Privacy & Policy

Updated: 07 May 2024

Introduction to the Privacy Policy

Welcome to Real Life 101, a dedicated resource for personal finance guidance. The website reallife101.org aims to provide individuals with informative and practical advice to manage financial challenges effectively. The commitment to protecting the privacy of visitors and subscribers is paramount, and this Privacy Policy details the practices regarding the collection, use, and protection of personal information.

By accessing and using the website, visitors consent to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. The commitment to privacy involves transparent data practices and a strong dedication to safeguarding personal information. Visitors are assured that their personal data is handled with utmost care and respect.

Information Collection

Types of Personal Information Collected

Real Life 101 collects certain types of personal information to enhance the user experience and provide tailored content. The personal information collected includes:

  • First Name and Last Name: Helps in personalizing communication.
  • Email Address: Essential for sending weekly newsletters and responding to queries.

Methods of Collection

The personal information mentioned above is collected through the following methods:

  • Newsletter Sign-Up: Visitors voluntarily provide their first name, last name, and email address to subscribe to Real Life 101’s weekly newsletter via a pop-up dialogue box on the homepage, which can be optionally closed.
  • Contact Form: On the contact page, users can enter their names and email addresses along with a message, which is directly sent to Real Life 101’s email for effective dialogue.

Purpose of Collection

The collection of personal information serves several purposes:

  • Communication: To respond to user inquiries and engage with visitors effectively.
  • Newsletter Distribution: To distribute the weekly newsletter, which offers insights and updates from Real Life 101.
  • Analytics: To analyze website traffic and user interaction, which aids in refining content and improving user experience. Tools such as Google Analytics and Google Console are employed for this purpose.

Use of Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Explanation of Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Real Life 101 employs cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance the user experience and gather data that helps improve the website. These technologies are crucial for collecting insights about user interactions and include:

 

  • Cookies: Small text files that are stored on the user’s device to collect data about user activity and preferences.
  • Google Analytics and Google Console: Tools that use cookies to analyze how users interact with the website and monitor its performance in search results.

Purpose of These Technologies

The primary objectives for using these technologies are:

 

  • Traffic Analysis: To understand how visitors use the website, which pages are frequented the most, and how users navigate through the site.
  • Website Optimization: To utilize insights from user data to enhance content quality, improve user experience, and ensure optimal website functionality.

User Consent and Control

To comply with privacy regulations and ensure transparency:

 

  • Cookie Consent Pop-up: When users first visit Real Life 101, a pop-up banner appears on the home page or any search result page they click on, informing them about the use of cookies. Users have the option to either accept and enable cookies for a full website experience or decline them, which may limit certain functionalities.
  • Managing Preferences: Users can manage their cookie settings as follows:
  • Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow some level of control over cookies through the browser settings. Users can set their browsers to block cookies or alert them when cookies are being sent to their device.
  • Analytics Opt-Out: Users wishing to prevent their data from being used by Google Analytics can install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on, available for most modern web browsers.
  • Third-Party Tools: Various third-party tools, including browser add-ons and plugins, are available online to help users monitor and control the use of cookies.

Legal Basis for Processing

Compliance with International Privacy Laws

Real Life 101 adheres to several international privacy regulations, ensuring that the processing of personal data is justified under specific legal bases as outlined by these laws:

 

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): For users in the European Union, the GDPR requires that personal data be processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently. Real Life 101 processes personal data under the following legal bases:
    • Consent: Users provide their explicit consent by actively opting-in through the newsletter sign-up form and contact form on our website.
    • Legitimate Interest: There is a legitimate interest in processing personal data to enhance site functionality and user experience, provided that such interests are not overridden by the data protection interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the users.

Methods of Obtaining Consent

Consent is a cornerstone of lawful data processing under privacy laws, and Real Life 101 employs clear, affirmative actions to obtain it:

 

  • Newsletter Sign-Up: Users give their consent to receive the newsletter by entering their first name, last name, and email address in the pop-up dialogue box, which includes a clear indication of this specific consent (e.g., a checkbox not pre-ticked).
  • Contact Form: By filling out the contact form, users consent to having their details used to respond to their inquiry. This form also includes a clear description of what the information will be used for.

