Do you young folks still have checkbooks?
It is common knowledge these days, but in the past it was done: Do not have your social security number printed on your checks. It's been suggested not to print your full name or your address on the checks, but these days, anyone can look up your name and address. And some retailers will not accept such checks. No need for your phone number or your driver's license info on the check. If the retailer needs such information, they can write it on the one check.
Use a ball point pen, so that an intercepted check can't be laundered and altered.
Don't write a check out for "Cash". Instead write it out to your name.
Print in capital letters, everything except your signature.
Write only the last four digits of your account number on the "For" line when paying by check, if you write anything at all.
When cashing a check, do not endorse it (sign the back) until you are at the teller window. If depositing the check, write "For deposit only" after your signature.
If mailing a check, do not put the envelope in your street-side mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up, as someone else can intercept it. I myself prefer dropping off mail inside the post office.
Keep unused checks in a secure place, so that no one can learn of your account number or bank routing information.
Review your monthly statement and balance your checkbook to insure there are no unauthorized transactions. Better yet, go online to keep an eye on your accounts.
It's too bad we have to be so careful.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Safety - Frightening a Burglar or Attacker
One of those viral e-mails suggests you keep your car keys with you at all times, to use the panic button in cases of someone breaking into your house or someone attacking you.
While the car alarm you set off may deter the burglar or attacker, it may also annoy your neighbors, who tend to ignore car alarms.
So while I may use the panic button during a personal attack, I would not assume the noise of a car alarm guarantees the attacker will back off. Be ready with other strategies. Another viral e-mail suggests keeping a can of wasp spray to use against attackers, but that may be illegal. If you happen to have a can of wasp spray, then use it! Carrying around wasp or pepper sprays, or any type of weapon, is NOT widely encouraged, because the attacker can grab the weapon and use it against you!
The number one thing to do when attacked is to run and scream. If you can't run, try an elbow or knee to the solar plexus (belly button area to knock the breath out of the attacker) or try a knee or kick to the groin (if the attacker is male). And scream! If the attacker pulls out a gun and you haven't been trained to disarm him, perhaps being passive will lessen injury, but that is not guaranteed. Now, I am talking about a physical attack. If he just wants your money, then perhaps you could throw your wallet in one direction, then run in the other direction and scream.
As for burglars, turning on a light may deter him as much as a car or house alarm going off. I've accidently set off my house alarm, and I don't think any neighbor would respond. And many of you do not even have car or house alarms!
Other deterrents:
1) Lock your doors and windows (duh!).
2) Secure outdoor furniture and try to put away tools, etc. Don't leave a shovel out to help a burglar break your window.
3) If you can't afford a security alarm system, maybe you can get the sign or decal to put up.
4) In the same vein, put up a security camera (even if it doesn't work!).
5) Plant spikey, prickly plants under windows.
6) Own a dog! Or put up a "Beware of Dog" sign!
And pray that you do not become a statistic.
While the car alarm you set off may deter the burglar or attacker, it may also annoy your neighbors, who tend to ignore car alarms.
So while I may use the panic button during a personal attack, I would not assume the noise of a car alarm guarantees the attacker will back off. Be ready with other strategies. Another viral e-mail suggests keeping a can of wasp spray to use against attackers, but that may be illegal. If you happen to have a can of wasp spray, then use it! Carrying around wasp or pepper sprays, or any type of weapon, is NOT widely encouraged, because the attacker can grab the weapon and use it against you!
The number one thing to do when attacked is to run and scream. If you can't run, try an elbow or knee to the solar plexus (belly button area to knock the breath out of the attacker) or try a knee or kick to the groin (if the attacker is male). And scream! If the attacker pulls out a gun and you haven't been trained to disarm him, perhaps being passive will lessen injury, but that is not guaranteed. Now, I am talking about a physical attack. If he just wants your money, then perhaps you could throw your wallet in one direction, then run in the other direction and scream.
As for burglars, turning on a light may deter him as much as a car or house alarm going off. I've accidently set off my house alarm, and I don't think any neighbor would respond. And many of you do not even have car or house alarms!
Other deterrents:
1) Lock your doors and windows (duh!).
2) Secure outdoor furniture and try to put away tools, etc. Don't leave a shovel out to help a burglar break your window.
3) If you can't afford a security alarm system, maybe you can get the sign or decal to put up.
4) In the same vein, put up a security camera (even if it doesn't work!).
5) Plant spikey, prickly plants under windows.
6) Own a dog! Or put up a "Beware of Dog" sign!
And pray that you do not become a statistic.
