Most people are familiar with the saying An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And most people are probably way too familiar with I really wish I'd... moments. These are the moments that usually take place when when you experience a less than desirable episode that could have been easily prevented.

It's unrealistic to think we can avoid all those unfortunate scenarios, but we can avoid a good many of them with just a little effort. It is all about prevention through preparation – prevent the pain by preparing for the worst.

Back Up Your Computer
A hard drive crash can be more than a frustration, it can be a severe blow. What do you have on your hard drive? Typically people store a huge part of their lives there – financial information, photos, legal documents, important correspondence, and more. That can all be gone in a heart beat. Backing up has never been easier. The products available that make it a breeze are numerous. You can go old school with an external drive or you can use an online tool like Mozy or Carbonite. In any event, a few minutes spent backing up can save hours, even days, of labor intensive recreation.

Back Up Your Wallet
What would happen if you lost your wallet? Would you be able to remember just what was in it? Would you know who to call to report the missing items? It's doubtful. Most people have overstuffed wallets to start with, and thinking you could recall every item is not very realistic. Your best best is to take everything out of your wallet and photocopy the contents. Be sure to get the front and back of every card. If the unfortunate happens, you will be prepared and ready to make those calls to report the loss.

Back Up Your Phone.
Do you carry a phone that can store data? Do you care about that data? If so, backing up is important. In most cases any pictures, videos and texts are stored locally. Losing a phone can mean the loss of photos, memorable messages and more. If you are at all sentimental this can be truly upsetting. In this day and age, text messages are a primary way of communicating so the loss of your phone memory could create many hassles. Many phones can be connected to your computer with a USB cord, making backing up simple. I often forward important texts to my email account. I do he same with photos. My phone really catalogs my life so I take no chances.

The time investment to get backed up initially should be less than an hour, and the time to keep current is truly minimal – just a few minutes a week. The peace of mind that comes with being prepared is monumental – it feels so good to know that a theft, loss, or breakdown will not bring me down!

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