DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘social security’

12 Tips to Avoid Fraud – ‘Tis the Season to Be Cautious

MONEY MONDAY Hello friends and Welcome to Money Monday

Remember last month when I told you that hubby couldn’t buy me a gift for my birthday? Well after checking his bank statement a few days earlier, he realized that there had been some fraudulent charges made against his account. Luckily, they weren’t excessive, but after contacting the bank his debit card was immediately suspended, oh by the way, there’s a charge for a replacement, which I think is unfair but that’s another story for another Money Monday.

Anywho, I’m glad that he had finally heeded my warning in making sure to check his statements as well as any credit card or medical bills that were received in the mail. There are so many ways for scammers to get you and it doesn’t just happen during the busy holiday season.

Scammers and fraudsters are ever vigilant, therefore, as wise consumers we must be the same, so here is a list of 12 tips to help you avoid fraud and keep the scammers at bay! fraud stoppers

 

  1. Install a lockable mailbox to reduce mail theft.
  2. Limit the number of credit cards you have.

  3. Reconcile your check and credit card statements as soon as possible, and immediately challenge any purchases that you did not make.

  1. Scrutinize your utility and subscription bills to make sure the charges are yours.

  1. Keep a list of all your credit and bank accounts in a secure place so you can quickly call the issuers to inform them about missing or stolen cards. Or make a copy front and back of your cards with the numbers to customer service and fraud departments.

  1. Do not toss pre-approved credit offers in your trash or recycling bin without first tearing them into small pieces or shredding them. Dumpster divers can use these offers to order credit cards in your name and mail them to their address.  Always do the same with other sensitive information, such as credit card receipts and phone bills.

  1. Avoid credit repair scams. If you are tempted to contact a credit repair company for help, use considerable caution. The FTC and a number of state attorney generals have sued credit repair companies for false promises to remove bad information from credit reports. Only inaccurate information may be removed from your credit report; negative information that is accurate (such as a bankruptcy filing or a defaulted loan) will stay on your credit report as long as governing laws allow. running with money

  2. Never give any credit card, bank or Social Security information to anyone by telephone unless you can positively verify that the call is legitimate.
  3. Minimize exposure of your Social Security and credit card numbers. If the numbers are requested for check-cashing purposes, ask if the business has alternative options, such as a check-cashing card.
  4. Do not have your bank send your new checks to your home address. Tell the bank that you prefer to pick them up.
  5. Destroy all checks immediately after you close a checking account. Destroy or keep in a secure place any courtesy checks that your bank or credit card company sends to you.
  6. Do not allow your financial institution to print your Social Security Number on your personal checks. I remember when your social security numbers were not only printed on your checks but also on your driver’s license as well. Times sure have changed!

Have you ever been a victim of a scammer, whether online, via the telephone or mail, if so, then you know how difficult, time consuming and sometime costly it can be to get things back on track. AARP logo

Check www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork if you are concerned about an organization that doesn’t sound legitimate and call 877-908-3360 which is the AARP Foundation Fraud Fighter Center.

Better Safe than Sorry!  

Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!

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Living in Latin America | Where Will We Retire

Hello Friends, I hope all is well in your world.

Today is the day that my hubby is officially retired from the State of Delaware – WOOHOO – CONGRATS Hun!

Prior to this day and for the past several years he has chosen and then changed his mind on a half dozen places of where he wants us to live when we both retire.  The first destination he chose was Africa and the last was Arizona, so it’s obvious he hasn’t narrowed it down to one location.

Recently I read an article on Latin America’s la vida buena and what caught my attention was the fact that our Social Security would allow us to live comfortably in paradise.

costa rica beach

As long as there is sun and water and no snow, you can count me in and the average temperature in Costa Rica is 72 degrees!  Costa Rica has been named as one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  You can live well on a budget and as a matter of fact, the book “The International Living Guide to Retiring Overseas on a Budget: How To Live Well on $25,000 a Year”, was written by a retired couple who now live in Equador.

Well whenever the time does comes for me to retire, I want us to live out our Golden Years in a place where our money goes the furthest and the weather is the warmest, so if that is Latin America so be it.    It’s close enough to the US so if we want to come back for a family visit it’s relatively easy.

Ready to Retire to Latin America

10-day group tours are available which of course we’d take before making any decision and it’s also suggested that you live in a new country for at least 6 months before making the commitment to move there.  If we became residents in a country in Latin American we wouldn’t lose our U.S. Citizenship, we can still vote, pay taxes and collect our Social Security.  The medical care is supposedly top quality and much more affordable in comparison to the US which is another plus.

Although I have several more years before even considering retirement, living in paradise on less than 2 grand a month sounds like a plan and Latin America just might be the place to be…guess I better start brushing up on my Spanish!

 

Let's Chat Let’s Chat: Would you retire outside of the USA?  

Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!

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Delaware Financial Literacy Institute FREE Spring Events

April Happenings @dfli

April Showers Bring Money School Classes!

 

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Take Control! What Everyone Needs to Know About Basic Estate Planning

Wed., April 24, 6:00-8:00pm

Newark Free Library

Guest Instructor – Mary Culley, Morris James LLP

Show Me My Money

Wed., April 24, 7:00-9:00pm

Hockessin Library

Whitney Singer, Clarifi

Money Matters- Budgeting

Wed., April 24, 12noon-1:30pm

Claymont Community Center

Guest Instructor – Nicole Henri, Citizens

Light Lunch Provided!

