Showing my age with The Jetsons reference.
We are redoing our living room and kitchen configuration. We are moving and updating some lighting and outlets. How things have changed. We taking out all of the phone jacks on the main floor except for one which we have a phone for in case of emergencies.
We are adding a few plugs that contain USB Chargers. My daughter reminded us of this. We didn't even think about it at first.
I have been buying these as they go on sale and have amassed about 5 of them. TP-Link Smart Plug Mini. You can pretty much fit one of these and another plug on in the same outlet as long as the other isn't oversized as well. From time to time Best Buy or Amazon will have a 2-1 Sale which makes them about $20 a piece.
You can control them from an app on your phone or tablet. On/Off, timers and schedules. I have a couple of lamps, air exchanger and dehumidifier set up right now. It's nice to turn the lights on for Georgia if we are out or make it look like we are home.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Requi...=tp+smart+plug
I am going to add a few of these for switches that control outside lights, to put them on a schedule or a couple of lights that we use more. I am waiting for a sale. Best Buy had one but sold out quick.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Requi...k+smart+switch
I also updgrade to a wifi Thermostat. Our current programmable model doesn't seem to function properly. I think this will be handy when I come home at noon to an empty house in the winter and the heat is cranked up. You ca also check your humidity and then with the other active the exchange or dehumidifier.
https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-RTH.../dp/B00FLZEQH2
The kid at Best Buy showed me Google Home today which would add voice command to these items and a couple of others I own. I wasn't sold but they have a mini coming out that looks a little more affordable.
Not too far off from automating our houses and still not cheap but the prices seem to be coming down fairly fast.