Etiquette - Thank-you Notes
Thank-you notes are still a must-do!
In this day and age, we are accepting e-mail thank-you notes, and maybe even Tweets. Or a phone call or a text message.
Thank-you notes do much more than relay your undying gratitude for a gift or deed. The single most important purpose of the thank-you note is to let the sender know that the gift/deed was received. Especially when it involves money! Or when a gift is sent from a third party (i.e., an online retail store). If we order a registry gift, usually the only way we know it was received is via a note from the receiver. So, please, send a quick thank-you, or at least an I-received-it note!
Need help remembering to send a thank-you? Do not deposit or cash a gift check until you have sent a note. Do not use any gift until you have sent a note. Have your child send a note before being allowed to play with a gift toy.
Get the kids into the habit. Let us return to an era of consideration and respect for others. Do not take a gifter for granted and do feel some gratitude for those who are thinking of you.
Thank you!
In this day and age, we are accepting e-mail thank-you notes, and maybe even Tweets. Or a phone call or a text message.
Thank-you notes do much more than relay your undying gratitude for a gift or deed. The single most important purpose of the thank-you note is to let the sender know that the gift/deed was received. Especially when it involves money! Or when a gift is sent from a third party (i.e., an online retail store). If we order a registry gift, usually the only way we know it was received is via a note from the receiver. So, please, send a quick thank-you, or at least an I-received-it note!
Need help remembering to send a thank-you? Do not deposit or cash a gift check until you have sent a note. Do not use any gift until you have sent a note. Have your child send a note before being allowed to play with a gift toy.
Get the kids into the habit. Let us return to an era of consideration and respect for others. Do not take a gifter for granted and do feel some gratitude for those who are thinking of you.
Thank you!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Finance - Credit Card Safety
A viral e-mail forwards advice like:
1) Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED'. (If your bank provides the service, have your photo put directly on your credit card; Bank of America does this.)
2) If you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four digits. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it. (Also, if sending payment checks by mail, do not leave them in a streetside mailbox for the carrier to pick up, as someone else may intercept it.)
3) If your credit cards are lost or stolen, cancel the credit cards immediately. The key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them, whether you are at home or on the road.
4) File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
5) Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number.
a) Equifax: 800-525-6285
b) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
c) Trans Union : 800-680-7289
d) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 877-438-4338
6) In addition, place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.... Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad.
Generally, limit the number of credit cards that you have or carry, so that if a problem arises, you do not have to as much damage control to do. Only carry the credit cards that you absolutely need and keep your other credit cards locked up in a personal safe. Having more than one credit card is good for credit purposes and gives you a larger credit limit in case of emergencies, but you probably don't need more than three different credit cards. You may additionally have some specialty credit cards (gas, department store, etc.), but keep track of them all.
Pay off the full credit card amount every month. If you are unable to do so, you are spending beyond your means. It makes little sense to accrue interest fees and late fees, when you are already unable to pay your bills.
Other common sense advice:
1) Never give out credit card info (or Social Security number) over the phone unless you initiated the call, and never over a cordless phone. One common scam is when someone calls you "back" right after you place an order, claims to be from the merchant and tells you that there was a problem with your card number -- would you mind giving it to them again? The best thing to do is ask for a contact name and call the merchant back at the number you used originally.
2) Look for secure checkout when using your credit card to make purchases online. The URL address should include "https:" and often there is a lock icon on your browser. Try to use only well-known retailers. Do not respond to any e-mail asking for credit card information; immediately delete it.
3) Make certain you get your card (and photo ID) back after you make a purchase! Have the clerk give you the sales slips of any cancelled or voided transactions, so that you can personally destroy them.
4) Check your monthly statement to make certain all charges are your own, and immediately notify the card issuer of any errors or unauthorized charges. Which means: Save receipts, all of them! Don't leave them with the retailer. (You can shred receipts after you have balanced your monthly statement.)
5) Never lend your card to anyone, and don’t leave cards or receipts lying around your room, no matter where you live.
6) Oh, my gosh! But I'll say it anyway - don't write down your PIN (credit card PIN for cash advance) anywhere near your credit card, and try to cover the keypad when you punch in the PIN.
7) Shred all those pre-approved credit card offers, and unsolicited credit card applications. Shred old credit card statements. Shred old credit card receipts.
Good luck! As hard as you try, you may not be able to avoid "identity theft", but let's hope for the best!
1) Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED'. (If your bank provides the service, have your photo put directly on your credit card; Bank of America does this.)
