The 2026 Tech Health Check: Trimming the Fat and Speeding Up the Flow
Kia ora team.
We’ve made it to 2026. The festive season is done, the chilly bin is finally empty, and if you’re anything like me, your bank account is looking a little lighter than it was in November.
While I can’t help you with the grocery bill, I can help you stop bleeding money on tech you aren't using.
It’s easy to let things slide during the year. A subscription here, a slow laptop there. But "she’ll be right" doesn't cut it when it comes to your digital den. So, before we get too deep into the year, let’s do a quick Warrant of Fitness on your tech.
Here’s the IT Bear’s 4-step guide to a 2026 Tech Detox.
1. The "Zombie Subscription" Hunt
Go look at your bank statement. I bet there’s a $16.99 charge for a streaming service you haven’t watched since Stranger Things finished, or an app you downloaded in 2024 to "learn French" that’s just mocking you now.
These are zombie subscriptions. They’re dead to you, but they’re still eating your brains (and your wallet).
The Fix: Be ruthless. If you haven’t used it in the last 30 days, cancel it. You can always sign up again later if you really miss it.
2. Is Your Broadband Plan Stuck in 2023?
This is a big one. Kiwis are notorious for signing up for a utility plan and then never looking at it again. Meanwhile, providers have changed their speeds, lowered their prices, or released better bundles.
If you’ve been on the same power or broadband plan for more than two years, you are almost certainly paying a "loyalty tax."
The Fix: Check your speeds and your bill. Or, make it easy on yourself and use The Buzz Switch. We check the rates so you don’t get stung. It takes five minutes and could save you hundreds this year.
3. The Physical Dust-Off
Your laptop and router are like vacuum cleaners that never get emptied. By now, your PC’s fans are probably choked with dust, which means they run hotter, louder, and slower.
And don't get me started on the modem. If your router is stuffed behind the TV surrounded by a nest of power cables, your Wi-Fi signal is fighting a losing battle.
The Fix:
The PC: Buy a can of compressed air and give the vents a blast. It’s oddly satisfying.
The Router: Move it out into the open. Wi-Fi hates solid objects. Give it some breathing room.
4. Security: The "123456" Audit
It is 2026. If your password is still "Password123" or the name of your cat, we need to have a serious chat. With AI scams getting smarter, your front door needs a better lock.
The Fix:
Get a Password Manager. Stop trying to remember 50 different logins.
Turn on 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for your email and banking. It’s that little code they text you. Yes, it’s an extra 5 seconds of work. Yes, it stops 99% of hackers.
The Bottom Line
You don't need to buy the latest gadget to have a better tech year. Sometimes, you just need to clean up what you’ve already got.
Take an hour this weekend to sort the digital mess. Your wallet (and your sanity) will thank you.
Need a hand sorting the scary stuff? Give The IT Bear a roar.