5 Tips To Prevent Identity Theft

In 2003 over 14 million Americans were victimized by scammers. A few years later, identity theft has turned into a much bigger problem. Yes compared to 2003, today, more and more people are being victimized by others who steal people’s identities for a living.

Private individuals and business are all vulnerable to identity theft. In fact these scammers have gathered about $4 billion from stealing personal information alone.

How do you prevent yourself from being a victim of identity theft? Here are a few tips:

Tip 1: Never Share Information

Do not share your personal information such as your address, your full name, your age and your birth date with people you do not know. Do not share your credit card number or your PIN to other people as well. Whatever mode of communication these scammers use, whether it’s through messenger, email or over the phone, please do not believe them. Most of the time, they are not telling you the truth.

Tip 2: Think

If you suddenly won an online lottery you never really participated in, then you probably are being contacted by scammers. Most of the time, these people try to get your vital information by telling you that you need to provide credit card details or bank details so they can send you the money you won.

Tip 3: Beware of Nigerians

This is not a case of discrimination. If you think Nigerians can’t dupe you because they’re in Nigeria, think again. Nigerians have been singled out as scammers. They are usually the ones who send you messages that you won the lottery and by the time they have your information, they’d be using your credit card to make purchases online, get your money or use it for other scams. Their English is not very good and their syntax is rather different. Try to be more observant every time you receive an email or an instant message.

Tip 4: Beware of Phone Calls

Identity theft can happen on a regular phone call but most of the time Nigerian scammers use the relay service to call your home. The relay service is a US based phone call service for deaf people, it is provided for them by the government so that they are able to make regular phone calls through an interpreter. However, some Nigerian scammers have hacked the security of the service and use the interpreters to make calls to houses in the US.

They usually pretend that they are deaf and want to buy a puppy or whatever merchandise. They get your number through online ads. Even if the interpreter knows that she is facilitating a scam call, interpreters are not allowed to meddle with the calls due to FTC policies. So if you get a phone call from a supposed “deaf” person who asks you for your vital information, do not entertain the call. They will call you back but remember that the interpreter or the operator is not involved in this.

Tip 5: Shred, Shred, Shred

Shred certain items such as credit card bills you’ve already paid for. People can get your vital information from your trash or vital information in your computer. People may call the bank and pretend to be you and may even get to transfer money from your account to theirs.

Debit Cards

Debit cards are gaining popularity these days, primarily due to the recession. People are trying to make wiser choices on spending as there is a constant worry on losing existing jobs. The changing interest rates of credit cards have also pushed more people into using debit cards instead. With debit cards, cash is drawn out from the card holder’s account as compared to credit cards where money is borrowed and repaid with large interest rates. Using credit cards is compared to spending money that you do not really have.

The first debit card was first issued in the late 1970s by the First National Bank. These were primarily given to loyal account holders with good credit and acted similar to a guarantee card. Several years later, the initial debit system was implemented, utilizing the existing credit card and ATM systems. With the emergence of newer advancements in technology, debit card expenses were directly subtracted from a checking account. Symbols such as the Plus, Visa or Mastercard were seen on these cards. Over time, debit cards have outnumbered the use of checks and are frequently used to pay for food and other smaller transactions. It has been predicted that the use of debit cards is a step towards a cashless system.

Debit cards offer several advantages over other modes of payment. In comparison to cash and checks, debit cards are safer to carry when traveling. As a limited amount of cash is deposited into the account, it helps the cardholders control their spending. Similar to credit cards, debit cards can be used to pay for purchases and bills online but do not carry the same high interest rates. In contrast to credit cards, people can easily apply for a credit card even if they have bad credit.

There are number of options available in applying for a debit card, the most common of which is applying for a checking account which also offers a debit card. Some banks give the debit card on site or it can be mailed to the account holder’s address. Upon getting the debit card, it must first be activated through the ATM or through the bank’s online site. Prepaid debit cards are reloadable versions of the debit card can be applied for through PayPal or purchasing through Western Union. Transaction fees may be charged. A third option is having a portion of your salary deposited to a debit card. An initial fee is commonly charged upon the mailing of the card and can also carry a number of usage fees.