Foreclosure Prevention

Fri., Apr. 26, 2:00-4:00pm

Elsmere Library

Mary Rammel, CCCS of MD and DE

DSHA Homebuyer Fair

Sat., April 27, 8:30am-4:00pm

Christiana Hilton

Guest Instructor – Delaware State Housing Authority

Business Fashion Savvy on a Shoe String Budget

Sat., Apr. 27, 12:30-3:00pm

Hillcrest Bellefonte Learning Ctr.

Dr. Jay Macklin, Direct Sales & Home Based Business Network

Understanding Your Credit Report

Mon., April 29, 7:00-9:00pm

Hockessin Library

Whitney Singer, Clarifi

Lunch and Learn: Financial Literacy for the Business Owner

Wed., May 1, 12noon-1:30pm

Claymont Community Center

Dinette Rivera, Rivera Business Development Group

Light lunch provided

Do It Yourself Savings

Thurs., May 2, 12noon-1:30pm

Claymont Community Center

Sharon Ann Boland, Citi Community Development

Strategies for Collecting Social Security

Mon., May 6, 6:00-7:00pm

Newark Library

Michael Connor, WSFS Investments

Finding Balance In Your Budget

Mon., May 6, 6:00-7:00pm

Elsmere Library

Steven Lucas, Edward Jones

Business Travel Savings/Tax Tips

Mon., May 6, 6:00-8:00pm

Hillcrest Bellefonte Learning Ctr.

Dr. Jay Macklin, Direct Sales & Home Based Business Network

 Show Me My Money

Mon., May 6, 6:00-8:00pm

Kirkwood Library

Whitney Singer, Clarifi

 

Click here for more information & to register,

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From Purses to Portfolios: Delaware Women Take Charge of Their Money

“For Women, About Women, & By Women and the Men in their lives!”

From Purses to Portfolios was a free conference presented by the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute and supported by Citi Foundation. This was the 5th year of the conference which empowers women to take charge of their financial future. Several years ago hubby and I attended a free financial program sponsored by The Money School of Delaware and the presenter was Alisha Adams, from Primerica Financial Services. She later became our financial adviser and I attended other free events, however, this was the first time at the all-day conference.

The 2012 Conference was sponsored by numerous companies including Citizens Bank, The News Journal, State Farm Insurance, United Way, Wells Fargo and others. This year’s theme was FAB – FOR women ABOUT women BY women. Women of all ages, young and old, black and white as well as more than 60 Exhibitors filled the Chase Center on the Riverfront. Some of the FAB Exhibitors included AIDS Delaware; Ardyss; Bank of America; City of Wilmington; Declutter Enterprise, LLC; Delaware Hospice; Easter Seals; Dollar Build; Garages Aux Trois; Goodwill of DE; Mary Kay; SCORE Delaware; Primerica Financial Services; Senior Helpers; Stop The Violence; Wilmington Women in Business;Tastefully Simple and YWCA DE Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship.

Arriving early Saturday morning waiting outside for the 8:30 opening, I stood in line and socialized with a variety of women all there with a common goal – to become more financially literate. Upon entering we received a program, a name badge, two tickets for lunch/beverages and a cute pink leopard print tote in exchange for completing a demographics survey form. After having a cup of coffee and muffin, I walked up and down “Women’s Biz Boulevard” checking out the vendors, filling out forms, taking pictures and exchanging business cards. Later on I met up with my girlfriends and we walked, talked, and then attended the opening session with the key note speaker Mary Caraccioli, The Money Confidante. State Treasure, Chip Flowers and New Castle County President, Tom Kovach spoke for a few minutes as did Governor Jack Markell who almost didn’t make it due to state preparations for Hurricane Sandy.

The Money School of Delaware

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There were four seminars from which to choose for the morning and afternoon sessions. We chose, Perfect Credit:7 Steps to a Great Credit Rating. Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, a personal financial expert and a NY Times bestseller talked about credit; credit repair; credit scores; rules and regulations; how credit scores affect interest rates on loans as well as insurance rates; jobs and employment.  The seminar was very informative and there was ample time for audience questions.

For perfect credit follow these 7 rules:

PULL your credit report regularly
EXAMINE your credit report carefully
REDUCE debt and manage bills wisely
FIX errors to protect your credit
ENHANCE credit file regularly
CONTACT creditors and negotiate
TAKE time educate yourself and reevaluate

For more information check out her blog at @askthemoneycoach.com

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Bag lunches were provided and the choices were either a Turkey Sandwich or Vegetarian Wrap, both included a packaged cookie and apple, I chose the wrap which was fresh and delicious!

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After lunch we walked “Women’s Biz Boulevard” gathering information from the FAB exhibitors, stopping to test products, enter drawings and purchase raffle tickets.

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The afternoon session began at 2:00, and we chose to attend “Retirement:Never Too Early, Never Too Late” sponsored by AARP, and presented by Jean Setzfand, VP of Financial Security. I learned more about retirement funds as well as Social Security benefits and of making wise financial decisions that will affect me in my golden years. I also learned that AARP uses Linkedin to identify and promote the best companies for it’s members, currently at 152. I will definitely enroll the next time I get the application in the mail – lol!

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The day ended with a Recognition Ceremony, Closing Remarks and Door Prizes which included items donated by Big Fish Grill; Brew HaHa; Citi; Delaware Art Museum; Hagley Museum; Star Nails & Spa; Trader Joe’s and WAWA as well as new Michael Kors and Coach purses provided by Mrs. Carper and First Lady Markell.  None of  us won a door prize, however, we did win additional knowledge that will assist in making wise financial decisions and having me think twice before purchasing that next pair of shoes!

Thank you Delaware for a great “Girlfriend Day Out” and I look forward to the 2013 Conference.

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