We overhear this complaint almost every day…My cell phone is dying, and I don’t have my charger! If this is you, here’s what to do (aside from throwing your phone in the trash!).

If you’re in a coffee shop or staying at a hotel and your phone or laptop is running out of power—and you forgot to bring your recharging cord—ask a manager to look in the lost and found for a cord that fits your device. Lost chargers are so common that these businesses often have several dozen of them that customers have left behind. Helpful: Improve the chances of recovering your own charger by wrapping a piece of tape around the cord and writing your name, phone number and e-mail address on it.

Thanks to David Pogue, founder of the technology-news website YahooTech.com, for help with this tip. DavidPogue.com

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