Don't Be a Victim This Holiday Season

The media and police are warning consumers to use caution and common sense when shopping during this holiday season. The holiday seasons are one of the highest crime periods of the year.

The unemployment rate is at 9.0%. Other Americans are only working part-time or minimum wage this holiday season people and thieves are more desperate than ever. Just today I went to the grocery store. A man bought a newspaper and then robbed the store.

Thieves are stealing gas, groceries out of the trunk of cars, performing snatch and grab where a purse is stolen out of a locked car, stealing grocery carts full of groceries when the customer walks to get their car; checking for unlocked car doors, apartment and homes doors or windows, stealing packages from UPS or FedEx and more.

Don’t be a victim this holiday season. It is better to be safe than sorry. Don’t think you are immune. Always be aware of your surroundings. Here are 26 tips to reduce your chances of being a victim this holiday season.

1. Lock all the doors and windows at your home when you are at home and away from home.
2. Get in your car quickly, don't linger. Lock your doors as soon as you get in the car.
3. If you are a single woman and hire a professional to fix something in your home, call a friend or relative to let them know you are getting work done in your home. Don’t answer questions that indicate you live alone. Put away any valuables and personally identifying information.
4. Don't discuss your salary, where you live or where you go shopping. You make spark the interest of a potential criminal or actual criminal.
5. Do not leave your child or pet alone in a locked car.
6. Don't leave anything in your car. Thieves are breaking into cars and stealing whatever they find, CD's, clothes, etc.
7. Don't use the ATM in a secluded, poorly lit area or at night.
8. Buy gas during the daytime.
9. Be on guard when riding in taxis, many drivers get robbed during the holidays.
10. If you feel someone is following you try to walk towards a lighted area or near other people. If that's not possible call a friend or family member from your cell phone. If you are attacked they can call the police and locate you.
11. Don't park near a van or truck this obstructs your vision especially at night.
12. Leave the mall before gets dark. Get a mall security guard to walk you to your car.
13. Don't go shopping when it’s dark but if you have to, go shopping with a friend or two.
14. Tear up boxes that contained expensive gifts and put them in a separate trash bag to deter thieves that may go through your trash.
15. When walking, shopping or driving use your Bluetooth. Talking without a Bluetooth is very distracting and thieves wait for the perfect opportunity to rob you while you are distracted.
16. If you are getting a package delivered have it delivered to a neighbor’s house.
17. If you order checks have them delivered to your bank.
18. If you go out of town use a timer on your lights. You can also have a friend or relative house sit while you are out of town.
19. If you go out of town, hold your mail at your local post office.
20. Don't carry your social security card or birth certificate card in your wallet.
21. Don't carry your checkbook unless you know you will write a check that day.
22. Only carry cash and possibly one credit card or your debit card.
23. If you come home when it's dark outside talk on your cell phone until you get in the house and lock the door.
24. If you are getting groceries out of your car close the car. When walking in your house lock your screen door behind you. Someone could walk in behind you without you knowing.
25. Avoid taking your trash out at night.
26. Don't fall for helping someone scams where someone asks you to walk away from your car to help someone.

Be safe this holiday!

Don't Become A Victim This Holiday Season

The media and nationwide police departments are warning consumers to use caution and common sense when shopping during this holiday season. The Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah holiday seasons are one of the highest crime periods of the year.

With the 10.2% unemployment rate and many Americans only working part-time or minimum wage this holiday season thieves are more desperate than ever. This may be one of the worst crime periods we have seen in a long time.

There have been reports of thieves stealing gas, stealing groceries out of the trunk or cars, snatch and grab where a purse is stolen out of a locked car, increases in shoplifting, and more. Here are 16 tips to reduce your chances of being a victim of theft this holiday season.

1. Don't carry extra credit cards in your wallet. Only carry the credit cards you know you are going to use when shopping.

2. Lock all the doors and windows at your home when you are at home and away from home.

3. Get in your car quickly, don't linger. Lock your doors as soon as you get in the car.

4. If you are a single woman and hire a professional to fix something in your home, call a friend or relative to let them know you are getting work done in your home. Put away any valuables and personally identifying information.

5. Don't discuss your salary, where you live or where you go shopping. You make spark the interest of a potential criminal or actual criminal.