Revocation of Consent

Users have the right to withdraw their consent at any time. Real Life 101 provides easy instructions on how users can withdraw their consent and stop the processing of their data, which can be done through email settings for newsletters or by contacting Real Life 101 directly via email for other inquiries.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

Circumstances Under Which Data May Be Shared

Real Life 101 respects the privacy of its users and limits the sharing of personal information to circumstances where it is necessary. These include:

 

  • Legal Requirements: Personal data may be disclosed when required by law, such as in response to a court order, subpoena, or other legal process.
  • Service Providers: To enhance the functionality and usability of our services, we share data with trusted third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf. These services may include site analytics, marketing assistance, email delivery, hosting services, and customer service activities.

Types of Third Parties With Whom the Data May Be Shared

In the interest of transparency, here are the types of third parties with whom Real Life 101 might share data:

 

  • Google: For analytics and traffic data analysis, which helps in optimizing our website.
  • Kits: A service used for additional website functionalities like plugins or widgets that enhance user experience.

Safeguards and Privacy Measures

To ensure that your data is protected, Real Life 101 takes several precautions:

 

  • Contracts and Agreements: We enter into contracts with all third-party service providers that require them to use personal data only for the provision of services to Real Life 101 and to handle personal data in compliance with privacy laws.
  • Data Minimization: Only the necessary amount of personal data is shared with third parties, ensuring that no excess information is disclosed.

Notification of Changes to Data Use

Should there be any changes in the way Real Life 101 uses or shares personal data, affected users will be notified through updates to this privacy policy. Users are encouraged to periodically review this policy for the latest information on our privacy practices.

International Data Transfers

Transfer of Data Outside the EU

Real Life 101 operates globally, and therefore, personal data collected may be processed and stored in countries outside of the European Union (EU), including in countries that may not have data protection laws equivalent to those in the EU. Such transfers are necessary for the effective operation of our services and the fulfillment of the purposes outlined in this privacy policy.

Safeguards in Place

To ensure the protection of personal data when transferred internationally, Real Life 101 employs several safeguards:

 

  • Adequacy Decisions: Where possible, data is transferred to countries that have been deemed by the European Commission to provide an adequate level of data protection.
  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs): For transfers to countries without adequacy decisions, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission. These clauses provide specific data protection guarantees.
  • Binding Corporate Rules: In cases involving data transfers within corporate affiliates, Binding Corporate Rules approved by competent data protection authorities may be used.

Rights of EU Data Subjects

EU data subjects have specific rights regarding the transfer of their data to non-EU countries, including the right to obtain details about the safeguards in place and to request a copy of these safeguards if necessary.

Review and Update of Transfer Mechanisms

Real Life 101 regularly reviews the mechanisms in place to ensure they comply with the latest legal requirements and standards. Adjustments are made as necessary to align with changes in the law and best practices for data protection.

Data Retention

Retention Period

Real Life 101 retains personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, as outlined in this privacy policy, or as required by law. The specific retention period for personal data depends on the nature of the data and the reasons for its collection. Below are the general criteria used to determine the retention periods:

 

  • Newsletter Subscriptions: Personal data collected for newsletter distribution is retained as long as the individual remains subscribed to the newsletter. The data is promptly removed upon unsubscription or request for deletion.
  • Contact Information: Data provided through the contact form is retained for a reasonable period necessary to address the query and for follow-up communications, typically not exceeding one year unless further interaction is warranted.
  • Analytics Data: Data collected via analytical tools such as Google Analytics is typically retained according to the terms of the service provider, which may vary but generally does not exceed 26 months.

Criteria for Determining Retention Period

The retention of personal data is based on several key criteria:

 

  • Purpose of Data Collection: Data is retained based on the necessity to fulfill the specific purpose for which it was collected, such as responding to user inquiries or sending newsletters.
  • Legal Obligations: Some data may be retained longer if required by law, such as for tax, accounting, or other regulatory requirements.
  • Consent: Where data processing is based on consent, the data is retained until such consent is withdrawn.
  • Security and Fraud Prevention: Data may be retained for longer periods if necessary for security purposes or to prevent fraud.

Deletion of Data

Upon expiry of the retention periods, or when data is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected, it is deleted or securely disposed of. Users can also request the deletion of their personal data at any time by contacting Real Life 101.

