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Lighten Your Wallet
Reduce the number of credit cards you carry on a daily basis. For most people, having one card in their wallet is sufficient for day-to-day activity.
If you are traveling or making a big purchase, you can take other credit cards, as needed.
Never carry your birth certificate, passport or social security card with you unless you need it for travel or other purposes. Once the need is over, promptly remove the item from your wallet or purse and store the document in a safe place.
Finally, keep a record of all your credit card numbers and the company's phone number should you need to report a theft.
Shred Unneeded Documents And Mail
Buy a high quality shredder that does cross-shredding -- this will give you the most protection.
After you get your mail for the day, be sure to open every envelope, even if you think it is junk mail. Decide which items you're going to save and file and which you're going to discard.
Before throwing anything away, check it for personal or financial information. Be sure to shred any garbage mail that includes account numbers or personal information.
Also, remember to shred unused checks or deposit forms, as well as retail and ATM receipts. Tomorrow we'll look at guarding your personal information and protecting your computer.
Source: Douglas Charney, established the Charney Investment Group in a Wachovia Securities (now known as Wells Fargo Advisors) office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He has more than 20 years in the securities industry. Charney began his securities career as an associate vice president with Dean Witter, where he completed advanced studies in retirement planning and asset allocation before moving his practice to Wachovia Securities |