2) If you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four digits. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it. (Also, if sending payment checks by mail, do not leave them in a streetside mailbox for the carrier to pick up, as someone else may intercept it.)
3) If your credit cards are lost or stolen, cancel the credit cards immediately. The key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them, whether you are at home or on the road.
4) File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
5) Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number.
a) Equifax: 800-525-6285
b) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
c) Trans Union : 800-680-7289
d) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 877-438-4338
6) In addition, place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.... Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad.
Generally, limit the number of credit cards that you have or carry, so that if a problem arises, you do not have to as much damage control to do. Only carry the credit cards that you absolutely need and keep your other credit cards locked up in a personal safe. Having more than one credit card is good for credit purposes and gives you a larger credit limit in case of emergencies, but you probably don't need more than three different credit cards. You may additionally have some specialty credit cards (gas, department store, etc.), but keep track of them all.
Pay off the full credit card amount every month. If you are unable to do so, you are spending beyond your means. It makes little sense to accrue interest fees and late fees, when you are already unable to pay your bills.
Other common sense advice:
1) Never give out credit card info (or Social Security number) over the phone unless you initiated the call, and never over a cordless phone. One common scam is when someone calls you "back" right after you place an order, claims to be from the merchant and tells you that there was a problem with your card number -- would you mind giving it to them again? The best thing to do is ask for a contact name and call the merchant back at the number you used originally.
2) Look for secure checkout when using your credit card to make purchases online. The URL address should include "https:" and often there is a lock icon on your browser. Try to use only well-known retailers. Do not respond to any e-mail asking for credit card information; immediately delete it.
3) Make certain you get your card (and photo ID) back after you make a purchase! Have the clerk give you the sales slips of any cancelled or voided transactions, so that you can personally destroy them.
4) Check your monthly statement to make certain all charges are your own, and immediately notify the card issuer of any errors or unauthorized charges. Which means: Save receipts, all of them! Don't leave them with the retailer. (You can shred receipts after you have balanced your monthly statement.)
5) Never lend your card to anyone, and don’t leave cards or receipts lying around your room, no matter where you live.
6) Oh, my gosh! But I'll say it anyway - don't write down your PIN (credit card PIN for cash advance) anywhere near your credit card, and try to cover the keypad when you punch in the PIN.
7) Shred all those pre-approved credit card offers, and unsolicited credit card applications. Shred old credit card statements. Shred old credit card receipts.
Good luck! As hard as you try, you may not be able to avoid "identity theft", but let's hope for the best!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Weight Watching - An Addiction?
I can understand the cravings, the not being able to stop, the hunger.
Part of this need made me realize early that I was probably prone to addictions. I happily embraced not liking the smell of cigarettes (and later, marijuana). I was glad that I didn’t like the smell of beer or alcohol. Any tastes of those “vices” just confirmed what the smell told me: yuck! I was happy because I felt that if I had liked them, I would have taken up smoking or drinking and I would become addicted; I would be the chain-smoker, the alcoholic.
(Another big factor that kept me from drugs and drinking was that I didn’t want to lose control. I had fainted too many times as a pre-teen, and it’s an awful feeling to regain consciousness and not know what has happened. Worse was after surgery, where I couldn’t remember getting dressed or speaking with the doctor – so, to not remember things I had actually done! This loss of control may, or may not, bother you!)
So perhaps I became addicted to eating. I used to be gung-ho about things. About running, cooking, gardening, cleaning. Some would say I am obsessive-compulsive about such things. So did I become gung-ho about eating? The only problem is, I didn't want to be gung-ho about eating. Why can't I be gung-ho about not eating? (Well, first of all, it is equally as dangerous to starve yourself.)
And then what happens when you do eat the right things and exercise, and still you gain weight? That is a conundrum the medical world has not yet figured out.
In a normal world, you can listen to your body and it will tell you what you need. But these days, our bodies are so out of balance, that it begins telling you that you need more fat or sugar or ...
What can we do?
Step one: can you figure out why you are eating so much, or eating the wrong things?
Are you eating because you are bored? If you are simply bored and find yourself going to eat, that’s when you should substitute another activity, like going to the gym or knitting.
Are you eating because of association? You can get into a bad habit by reading when you eat, which becomes eating whenever you read. So you should eat at a dining room table and do nothing else, and then you’ll want to hurry and finish eating to get back to your reading! Also, do not eat when watching TV.
Are you eating to stay awake? Instead of eating, chew (sugarless) gum.