Your Rights

Rights Under Different Jurisdictions

At Real Life 101, we recognize and respect the privacy rights afforded to individuals under various international privacy laws. These rights include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Right to Access: You have the right to request access to your personal data that we process.
  • Right to Rectification: You can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
  • Right to Erasure (‘Right to be Forgotten’): You may ask us to delete or remove personal data where there is no compelling reason for its continued processing.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You have the right to request that we suspend the processing of your personal data.
  • Right to Data Portability: Where applicable, you may request the transfer of certain personal data to another party.
  • Right to Object: You may object to the processing of your personal data on grounds relating to your particular situation.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: If you have given your consent to the processing of your data, you have the right to withdraw it at any time.

 

These rights are subject to certain exemptions to safeguard the public interest (e.g., prevention of crimes) and our interests (e.g., the maintenance of legal privilege).

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the following details:

 

  • Email: reallife101contact@gmail.com

 

When contacting us, please provide your name and the nature of your request so we can process it efficiently. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request, to ensure the security of your data.

 

Real Life 101 aims to respond to all legitimate requests within one month. Occasionally, it may take longer if your request is particularly complex or if you have made several requests. In this case, we will notify you and keep you updated.

Security Measures

Commitment to Data Security

Real Life 101 is committed to protecting the security of your personal data. We implement a variety of security measures designed to maintain the safety of your personal information both during transmission and once we receive it. These measures are aimed at preventing unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction of your personal data.

Security Technologies and Procedures

Our security practices include, but are not limited to:

 

  • SSL/TLS Encryption: Our website uses SSL/TLS encryption technology to ensure that all data transmitted between your web browser and our servers remains private and secure.
  • Secure Server Configuration: We host our website and store your data on secure servers that are configured to follow industry best practices and standards.
  • Access Controls: Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only, who are subject to strict contractual confidentiality obligations.
  • Regular Security Assessments: We conduct regular security assessments and audits to evaluate and improve our security measures.
  • Data Breach Procedures: In the unlikely event of a data breach, we have procedures in place to act swiftly to secure the data, assess the risk to individuals, and comply with applicable laws regarding breach notification.

Employee Training

All employees and contractors who have access to personal data are required to undergo training to understand the importance of protecting personal data and to learn the best practices for ensuring data security.

Updates to Security Measures

Technology and threats continually evolve, and as such, Real Life 101 regularly reviews and updates its security policies and controls to reflect new technologies and methods of data protection.

Children's Privacy

Commitment to Protecting Children's Privacy

Real Life 101 recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy of children, especially in the online environment. Our website and services are not designed for or intentionally targeted at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 13.

Parental Consent and Participation

If we learn that personal information from users under the age of 13 has been collected without verifiable parental consent, we will take the necessary steps to delete such information promptly. We encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in their children’s online activities and interests.

Monitoring and Compliance

We regularly review our compliance with this policy and ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent unauthorized access to children’s personal information. If we change our practices in a way that might involve the personal data of children under 13, we will ensure that those changes adhere strictly to laws and regulations regarding children’s privacy.

Updates to the Privacy Policy

Policy Changes and Updates

Real Life 101 reserves the right to update or modify this privacy policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, service offerings, or legal requirements. Any changes made will be in line with our commitment to maintaining the security and privacy of user data and complying with applicable laws.

Notification of Changes

Users will be notified of any significant changes to the privacy policy through our website. A notice will be posted on the homepage or as a pop-up notification when users access the site for the first time following the changes. Minor changes that do not materially affect the way we handle personal data may be made without explicit notification.

Reviewing the Policy

We encourage users to review our privacy policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting the personal information we collect. The date of the last revision will always be posted at the top of the privacy policy, making it easy for users to determine when it was last updated.

Contact Information

How to Reach Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about our Privacy Policy, you may contact us using the information below:

 

 

We are committed to resolving any concerns regarding your privacy or our data collection practices. When contacting us, please provide sufficient detail about your query or concern so that we can handle it appropriately and efficiently.

Response Time

Real Life 101 aims to respond to all inquiries within a reasonable timeframe, typically within one month from the date of receipt. Should there be any delays due to complex issues or a high volume of requests, we will inform you of the expected response time.

Effective Date

Implementation of This Policy

This Privacy Policy becomes effective as of 07th May 2024. Any updates or modifications to this policy will also be noted here, specifying the date on which the new changes come into effect.