10 Ways To Protect Your Finances

PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE : I’m sure we’ve all used some of these methods, we need them all as a minimum to provide ourselves just basic protection!  Enjoy! ~ nick
 
1.  Instead of simply throwing them away, shred any documents with personal or financial information on them
 
2.  Use a credit card with a small limit whenever you’re wary of giving out your number – perhaps with some mail order or online purchases
 
3.  Require anyone who solicits you over the phone to first send their information by mail so you can check its legitimacy.  Or, just hang up
 
4.  Review your monthly statements.  You may find fraudulent charges – or legitimate charges for services you no longer want
 
5.  Safeguard your family’s important documents in case of a disaster.  Keep emergency supplies on hand, with copies of your important documents in sealed plastic bags.  Keep valuables in a fireproof safe.  Store a set of your important papeers in a safety deposit box (perhaps one outside your immediate vicinity.)  In one or two safe places, keep a copy ofyour household inventory, preferably on tape or disk
 
6.  Choose your personal identification numbers and passwords wisely, avoiding ones a clever thief could figure out just by learning your birth date or your child’s  name.  A combination of uppercase and lowercase letter, numbers and symbols is best
 
7.  Make sure anyone asking for your Social Security number really needs it.  Many businesses will accept alternative customer identification numbers if you ask.  Don’t print your Social Security on checks
 
8.  Opt out of all pre-approved credit card offers by calling 888-567-8688
 
9.  Be vigilant while using the internet.  Independently verify the validity of any requests for personal information before you give out any of your sensitive data
 
10.  Protect your computer’s security.  Use anti-virus software, spyware, firewalls and passwords to guard your privacy.

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