In comparison to credit cards, debit cards are known to have less security. When a debit card is stolen, it must be reported immediately and the card must not have been used in order to avoid charges. If reported within 48 hours of being stolen, a charge of up to $50 may be incurred. For notifications of beyond two days but less than 60 can incur larger fees. Beyond the 60 day limit, larger fees may be charged.

Any suspicious items on your financial statement must also be reported immediately. It is also advised to keep all receipts made with the use of a debit card. The account holder’s information can be easily obtained through looking at a receipt which may in turn be used to illegally purchase services or goods.

If the debit card comes with a PIN, it is best to memorize it. Avoid using birthdays as your PIN. Always keep track of your purchases and the amount remaining in your account. Some debit cards allow the account holder to use money reserved for other uses, such as clearing other debits.

Starting a New Business

More and more individuals have been venturing into the world of business and marketing. This is because there have been many available opportunities and avenues to start a new business. But before diving in to the business world, there are quite a few things you should consider and learn.  Starting a business will become as stress-free as possible once you know all the dos and don’ts.

First things first, you must be very clear on the type of business you are to set up.  Success begins when you have clear goals and know how to take actions to achieve these.  Before starting, you must write down your business idea clearly. This is to help you with strategic planning.  Different types of business have different types of strategic approaches and marketing strategies in order to become successful. You should also set your goals based on your skills.  Let’s be realistic here.  Being successful in business also depends on your skills and attitude.  If you think your expertise is not adequate, then you can ask for help and assistance from business professionals.  Furthermore, to have a booming business, ask for sufficient finance.  And one thing more, choose a good spot to start your business.  Upon considering all of these, things will go on smoothly.

There are other things you need to get started legally and officially.  You cannot just put up a shop and sell products without having some permits. Above all, you need a business permit/license to start.  This is a universal truth, whatever state or country you live in, a business permit must be obtained.    In the US, business licenses are issued by the state, so expect some differences in requirements and guidelines per state. You can get a business license online or go directly to the county clerk’s office.  It is suggested you go directly to the clerk’s office and Occupational License Department to get answers to your questions right away.  Sometimes, there are areas or zones where certain business establishments are not allowed.

Another thing you need to do is to register your business name with the Internal Revenue Service.  You may also need an Employee Information Number or a Federal Tax Identification Number. This can be obtained online at www.irs.gov. Also, you to have an estimate gross receipt to determine the approximate taxes and other business fees to be paid. These things may appear tedious but after getting everything done legally, you won’t be facing any more problems regarding your business.

A resale certificate or a wholesale license is also needed.  Any business establishment that sell products need a reseller’s permit.  Having this permit allows you to collect sales taxes.  For more information on how to get a reseller’s permit, you can go to http://www.businessnameusa.com.  You may also want to visit http://www.business.gov for more details on starting a business.

Here are some useful links you might want to visit to help you with your business plan and strategic planning:

http://www.themanager.org/pdf/Businessplan.PDF

http://www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations/startBusiness.asp

http://www.state.nj.us/njbusiness/starting/

http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/

5 Reasons Why We Fail To Save Money

Money makes the world go round. That is something we all have to admit. We often try to save money but once spring sales or holiday sales kick in, we blow all our savings by breaking the bank.

It sure is hard to save money especially if you see something on sale and sometimes when we window shop. We also have a tendency to buy  things. Most of the things that we buy are not necessarily what we need but we buy them because they’re just too pretty to be sitting there at the shop.

Apart from binge spending what else stops us from saving money? Here are a few things why we fail to save enough money:

1. Just Not Having Enough

This is the most common reason for many people but not having enough money to save is not the real issue. We usually do not have enough because we spend too much money. Growing savings in the bank requires us not to spend and that on its own is a rather difficult task. One thing all of us should remember though is –it is doable.

2. Not Starting Early

Saving money should be part of a person’s values even at an early age because the earlier we all start saving, the more money is saved in our bank accounts. Children should learn how to save money at an early age so they can be educated about finances. Financial literacy is sadly not taught in schools even if it is vital for day to day activities. If you have children teach them how to save so they won’t have to go through what most people are going through –not having enough most of the time.

3. Not Prioritizing

After getting our paychecks, we usually spend on a few things that we don’t actually need. Prioritizing what needs to be paid first would definitely stop us from spending on unnecessary things. Prioritizing would also keep the bills from piling up. This is something that most of us want to escape from –paying three or even five months worth of telephone bills or cable bills. Something that should have been affordable in the first place turn into big amounts just because we do not know how to prioritize.

