Last updated: July 30, 2025
Here’s the thing. Privacy policies are usually written by lawyers for lawyers. Not this one. We are going to tell you exactly what we do with your information in plain English. No tricks, no jargon, no fine print nonsense.
What Information We Collect
When You Visit Our Website
We collect some basic stuff that every website tracks:
- Your IP address (basically your internet location)
- What pages you visit and how long you stay
- What device and browser you’re using
- How you found us (Google, Facebook, etc.)
Think of it like a store keeping track of which aisles get the most foot traffic. Helps us know what’s working.
When You Sign Up for Our Newsletter
If you decide to join our email list, we collect:
- Your email address (obviously)
- Your first name (if you give it to us)
- When you signed up
- What emails you open and which links you click
That’s it. We don’t ask for your social security number, your mother’s maiden name, or your deepest fears about technology.
When You Leave Comments
If you comment on our articles, we collect:
- Whatever name you choose to use
- Your email address (not shown publicly)
- Your comment content
- Your IP address (for spam protection)
When You Buy Something Through Our Links
Here’s where it gets a little more complex. When you click on our product recommendations and buy something, the retailer (like Amazon) tells us:
- That a purchase was made
- How much the item cost
- Sometimes general demographic info (but not your personal details)
We never see your credit card info, address, or specific purchase details. The retailers handle all that.
Why We Collect This Information
To Make Our Content Better
We look at which articles people read most, where they get stuck, and what questions they ask. Helps us write more helpful stuff.
To Send You Our Newsletter
If you sign up, we’ll send you our weekly email with tech tips, product reviews, and the occasional confession about my latest technology mishap.
To Keep the Lights On
Those affiliate commissions I mentioned? That’s how we pay for the website, the testing, and my coffee addiction. When you buy something we recommend, we might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
To Protect Against Spam and Abuse
Sometimes the internet is full of jerks. We collect just enough info to keep the bad guys out while letting the good folks (like you) in.
How We Protect Your Information
We Don’t Sell Your Data
Period. End of story. We’re not in the business of selling email lists to sketchy marketers.
We Use Secure Hosting
Our website is hosted on secure servers with encryption. It’s like putting your information in a locked filing cabinet instead of leaving it on the kitchen table.
We Limit Access
Only the people who need to see your information (basically just me) can access it. We don’t have a team of 500 people poking through your data.
We Don’t Store Payment Info
We never see or store your credit card information. When you buy something through our links, you’re dealing directly with the retailer’s secure checkout.
Cookies and Tracking
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are tiny files that websites store on your computer. They’re not viruses or malware. Think of them like a coat check ticket – they help the website remember you when you come back.
The Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies: These make the website work properly. Like remembering you’re logged in or keeping items in your cart.
Analytics Cookies: We use Google Analytics to understand how people use our site. It tells us things like “most people leave after reading two articles” but not “Bob from Toledo really likes tablet reviews.”
Advertising Cookies: We use these to show you relevant ads and track affiliate commissions. If you click on a product link, a cookie helps us know if you bought something (so we can earn our commission).
Managing Cookies
You can turn off cookies in your browser settings. But heads up – some parts of the website might not work as well. It’s like trying to shop with your eyes closed. Possible, but not recommended.
Third-Party Services We Use
Google Analytics
Helps us understand website traffic. Google has their own privacy policy that’s about 47 pages long. The short version: they track stuff to improve their services.
Mailchimp
Handles our newsletter. They’re pretty good about privacy and let you unsubscribe anytime.
Amazon Associates
When you buy products through our Amazon links, Amazon tracks that purchase and pays us a commission. Amazon has their own privacy policy too.
WordPress and Related Plugins
Our website runs on WordPress with various plugins for security, backups, and functionality. Each has their own data practices.
Your Rights and Choices
Unsubscribe from Emails
Every email we send has an unsubscribe link. Click it, and you’re off the list. No questions asked, no guilt trips.
Delete Your Account
If you created an account on our site, you can delete it anytime. Just email us and we’ll take care of it.
Access Your Data
Want to know what information we have about you? Email us and we’ll send you a summary.
Correct Your Information
If something’s wrong (like we misspelled your name), let us know and we’ll fix it.
Stop Data Collection
You can use browser settings to limit tracking, though some website features might not work as well.
Children’s Privacy
This website isn’t designed for kids under 13. We don’t knowingly collect information from children. If you’re a parent and think your child gave us their information, contact us and we’ll delete it.
Changes to This Policy
If we change this privacy policy, we’ll update the date at the top and let you know through our newsletter or a notice on the website. Major changes will get more prominent notification.
International Users
Our website is based in the United States, but we welcome visitors from around the world. If you’re visiting from outside the US, your information might be transferred to and stored in the US, where our servers are located.
For our friends in the European Union: You have additional rights under GDPR, including the right to request deletion of your data and to object to certain types of processing.
Contact Us
Got questions about this privacy policy? Concerns about how we handle your information? Just want to tell me I explained something poorly?
Email: hello@theoldme.online
Website: theoldme.online
I actually read these emails personally. No chatbots, no automated responses. Just me, probably drinking coffee, trying to help.
The Bottom Line
Here’s what I want you to know: We collect the minimum information needed to run a helpful website and send you useful content. We don’t sell your data, we don’t spam you, and we try to be as transparent as possible about what we’re doing.
The old me used to click “Accept” on privacy policies without reading them. The new me actually cares about this stuff. And I hope this policy shows we care about your privacy too.
If something in here doesn’t make sense, or if you think we could do better, let me know. I’m always learning, and that includes learning how to better protect the people who trust us with their information.
Thanks for reading this far. Most people don’t. But you’re not most people.
You’re part of The Old Me community. And that means something.
This privacy policy is effective as of July 30, 2025. Because technology and laws change, we may update this policy from time to time. But we’ll always try to keep it readable by actual humans.