We moved 16 times in 30 years. I use lots of my old address streets with different numbers. I even have used old phone #'s and license plate #'s. I will put zip code first, then street name. I have a few written down. I even have used an aunt and uncle’s address for a password. (They lived there 40 years, so I just write Aunt and Uncle’s address as my hint.) My personal financial account I have a strange group of letters, symbols and numbers that I remember. I know I will have to change it soon, but I hate to.
I created a spreadsheet many years ago and stored everything on it that one shouldn’t…paswords, account numbers, etc. Dh was pretty horrified but this was before I knew much about security issues. We changed the name of the doc and I deleted certain things from the spreadsheet (financial institutions) but I still have it and refer to it on a daily basis.
I just googled ‘adding a password to notes on an iphone’ and the instructions are there. I also just googled ‘adding a password to an excel file’ and the instructions are there as well. So, thanks to this thread, I just added a password to my excel spreadsheet.
On top of that, I use dashlane. I find it a bit quirky and like it but it’s far from perfect. I’ve wondered if I should switch to lastpass on onepassword but feel rather overwhelmed at the prospect. May be one of my new year’s resolutions. I do not let Dashlane create passwords for me. I don’t trust it enough to know that I’ll always be able to log in. I also don’t have it on all my devices and, occasionally, need to access things on my iphone or ipad that normally I’d just need on my laptop.
The most important thing (lately) is for me and or our kids to have access to important information. Therefore, we have a gigantic spreadsheet that we update on our computer. I have a hard copy of it in my underware drawer (!) and in our lockbox. My kids know where to find this since my husband’s stage 4 cancer DX a year ago. My own passwords are written on paper and easily found. Near my laptop.
Except for College Confidential. None of my loved ones know I am on this site, and When I die it dies with me.
re above- then how can they delete your CC account? Or, do we just wonder why no one ever hears from you (assuming we’re still around? I wonder how many thousands/millions of accounts are out there because no one ever closed them…
I definitely think some passwords should be in a place not on the computer for needs such as post #42 did. How do you find the password if you can’t log into the computer??? And my mind reading skills do not extend to H’s brain…
I have my passwords written down on index cards stored in a box in an accessible spot.
I also have them in a Word document stored on my PC that has lots of household management info, including the passwords.
I update the document as needed, and have a hard copy stored in a spot where H and kids know where to find it.
H has a copy and I also have one in an e-mail folder in case I need to access it from afar.
Our primary investments are secure at a main investment company, I feel, with third level authentication for access (via a code sent to my non-smart cell phone whenever I try to log on to the investment company).
I monitor our credit card bills, etc. and match receipts with statements.
So even though I know my system is likely not 100% secure, IMO it is more important that H and/or kids could access this info if needed.
Plus I can easily access and keep organized this info, which I often need to manage accounts, medical records, etc.!
I have many passwords, far too many to remember, and some have to be changed periodically so this works for me.
(so far!)
@wis75 there are a number of formerly quite active CC members who have simply disapeared over the years that I’ve been on this site. maybe somewhere some of them announced their departure, but for the most part it seems that they just stop posting. I’ve never gone on a CC hunt to find a reason for their departures. Or to see if their accounts were deleted.
I have had big gaps in my posting history here myself. I’m not sure why anyone would need to delete my annonymous CC account when I die. Does it matter?
For you folks who store your passwords in Word or Excel documents on your computer, that’s taking a big chance if your laptop ever gets stolen or lost. At the very least they should be encrypted if they’re on your computer. Same for those of you who store your passwords on your phones in Contacts or Notes or the like. I highly recommend a password manager. By the way, Lastpass has a phone app in addition to the browser extensions for computers.