4. Not Budgeting

Not doing our monthly budget is one culprit of overspending which leads us to not saving a dime. Budgeting will lay down all the things that are needed to be paid and what are needed to be purchased. By budgeting you sometimes come to the realization that there were quite a few things bought last month or last payday that aren’t actually needed.

5. Not Paying Up

A person who has a lot of debt and is not keeping current with their payments gets more interest fees and owes more than they did. Having to pay on credit cards for a very long time makes saving money barely possible. Put an end to this vicious cycle by making payment arrangements with creditors.

Personal Checks

When we talk about checks, we picture these very formal, intimidating looking checks. Well, this is a thing of the past. Now we can express our own uniqueness and style even through personal checks. Who says banking and finance management can be this fun? Thanks to personal checks, the world of money and other things dealing with finance need not be so dull and boring. Now, we have the freedom to express and show our fun side through personal checks.

Personal checks can be an avenue to express ourselves. This just means we can choose almost anything, from cars to clothes, jobs to spouses, and means of payments to check styles. Having a personal check does not only spell F-U-N. Personal checks help people you make transactions with know you better through the designs of your checks. What a nice thing, isn’t it? Who knows, maybe through your check design, you can even gain more friends and new acquaintances.

A lot of people have been ordering their personalized checks lately. Aside from the design, a personal check also contains essential check details: contact information, check number, date, signature line, payee, amount issued, routing number and account number. It’s just like a bank check except that a personal check is a fun version of checks. You can use these personal checks to pay bills, when shopping and buying groceries. Like all bank checks, personal checks are drawn from a bank account. However, their use has been gradually declining because of more popular and convenient means of payment like debit and credit cards. But the thing with these plastic cards is that you cannot have them personalized. For those who want things personalized, these checks have a big edge. If you want to see your own face printed on the check, it is possible with personal checks.

Having your checks personalized has become so easy now. Using the internet, you are just a few mouse clicks away to getting your checks personalized. Whatever design you want, cartoon characters, holiday themes, pictures and faces, you name it and you’ll have them printed on your checks. Wonderful, isn’t it? You are sure to find something that matches your unique style.

Personal checks are not your usual unexciting bank checks. For those who want to spread fun through cool checks, have them personalized. The next time you make a payment using a check, you might want to have one with your favorite cartoon character as a background design. There is no greater thing than sharing your style and personality to others even in financial and banking worlds. Have your own personal checks done now and add fun colors to your payments and other transactions.

Buying Your Own Health Insurance

Buying your own health insurance is not the easiest thing to do. Because of the economy and the huge number of people who currently do not have health insurance, finding your own health insurance is something you may have to do.

First of all, you probably feel quite vulnerable without health insurance. Being human, we are all just one accident or one major illness away from being rocked off our secure financial boat especially if you don’t have health insurance.

You may have been without health insurance months or possibly even years.  Maybe you were let go from your regular job because of company downsizing. Maybe you have tried to get insurance but you weren’t  the perfect healthy specimen that insurance companies want to offer individual policies to.

It can take you 30 seconds to have an accident where you can fall and hurt yourself.  When you break your ribs with that fall, it can cost you up to $9,500.  You’ll need an ambulance ride to the hospital, x-rays, and possibly a CAT scan. You might not even stay at the hospital for more than 24 hours and still have that large bill.  Needless to say, going without health insurance could very easily wipe out all of your savings and put you into debt you never dreamed of.

Say you had an accident and fell down your stairs and hit your head. This type of accident might cause internal bleeding in your brain and you might need surgery.  You might have to be in the hospital for a month. Your bills will mount faster than you could ever imagine and soon you are owing hundreds of thousands of dollars for your care.

When you buy health insurance, it’s not like going shopping for other types of insurance. There must be hundreds of car insurance offices near you, but health insurance offices are scarce. You might have to ask many people how to find out about buying your own health insurance. A simple solution to your problems is to try out www.ehealthinsurance.com. This company is a referral company that links you with insurance companies that can meet your needs.  They are knowledgeable about many different companies offering insurance.  If you don’t get accepted with one company they can easily help  you apply for insurance with another company.

