Page 6 - AAA Schuylkill County – AAA Now! – November/December 2015

MEMBER SERVICES
Protect Your Credit and Identity This Holiday Season
With the holidays quickly approaching, you may feel pressured to get online or race to the mall impromptu to buy gifts for your loved ones. But since the holidays are not actually here yet, you still have time to take a deep breath and plan out your gift- giving strategy. Taking the time to plan a budget and protect your identity are important precautions for your financial well-being this season.
After all, a financial hangover is not the same as eating and drinking too much. If you overindulge in food and spirits, you may not feel well for a day or two. But if you overspend or are careless with your identity, it may take months to recover. Here are some tips to protect your wallet and your identity.
BUDGET SAVINGS IDEAS
• Start with an overall budget based on your savings. It’s not wise to use credit cards unless you can pay off the balances within 30 days. You are better off using a debit card to shop online and cash in person. Make a list and assign a dollar amount to each gift. If you have a large family, you may want to discuss the idea of drawing names so each person only has to buy one gift.
• Plan ahead as much as possible. If possible, shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving). If that’s not possible, use the Internet to comparison shop and look for sales.
• Don’t get burned with “hot toys.” If you’re shopping for children, don’t buy them the hottest toy of the season. Instead, tell them you might get it for their birthday. Chances are they may forget about it by then, or if not, it’s sure to be cheaper in the off-season.
IDENTITY PROTECTION TIPS
• Be careful when shopping online. Only shop
on websites with the technology to secure your transaction. Secure sites have “https” instead of “http” in the address bar or they may have an icon of a locked padlock. In addition, don’t shop in sites that you don’t recognize, especially if they don’t have a phone number or physical address. They might be part of a phishing scam to get your credit or debit card number.
• Be observant in the store. Watch out for anyone who may be standing in line behind you with a cell phone, especially a smart phone. They could easily take a photo of the information on your credit or debit card. Look around before you make a purchase.
• Shop with a slim wallet. Remove everything except one credit card and your driver’s license. Carrying multiple credit cards, a passport, social security card and other items increases your risk of identity theft.
• Remind cashiers to check IDs. Write “check photo ID” on the back of your credit or debit card. This
is an effective way to get clerks to check credit or debit cards with photo identifications.
It’s not difficult to protect yourself. It just takes some thought and a little time. And considering the consequences of a financial hangover, it may very well be worth it.
For information on protecting your identity, visit the ProtectMYID® blog.
WE RESPECT YOUR PRIVACY
Benefits of your AAA membership include savings and discounts on a variety of products and services related to travel, insurance, financial services and the Discounts & Rewards® program. From time to time you may receive information on offers for these value-added membership benefits, which are only offered by AAA partners that meet our high quality standards and have committed to respecting your privacy as a AAA member. However, we understand that you may prefer not to learn more about these valuable offers or to receive these savings opportunities over the next
12 months. If you no longer wish to receive these types of communications, please mail
the completed form here to:
Membership Records AAA Schuylkill County PO Box 990
Pottsville, PA 17901
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ Membership #: ________________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ City:________________________________________________State:__________Zip: _______________ Phone: _______________________________________________________________________________
I request to be deleted from all direct mail and telephone offers as outlined above. I understand that
I still will receive the AAA magazine and important information from AAA Schuylkill County regarding my membership.
Signed: _______________________________________________________________________________ Date: _________________________________________________________________________________
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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