Offline Financial Security Tips

Last time, we told you about keeping safe online – and some tips to keep your money, passwords and sessions safe. For those of you that don’t do a ton of banking/bills/payments online, I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities to be safer with your information at home.

Your Bills

Do you have a shredder? Or do your bills and statements just wind up in the trash or recycling bin as-is? Modern thieves (in big or small cities) know how to walk past a bin and leave with enough info to access some of your personal information!

This isn’t a scare tactic, it’s just the truth about what goes on out there. You need to be diligent with your financial information and bills around the house.

Once a week (or even once/month) shred those old statements and bills and toss them (into the recycling bin) without any worry.

Your Cards

Has this happened to you? You receive your new credit card in the mail (before the older one expires), and both are active for a short period of time. It’s important to activate the new card as soon as possible and destroy the old one. This seems simple, but how often have you seen that old card kicking around in a drawer, or straight into the trash?

It’s easy, just cut the card and put the new one in your wallet. Get into that habit and you’ll be that much more secure.

Lastly, keep your personal information… personal. It’s never a good idea to leave your statements and bills laying around the house. Get a bit organized with them and enjoy some extra piece of mind.