With one quick and simple application over the internet, you can eliminate your health insurance worries and anxieties. You can get the insurance you need and deserve. Don’t wait any longer to get your health insurance. The longer you wait, the more chances you have of being a victim of an accident or illness that could ruin you financially. Leave it to the experts to help you get what you need. Click on the image below and start protecting yourself today. I have used their services and highly recommend them.

Mortgage Calculators

Many of us don’t have the talent to make complicated computations to figure out what your mortgage is actually going to cost you and what your monthly payments will be. A mortgage calculator is an automated tool to aid you in doing this before negotiating a mortgage transaction. This tool gives you an overview of your financial responsibility if you choose to get a mortgage on your real estate investment.

When you are shopping for a house you want to own or rent, you first want to think about all aspects regarding the house and the cost before making a decision. Using a mortgage calculator in the privacy of your home is more convenient than doing so in the presence of a mortgage lender.

If you are just starting to have a family and you are not yet earning much, renting is a good option for now. Furthermore, whether you are a first time buyer or an experienced buyer, a mortgage calculator is always the best thing to use for estimating the mortgage costs.

Your income, loans, debts, and available interest rates will determine how much you are allowed to borrow. Although most people know their monthly expenses, their idea of how to compute the monthly mortgage payment is another story. The mortgage calculator is the answer to know what you can afford by comparing the interest rates, loan terms, and down payment.

It estimates your monthly payments. It is a relief to have this type of calculator in determining the mortgage that is most beneficial to you from the different options available. The calculator is a handy tool to use before asking your lender for advice and making a new purchase. It will keep you on the right track. Take time with the numbers to see what you can afford and your financial situation can improve. Putting the information in a spreadsheet is another tool you can use that will help in discussions with the your lender.

Calculating mortgage payments is such a complicated task. Instead of acquiring the services of an agent to make you understand the figures, why not use a cost-free mortgage calculator which has been tested and proven to be authentic. Mortgage calculators are blessings to homeowners interested in real estate. Before these calculators, buyers had to use interest rate tables to compute the variables of the mortgage. It is common knowledge that complex mathematical computations are very hard to comprehend.

Bankrate.com has an online calculator that you can use for free. You will only have to type in all the information asked such as your monthly income and additional earnings, housing expenses, loans and insurances plus the amount to be converted. After this, the calculator will give you the amount and monthly payments that meet your requirements. It can also show you how many years you can shorten your mortgage payment time based on whatever additional payments you think you may be able to make. Using a mortgage payment calculator can be crucial to helping you make one of the most important buying decisions of your lifetime.

Debit Cards

Debit cards are used by millions of people in this era. A debit card is another method of payment instead of using cash when purchasing something. It is a plastic card that is also called a check card or bank card. Having a debit card is like having a credit card minus the credit line. It is a great way of managing your money because you make sure that the things you purchase do no exceed to the amount you have in your bank. Many people regard a debit card as just another way to pay for a purchase.

Opting for a debit card is very easy. You don’t have to worry about your low credit report because the providers don’t check your record. It means everyone gets approved. Go to your bank and ask for an application. Fill out the application form and deposit funds into your deposit account. There are no extra payments involve in this process. After a week, your card will be delivered to you by mail along with a PIN needed for setting up and activating your debit card. A telephone number is included in the mail and you will have to call that number to answer some questions. After the call, type in the PIN and your debit card is activated.

Owning a debit card is very convenient for eliminate the need to write checks and show any identification. A person can freely use the card almost everywhere in many areas around the world. On the other hand, debit cards help you to control your excessive shopping habit because you can’t spend more than the amount in your account. It takes out a lot of tiresome jobs of paperwork to keep tracking your bills. Most importantly, using a debit card to shop on the Internet is the safest for you because it won’t expose your bank details, thus, preventing theft.

On the contrary, there is a risk involved in having debit cards. When your card gets into the wrong hands, expect that they can drain your bank account. Remember that a PIN code is not needed when using debit cards to transact a business. Avoid this problem by keeping your card in a very safe place always. Keeping and hiding your debit card receipts is very helpful to prevent thieves from gathering information through them. If your card is either lost or stolen, report this immediately to your
banking institution.

Debit cards are offered through Mastercard or Visa and these can be used anywhere. They are readily available in ATM’s, POS (Point of sale) terminals, and online as well as over the phone. Debit card registers can be used to record your spending, just like you would use your check register.

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