Free Programs to Manage Work and Life

Last week, I ended my subscription to Photoshop CC (my year was up) and made the decision to not buy PS again at this time, since I am not longer personally designing kits. I’ve been using Photoshop since 2006 so I felt a little strange not having this familiar tool at my disposal! I do need to create graphics for the blog and store so I installed GIMP and was able to quickly get up and running in the interface, which was very similar to the full version of Photoshop. I’ve actually been a big fan of open source software and free online resources for a long time because of what can amount to a huge amount of money being saved. Like many of you, I am working online to add to our family’s budget and have to think about some of the bigger expenditures and whether they make sense in the long run.
Today, I am going to share with you a list of the some of the free programs that have been in my arsenal for a while to manage work, life and everything else.
Blogging platform – Blogger
I know that some folks recommend that you get a self-hosted WordPress blog if you want to be serious about your business, but I have chosen to buck that trend for a couple of reasons. First, I have had 3 WP blogs and they have all been targeted for hacks. Not fun! Second, they need regular maintenance and updates. Third, since Google and Blogger got married awhile ago, the SEO capabilities have gone up since I am also on Google+.  I have never had any issues with hacks on this blog and the number of gadgets and good templates available are very satisfactory. The maintenance is almost 0. Hacking? Never.
Blog Writer – Windows Live Writer
I don’t really love the Blogger interface so I have been using Live Writer since about 2008 or maybe earlier. It makes it so easy to manage images, alt text, links and a lot of other formatting items. It also makes it easy for me to save drafts for multiple blogs. The ability to schedule posts and tag to categories are also part of this program.
Document Creation/Management – Open Office
Open Office has a suite of programs that lets you handle a large array of document needs, replacing MS Office and saving you a few hundred bucks.
Online Document Creation/Management – Google Drive
We became heavier Drive users last year when the kids started collaborating more on school projects and I needed to share more info with designers and staff at DigiScrapAddicts. This is a GREAT place to keep spreadsheets with CT contacts, checklists of items to complete for a kit, etc. because it can be shared with your team and/or accessed from any computer.
Notetaking, Organization – Evernote
I keep all my checklists in Evernote – how to do payroll, daily tasks for the site, blog ideas and a few hundred other items. It has been revolutionary. Evernote can also be used as a to-do list manager – see The Secret Weapon for more information.
Shopping Cart – Zencart
CUDigitals has been on zencart since before I acquired the site in 2011. I also ran my personal store and the redesigned store at DigiScrapAddicts on zen. There are security issues that need to be addressed with this cart and regular maintenance is a MUST but it is a robust cart that I think manages multiple downloads really well.
FTP Manager – FileZilla
This standalone FTP manager has NEVER let me down. It has a simple interface and ability to manage a long list of logins that might be needed for working at multiple sites.
Unzip Manager – 7Zip
This program handles large amounts of unzipping with ease. I especially like being able to dump a whole bunch of downloads into one folder, eliminating all the duplicate previews, TOUs and No Piracy graphics in just a few clicks.
Text Editor – Crimson Editor
This program allows me to open and edit .css and .php files without messing up all the formatting like notepad does. Not something I LOVE doing but every once in a while, I have to do this dreaded job and it’s easier with the right program.
Calendar – Google Calendar
This program keeps me going where I’m supposed to be going. I can share events with my husband and get texts and alarms for any and all appointments. LIFE CHANGING for me to not have to hold all that stuff in my head. If I am away from home, I can check my availability on my phone without having to run home and look at the paper calendar on my fridge.
What about you? What are your favorite free resources? Share in the comments, we love to hear from you!
top image credit: freedigitalphotos.net