Printable Checklists — Just Check the Boxes
Do-this-now action lists. Print. Tape to the fridge. Check them off with a pen.
Different from our Reference Cards (which are info-dense). These are the next step, and the one after that.
New Phone Setup Day
From the box to confident in a week.
- Charge the new phone to at least 50% while you set it up
- Keep the old phone nearby, charged, and unlocked
- Find and write down your Apple ID or Google account password
- Connect to your home WiFi (both phones on the same network)
I Got a Scam Call or Text
Exactly what to do — right now.
- Hang up. Stop texting back. Do not click any link
- Do not say "yes" or give your name, address, or card info
- Take a breath — real companies never demand immediate action
My Loved One Passed Away
Digital account priorities — one step at a time.
- Nothing here is urgent. Take the time you need first
- Do not close any accounts yet — you may need access to them
- Gather: death certificate (order 10+ copies), marriage certificate, will
- Find their phone, computer, and any password book or notebook
Before You Travel
Tech prep so nothing stresses you on the road.
- Back up your phone to iCloud or Google (plugged in, on WiFi, overnight)
- Download offline maps of your destination in Google Maps or Apple Maps
- Check your cell plan — call the carrier about international roaming
- Save boarding passes, hotel confirmations, and IDs to your wallet app
Monthly Tech Maintenance
Fifteen minutes. Once a month. Saves hours later.
- Install pending iOS or Android updates
- Delete 5 apps you have not opened in 90 days
- Clear photos you do not need — duplicates, screenshots, blurry shots
- Restart the phone — hold power and slide to power off, then back on
Yearly Tech Cleanup
The once-a-year audit that keeps your digital life tidy.
- Change your email password — it unlocks everything else
- Change your banking passwords
- Remove old devices from your Apple ID or Google account
- Review "apps with access" in Google, Apple, Facebook — revoke strangers
Setting Up a New Computer
From the box to ready-to-use — in order.
- Plug the charger in before turning on — brand-new batteries are often low
- Keep the box and paperwork until everything works (for returns)
- Note the serial number on the bottom — photograph it for records
Identity Theft Response
The first 72 hours matter most. Here is the order.
- Do not panic. You have 72 hours to stop most of the damage
- Call the bank or card company with the fraudulent charge — freeze the card
- Change your email password first — it is the master key
- Change your bank password second — from a different device if possible
Family Digital Legacy Plan
The conversation and the documents — before you need them.
- Pick a trusted person — usually a spouse, adult child, or close friend
- Tell them where your password book or password manager lives
- Tell them where the will and important papers are kept
- Tell them which bank you use and who your financial advisor is
Getting Help Remotely
Prep for a tech-support session that actually works.
- Plug the device in — it should not die mid-session
- Write down exactly what is wrong, in your own words
- Note any error messages word-for-word, or take a photo of the screen
- Close apps you don't need — makes the screen easier to see
Reference Cards vs. Checklists
Reference Cards are what-to-know — pin them up so you can look at them. Checklists are what-to-do — print them, and work through them. Both live on paper, both are free forever, both fit on one page.