Are you eating because you are depressed? Sometimes you don’t really feel depressed or sad. Maybe anxious, or frustrated. Maybe angry or irritated. And you eat to feel better, and often you do feel better, and that makes you want to eat more to feel even better, etc. This is the hard one to solve. A good night’s sleep is the best thing to deal with a normal immediate depression, anxiety, anger, fear, etc. Your body repairs itself and gets itself back into balance during different sleep phases. All these feelings are normal if they last a day or two. It is not normal if they last weeks. That is when you need medical help to get things back in balance.
If you can figure out a specific reason for eating binges, then hopefully you can find a solution. But when you can’t figure it out, it sure makes it harder.
Part of this need made me realize early that I was probably prone to addictions. I happily embraced not liking the smell of cigarettes (and later, marijuana). I was glad that I didn’t like the smell of beer or alcohol. Any tastes of those “vices” just confirmed what the smell told me: yuck! I was happy because I felt that if I had liked them, I would have taken up smoking or drinking and I would become addicted; I would be the chain-smoker, the alcoholic.
(Another big factor that kept me from drugs and drinking was that I didn’t want to lose control. I had fainted too many times as a pre-teen, and it’s an awful feeling to regain consciousness and not know what has happened. Worse was after surgery, where I couldn’t remember getting dressed or speaking with the doctor – so, to not remember things I had actually done! This loss of control may, or may not, bother you!)
So perhaps I became addicted to eating. I used to be gung-ho about things. About running, cooking, gardening, cleaning. Some would say I am obsessive-compulsive about such things. So did I become gung-ho about eating? The only problem is, I didn't want to be gung-ho about eating. Why can't I be gung-ho about not eating? (Well, first of all, it is equally as dangerous to starve yourself.)
And then what happens when you do eat the right things and exercise, and still you gain weight? That is a conundrum the medical world has not yet figured out.
In a normal world, you can listen to your body and it will tell you what you need. But these days, our bodies are so out of balance, that it begins telling you that you need more fat or sugar or ...
What can we do?
Step one: can you figure out why you are eating so much, or eating the wrong things?
Are you eating because you are bored? If you are simply bored and find yourself going to eat, that’s when you should substitute another activity, like going to the gym or knitting.
Are you eating because of association? You can get into a bad habit by reading when you eat, which becomes eating whenever you read. So you should eat at a dining room table and do nothing else, and then you’ll want to hurry and finish eating to get back to your reading! Also, do not eat when watching TV.
Are you eating to stay awake? Instead of eating, chew (sugarless) gum.
Are you eating because you are depressed? Sometimes you don’t really feel depressed or sad. Maybe anxious, or frustrated. Maybe angry or irritated. And you eat to feel better, and often you do feel better, and that makes you want to eat more to feel even better, etc. This is the hard one to solve. A good night’s sleep is the best thing to deal with a normal immediate depression, anxiety, anger, fear, etc. Your body repairs itself and gets itself back into balance during different sleep phases. All these feelings are normal if they last a day or two. It is not normal if they last weeks. That is when you need medical help to get things back in balance.
If you can figure out a specific reason for eating binges, then hopefully you can find a solution. But when you can’t figure it out, it sure makes it harder.
Laundry Tip - Sorting?
I think everyone knows about sorting laundry, especially separating whites and colors. You used to have to separate delicates from heavier items like towels, too!
But sometimes you don't have enough clothing to fill the washing machine, and you always want a full load. For the environment's sake, don't waste water and wash partial loads!
Now, I am actually going to recommend a commercial product! I know I try to use natural products, but this time... I use Color Catcher by Shout. You throw a small sheet in the washing machine with a mixture of whites and colors, and if any colors are going to run, this sheet magically collects them. You can re-use the sheet for multiple loads, until it turns a dark purplish gray and you feel like it has soaked up enough color!
We have a front-loading washing machine, which recommends that you combine a variety of weights of clothing. So the towels don't get washed separately. If you have something so delicate that you wouldn't put it in with a towel, perhaps it needs to be handwashed.
So instead of sorting, I hope as you add clothes to the washing machine, you are:
1) Checking all pockets (Sometimes the only allowance I receive is change from pockets, with an occasional bonus of a dollar bill! Although money goes through the wash without a problem, it's the tissue and crayons that you want to keep out of the washing machine!).
2) Pre-treating all stains (If you don't have time to scrub them by hand, then by all means, use the Shout Stain Remover. I prefer the gel over the spray, since the gel goes right on the stain, while the spray goes everywhere!).
3) Treating all stinky spots with vinegar (See Laundry Tip - Vinegar).
4) Making sure all velcro closures are closed, so that the "hooks" aren't exposed to grab at other clothing.
