This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Right smack in the middle of a fancy schmancy dinner I received a text meant to swindle me out of money. On our way home I checked my phone and found the text, at right. I had received the Walmart text scam that’s been going around.
There were red flags all over this thing. For one, I am not a Walmart shopper. Though it was my birthday, I knew it wasn’t my lucky day as I hadn’t entered any giveaways. The biggest clue this was a scam was the number. It was a regular 10-digit number instead of the usual shortcodes used by legitimate companies.
pin add / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Money moves – New job? Here are seven money moves to make when you get a new job. (Wisebread)
Theft increases – More stores are moving to self-scanning checkout, but these are increasing theft risk. Do you like the self scanning checkout lanes? (USA Today)
Financial IQ – Our blogger friend Kelly is hosting a financial literacy month and shares 24 financial terms you need to know. (The Centsible Life)
Little credit knowledge – Here’s another reason why you should talk to your kids about money. A new study finds college students are dunces when it comes to credit cards. (Time Moneyland)
No-cost funeral – Want to save money on a burial? Donating your body after death may be the answer. (MSN Money)
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It’s been awhile since I made a video, and I’m super excited to come back with ones that involves my preggo belly and a blowtorch. My job rocks!
That’s quite a scowl!
This guy is in costume, but the call I received was from a real scammer. Credit: CarbonNYC/Flickr
I received a suspicious email from my credit card company yesterday almost immediately followed by a call from a person who, in the first breath, asked me for my social security number!!! Make sure you don’t fall for this!
First I got an email from my credit card company (or so it appeared) saying there were suspicious charges on my account, with a phone number to call to confirm. I was skeptical of the email right off the bat because when I opened the card I set up email alerts for purchases over a certain amount. (Basically, when a big purchase is made they email me.) I had not received that “big purchase” email alert.
So I
tomazstolfa/Flickr
Running a household is difficult enough without having to worry about burglars breaking into your home. For peace of mind, many of us choose home insurance for protection. Here are a few handy hints that can help you keep the cost of insuring your home as low as possible:
Compare and contrast
In the digital age, it’s simple to research home insurance companies and find the best one for you. Log onto a price comparison website like moneysupermarket for a wide range of home insurance quotes based on your precise circumstances, allowing you to pick the one that’s right for you. If that just so happens to be the cheapest policy, then so be it!
Keep it locked
Burglars love to prey on unlocked doors and windows, so make sure that yours are kept locked whenever you are not at home – even if it’s just for a few minutes. Five-lever mortise locks are recommended for your doors and if you don’t have double-glazed windows, these are also a good security investment, as your insurance company will lower your premium.
Stub it out
Smokers pay more for their home contents insurance, due to the increased risk of fires being started in their homes. Let lower home contents insurance be your incentive to quit!
Hide your keys
A common tactic employed by burglars is to locate a person’s front door keys to gain full access to the house. Never leave your keys within reach of a window or door, as burglars are adept at finding innovative ways of reaching into your home to grab them.
Up your excess
By increasing the amount of excess you agree to pay in the event of a claim, you can get lower premiums. Also, make sure you never make a claim on your policy unless you absolutely need to – claiming unnecessarily could jeopardise any no-claims discount you might be entitled to.
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This change is weighing me down.
Grab your wallet and examine the contents. Are you carrying around things that make you vulnerable to identity theft? Are you needlessly carrying around receipts and cards that weigh you down? Are you missing important documents should you get into an accident? In my case, the answers are yes, yes, and yes.
Here is what’s in my wallet:
Vitals – license and current insurance card
Money – $41 in cash plus $4.91 in change
Plastic – main credit card, debit card, and AAA card
Plastic money – gift cards to Starbucks, TJ Maxx, Jo-Anns,
Plastic that is occasionally useful – loyalty cards for FedEx Kinkos, The Body Shop, Club Bev, Anthropologie, and the Ocean State Library system
Paper – 18 receipts, 8 coupons, two business cards, and a sticky note with two ID numbers I use for work
Lists – contents of boxes that I put in storage and carried in my cheap cross country move
Personal – two pictures of me and friends, two bobbi pins, half of a picture frame mount
My excavation was promoted by an email I received from a women’s personal finance site called LearnVest.com. According to the site, there are only 10 things you should carry.
1. Your main credit card—only.
2. $25 to $50 in cash.
3. A.T.M./debit card.
4. Driver’s license.
5. Insurance card for both health and auto insurance.
6. Transportation card, such as an unlimited rail pass.
7. Reward cards for stores you visit frequently (grocery, drug store, etc.).
8. Gift cards.
9. Membership cards (such as to your gym).
10. Airline cards.
Now for what not to carry in your wallet.
1. Personal information like your PIN (although a first name and phone number is OK in a note to someone who find’s your wallet)
2. Account numbers
3. Social Security card
4. Back up credit cards (they belong in a safe place at home)
Opps! I made three mistakes. Carrying around two ID numbers for work could make me vulnerable if someone know how to also log into that account. My receipt load is way too high; it’s time to sort out what I need to file and shred the rest. And I took my health insurance card out a few days ago and forgot to put it back in, which is a no no.
How did you do?