6. Do not leave your child or pet alone in a locked car.

7. Don't leave anything in your car. Thieves are breaking into cars and stealing whatever they find, CD's, clothes, etc.

8. Don't use the ATM in a secluded, poorly lit area or at night.

9. Buy gas during the daytime.

10. Be on guard when riding in taxis, many drivers get robbed during the holidays.

11. If you feel someone is following you try to walk towards a lighted area or near other people. If that's not possible call a friend or family member from your cell phone. If you are attacked they can call the police and locate you. Use a headset when talking to keep your hands free.

12. Don't park near a van or truck.

13. Leave the mall before it closes. If not, get a mall security guard to walk you to your car.

14. Don't go shopping at night but if you have to go shopping with a friend or two.

15. Tear up boxes that contained expensive gifts and put them in a separate trash bag to deter thieves that may go through your trash.

16. When walking, shopping or driving use your Bluetooth for your cell phone. Talking on your cell phone without a Bluetooth is very distracting and thieves wait for the perfect opportunity to rob you while you are distracted.

Safety During Holiday Shopping

Police departments and news stations around the country warn consumers to be extra careful when shopping during the holidays. Here are 10 tips to reduce your chances of being a victim of theft this holiday season.

1) Don't carry extra credit cards in your wallet. Only carry the credit cards you know you are going to use.
2) Leave your social security card at home.
3) Protect your credit card from thieves when handing it to the cashier. Camera phones can be used to steal credit card numbers.
4) Don't use ATM's at night or in secluded areas.
5) Don't leave your car unlocked when getting gas, the belongings in your car can be stolen and so can your car.
6) Don't leave items in your car while parked. This increases your chances of your car being stolen. If you have to leave items in your car, put them in the trunk.
7) Be on guard when riding in taxis, many drivers get robbed during the holidays.
8) When parking your car look at your surroundings, remember where you parked. If you leave the mall when it's dark, have a security guard walk you to your car.
9) If you feel someone is following you try to walk towards a lighted area or near other people. If that's not possible call a friend or family member from your cell phone. If you are attacked they can call the police and locate you. Use a headset when talking to keep your hands free.
10) Do online shopping at a secure trusted websites with shttp or https or with a locked symbol in the lower right hand corner of the website.

For more tips and information on how to get out of debt you can buy my book, How to Get Out of Debt: Get an "A" Credit Rating For Free at www.hefreemanenteprises.com.

Holiday Spending

The holidays are approaching and everyone is getting ready to spend money. Before you start your Christmas shopping check your finances and check your spending history. Ask yourself these questions.

1. Did you have to charge your Christmas gifts last year or will you have to charge your Christmas gifts this year?
2. Did it take you at least 6 months to pay off your debts from Christmas shopping last year?
3. Did you buy too many expensive gifts or more than you should have?
4. Are you ashamed that if you buy a gift that costs $20 people will think you are cheap or are poor or broke?
5. Well, don't. You are not cheap, everyone doesn't have Donald Trump money and people should understand that. It really is the thought that counts and if someone gets upset because you only spent $20 on a gift, that is their problem not yours. Many people have lost site of what the holidays are all about. It is not about giving a gift, it is about spending time with your family, being thankful, reflecting on the past year, and thinking about things you would like to change in the New Year.

This year start thinking about changing your spending habits. If you start saving this year you won't have to go into debt next year when doing your Christmas shopping.

Here are some tips to save on your Christmas shopping.

1. Buy Christmas gifts during store sales.
2. Spend less money on gifts this year than you did last year.
3. Check out local vendors, you can probably haggle to good a good deal on the same items you find in the department store.
4. Think of creative gifts to give that you can make yourself.
5. If you have to buy children's gifts check out your local dollar store.
6. If you really want to buy gifts but don't have the money get a part-time job until Christmas arrives to make extra money so you don't go into debt.
7. Starting next year buy your gifts throughout the year so you don't feel overwhelmed with buying all of your Christmas gifts at one time.
8. If you have to buy gifts for several members of your family suggest exchanging gifts so only one person has to buy a gift for one person and set a limit on the amount spent. That way everyone gets a gift and you are not burdened with buying several gifts.
9. Make getting out of debt one of your new year's resolutions.
   

For more tips and information on how to get out of debt you can buy my book, How to Get Out of Debt: Get an "A" Credit Rating For Free Using the System I've Used Successfully With Thousands of Clients at www.hefreemanenteprises.com.