| May 25, 2013
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Preventive Measures Against Identity Theft

Waking up one day to find everything you have worked hard for has been compromised is like a nightmarish dream you’d wish to really wake up from. This is what happens when you become a victim of identity theft. Everything you have, your home, family and work is at risk and it may take many years before you get everything back to normal. These days where everything can be accessed in a few clicks of the mouse, nobody is truly protected. Statistics show that there is an estimated nine million people who fall victim to identity theft each year, and if you’re not careful, you could be next.

identity theft

Secure your Personal Identity Documents

Though it screams convenience, keeping all you personal ID’s and credit cards in one wallet or purse only makes life easier for criminals. So, separate your IDs and keep only what is essential for your daily routine. Avoid bringing all your credit cards with you and leave your check book when you will not use it. More importantly, never bring your PIN with your credit cards and avoid using your birthday as your PIN.

Shred when Disposing Important Documents

Any documents with your identifiable information are at risk including your credit card offers, bank statements, receipts, medical claims and others. Many identity theft do “dumpster dive” in search for these kind of information. It’s better to be safe and have this kind of information in shreds in case they find it.

Protect Your Mails and e-Mails

Identity thieves sometimes work aggressively and steal right from the source. Don’t leave your mailboxes out overnight and have someone collect your daily mails if you are on vacation. If you notice your mails have gone lighter and some important bills are missing, check with your postal service for potential fraudulent activity. When sending out important mails, opt for secure boxes provided by the post office.

Be alert when keying usernames, passwords and other sensitive information on some websites or emails. Check the URL information on the address to ensure that you are on the correct site. Some phishing sites mirror the look and feel of websites to get user’s information. So check for SSL encryption by verifying browser icon before giving out sensitive information. You may also look for third-party security verification such as VeriSign if making credit card payments over the internet.

Image Credit:
David Castillo Dominici _ FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

Category: internet | Tags: , , , ,
| May 25, 2013
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Online Shopping Tricks to Save Even More Money

Most shopaholics already know that making purchases online is a great way to save, but with such a wide range of competition out there some sites offer better deals than others. To find the biggest deals on the internet, you have to be willing to put a bit of time and effort into hunting them down. The following are a few tricks that you can use to save even more money when shopping online.

online shopping

Use Shopbots

Websites like megashopbot.com act as powerful search engines, trolling through different results to find the best prices for any given product. Google has a shopping section which also fulfills this purpose. It’s worth using these virtual shopping robots in order to see the average prices given by different online retailers. This will ensure that you’re getting the best possible deal, and could give you bargaining power for price negotiations.

Search Local Marketplaces

One of the best ways to find deep discounts on both new and used products is to shop at online marketplaces. The biggest names in this category include eBay and Amazon, but localized companies are quickly catching up. Quicksales offers an app for ease of searching and is localized to Australian buyers and sellers, for example. There are local Craigslist and Gumtree sales boards that hold everything under the sun as well. You can save money buying from local sellers who are unwilling to ship their products, meaning that they will probably receive lower bids for them. Recent advertising for Quicksales.com.au and other websites of this nature means that their exposure is rising, so they’re worth checking regularly for the best deals.

Collect Online Coupons

Although you’ll see many items already listed on sale, you can usually receive even further discounts if you find manufacturer coupons online. These are often sold through eBay and other sources, and major retailers often run discount days on their products. It’s worth signing up for daily deals services like Groupon and Living Social, which have expanded beyond simply offering deals on services to include consumer products as well.

Consider Outlet Shopping

It’s difficult for high street brands to store their extensive collection of clearance stock in their shops, because they have to make way for new products. At the same time they want to get rid of this stock, and many choose to sell it at heavily discounted prices online. Some will include clearance sections on their main website, while others will have separate outlet stores. These could be stored on the main website, like ASOS, or they could be hidden, as with Monsoon. A quick Google search for the high street brand of your choice and “outlet” could reveal a hidden treasure trove of discounted stock on eBay.

Savvy shoppers love the thrill of the hunt, and even with the abundance of search tools there’s always the thrill that comes with stumbling across an unexpected great deal. By taking the time to compare options from different online retailers, you can take advantage of the deepest discounts.

Image Credit:
Stuart Miles – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

Category: finance | Tags: , , , , ,
| May 23, 2013
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Strategies to Manage Personal Debts Effectively

According to the latest statistics, an average American household has a debt of about $18,000, meaning almost everybody is in deep debt. It is therefore prudent to learn how to manage your personal debts on your own. Though you can find debt managers that you can consult with, they can sometimes get you deeper in this hole that actually relieve you off your debt.

personal debts

You can effectively manage your personal debts by splitting your expenses into two major parts – fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs are those that you pay the same way every month such as rents, insurance premiums, fees and others. Variable costs are expenses which you can control and even cut off. They can include $5 magazine that you buy everyday on your way to work. You don’t really need to spend $100 on magazines everyday for materials that you can watch on T.V and on the internet. Once you’ve reviewed your expenses, you can prioritize what you really need to spend on. You have to realize that debt repayment can become a painful process especially if you need to cut down on some luxuries such as regular pricey coffee from Starbucks or spa and massage treatments.

You should also combine all your personal debts and ask for a revised interest rate from your creditor. This is doable for many credit cards, you can request for a balance transfer and you get a lower interest rate on your new creditor. For personal loans on different category but coming from the same creditor, they can be combined and given an interest rate that is easier on your pocket. In paying off your debts, .5% to 1% savings is all worthwhile.

If you can, avoid taking services from personal debt managers. They ask for upfront fees which only increase the costs you are working to tone down. Have more discipline in using your credit cards and if you can, try pay your purchases in cash. Shift to some credit card with a lower interest rate or refinance your mortgage with another that has a lower interest rate. You can pay off your personal debts effectively if you can work your way around it. So start listing them down and start paying off the one with the highest rate. Getting rid of a loan worth $200,000 with 8.5 % interest means savings of around $16,000 each year! Plan, list, cut down unnecessary expense, reconstruct your loans, move with creditors offering lower interest rates and prioritize payback!

Image Credit:
Stuart Miles – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

Category: finance | Tags: , , , , ,
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