5) Closing all zippers.
6) Hooking bras, again so that hooks aren't free to grab.
7) Unbunching socks (a scrunched-up sock will stay that way and not seem to get clean inside the crunched parts!).
8) Tying strings together, like the strings on a hooded sweatshirt or on a men's bathing suit. If you don't tie them together, one end could get caught on a velcro hook and get pulled out entirely. And what a pain it is to string it back through!
But sometimes you don't have enough clothing to fill the washing machine, and you always want a full load. For the environment's sake, don't waste water and wash partial loads!
Now, I am actually going to recommend a commercial product! I know I try to use natural products, but this time... I use Color Catcher by Shout. You throw a small sheet in the washing machine with a mixture of whites and colors, and if any colors are going to run, this sheet magically collects them. You can re-use the sheet for multiple loads, until it turns a dark purplish gray and you feel like it has soaked up enough color!
We have a front-loading washing machine, which recommends that you combine a variety of weights of clothing. So the towels don't get washed separately. If you have something so delicate that you wouldn't put it in with a towel, perhaps it needs to be handwashed.
So instead of sorting, I hope as you add clothes to the washing machine, you are:
1) Checking all pockets (Sometimes the only allowance I receive is change from pockets, with an occasional bonus of a dollar bill! Although money goes through the wash without a problem, it's the tissue and crayons that you want to keep out of the washing machine!).
2) Pre-treating all stains (If you don't have time to scrub them by hand, then by all means, use the Shout Stain Remover. I prefer the gel over the spray, since the gel goes right on the stain, while the spray goes everywhere!).
3) Treating all stinky spots with vinegar (See Laundry Tip - Vinegar).
4) Making sure all velcro closures are closed, so that the "hooks" aren't exposed to grab at other clothing.
5) Closing all zippers.
6) Hooking bras, again so that hooks aren't free to grab.
7) Unbunching socks (a scrunched-up sock will stay that way and not seem to get clean inside the crunched parts!).
8) Tying strings together, like the strings on a hooded sweatshirt or on a men's bathing suit. If you don't tie them together, one end could get caught on a velcro hook and get pulled out entirely. And what a pain it is to string it back through!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Weight Watching - The Basics
Remember that it is harder to lose weight when you are older (over 40 years). The only advice I can give is: try not to gain the weight in the first place.
That can be difficult, because you have to juggle so many things.
Yes, if you take in fewer calories, and burn off more calories, the math should result in decreased weight. However, there are two other important factors that make the math more complicated.
1) Stress. If you can reduce stress in your life, do it. Unfortunately, stress is just a part of life these days, so you have to do all kinds of things to counter stress - like breate, laugh, sing, exercise, play, hug or be hugged. Now, those things that people usually do to cope with stress, like alcohol, drugs, smoking, or physical violence, will make things worse in the long run.
2) Sleep. Sleep is important for your body to get itself back in balance. Get your 7-8 hours per night. (More sleep than that can be unhealthy!).
As you get older, you should be eating less because your metabolism is slowing down. I know how difficult that is to do, because I love to eat, and to try new foods, and...
So you think you will just exercise more, but then your body won't let you exercise at the same pace, because of arthritic knees and sore backs, getting dizzy or losing your vision. That makes it more stressful... You can see the vicious circle going on here.
Develop a life routine of eating moderately at regular intervals, exercising or playing regularly, and sleeping at consistent time. The same routine or schedule very day.
Yeah, right!
That can be difficult, because you have to juggle so many things.
Yes, if you take in fewer calories, and burn off more calories, the math should result in decreased weight. However, there are two other important factors that make the math more complicated.
1) Stress. If you can reduce stress in your life, do it. Unfortunately, stress is just a part of life these days, so you have to do all kinds of things to counter stress - like breate, laugh, sing, exercise, play, hug or be hugged. Now, those things that people usually do to cope with stress, like alcohol, drugs, smoking, or physical violence, will make things worse in the long run.
2) Sleep. Sleep is important for your body to get itself back in balance. Get your 7-8 hours per night. (More sleep than that can be unhealthy!).
As you get older, you should be eating less because your metabolism is slowing down. I know how difficult that is to do, because I love to eat, and to try new foods, and...
So you think you will just exercise more, but then your body won't let you exercise at the same pace, because of arthritic knees and sore backs, getting dizzy or losing your vision. That makes it more stressful... You can see the vicious circle going on here.
Develop a life routine of eating moderately at regular intervals, exercising or playing regularly, and sleeping at consistent time. The same routine or schedule very day.
Yeah, right!
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