolve to improve your online safety this year. With more and more of our life going online, from online shopping to online banking to healthcare, be sure that you are keeping your personal information safe.

Download all those updates and security patches your computer has been nagging you about. Also check your anti-virus software for any updates you may have missed. Some simple maintenance now can prevent major headaches later.

As you log-in to sites this month, update your passwords with new ones. Also make sure your wireless networks are secure so that others aren't stealing your bandwidth or your private information.

Save Your Money   

Are you paying more than you should for your phone, cable, wireless and other tech goodies? Take some time to review your bills and see if you need to make some changes in your plans.

Are you frequently going over your minutes and paying a penalty? Are you leaving money on the table because you need to downgrade your plan?  Does your provider offer a bundle package that you haven't taken advantage of?

The start of a new year is a great time to look into making changes to help your budget as it recovers from the holidays especially with introductory offers that could save you big money.

Get the decade off to a great start by keeping these tech resolutions.