You need a password to access everything from Netflix to your mutual-fund account. The goal is to strike a balance between security and accessibility.

For low-risk accounts, such as on-line newspapers and inexpensive e-commerce sites, use the same password. Keep a list of your usernames and passwords for these accounts on your computer's desktop, or list them in your Rolodex under "Passwords,” so they'll be right there when you need — and still occasionally forget — them.

For medium-risk accounts, which include travel and more expensive e-commerce sites, use the same root password and add different numbers to each. It's OK to put these in your password file or Rolodex.

For ruin-your-life-if-hacked accounts (your bank account, for example), make a unique password for each one, and for airtight security, don't write any of them down. But if you must, keep the information in a place that is not obvious, like your junk drawer.