One of the things I have noticed since I started Addicted to Saving is that many of you have awesome tips on everything from couponing to cooking to gardening to finding deals, etc. So, I thought I would start a new 5 day post where every afternoon, I ask a common question that I get in my email inbox. I will attempt to answer the question and then all of you can chime in with how you would answer the question! The goal of this is for all of us to learn from each other. In order for this daily post to be a success, you all need to leave comments with your thoughts and ideas. I can’t wait to hear them!
Let’s Discuss: How do you protect your information online?
My Thoughts:
For me, the first thing I did when I started really getting into couponing is set up a different email address for all things couponing and deal related. So, when I sign up to receive samples, enter contests, print coupons, etc I give my couponing/deals email address. **TIP – if you haven’t done this already, I highly recommend you create a new email account for all things couponing. Since I have a secondary email account for junk email, my personal email address is not inundated with deals. The second thing I do when online is if I shop online and I’m given the option of saving my payment info, I always decline. I prefer not to have my credit card information saved anywhere online.
Your turn: How do you prodect your info online?
Thanks for coming to Addicted to Saving! Here’s a little bit about me so you can know who’s behind all these posts!
My name is Liza and I began my money-saving journey in the Spring of 2009 as a way to stretch a limited household income. I had lost my job and my hubby was self-employed. I launched Addicted to Saving in November of 2009 and it has grown by leaps and bounds. Since then, my hubby and I have struggled with the ups and downs of two failed adoptions and are now LOVING being parents to our little man Asher who we brought home from Ethiopia in August of 2013. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to help you save money. My goal is that you will have FUN and become empowered to save more and more money each week..
Lately, I have noticed that when you enter a contest or try to get a freebie on Facebook, the company wants you to allow them to post as you on your facebook page! I finally found that on the very right hand side of the pop up that says that, you can check a box that will prevent them from doing that. I don’t want any company posting on my Facebook page as me. You never know what the company will say.
good to know, Jennifer! Thanks!
“The second thing I do when online is if I shop online and I’m given the option of saving my payment info, I always decline. I prefer not to have my credit card information saved anywhere online.”
I agree completely, the only exception is PayPal. I do have my information saved there, and I try to pay with my PayPal account any time I can, when shopping online. That way, no random store gets my credit card number directly. Love that for shopping Ebay or Amazon vendors.
I always try not to use the full version of my name especially for freebies and giveaways. Never ever say when your going away especially on facebook, you can always surprise people when you come back with pictures, even if you trust everyone on facebook you never know if a friend of a friend is watching and who could do some thing to your home while your away.
I also like the tips posted above better safe then sorry.
I wanted to post three comments left on Addicted to Saving’s Facebook page for those of you who are not on Facebook:
Justine M said,
Liza, a great way to protect your credit and personal info is to use a prepaid debit card for any online/internet transactions. You can only spend as much money as you load to the card, therefore, if someone does get a hold of your card information they can’t rack up charge after charge. Most of them carry nominal transaction fees, average about $1 per transaction, which is a small price to pay if you can avoid hundreds of dollars worth of fraudulent charges to your personal banking account. I know these cards can be purchased Walgreen’s or CVS, Walmart and even Amscot, a Central Florida based financial services company.
Cindy L. said: A friend of mine has a credit card that they use strictly for online purchases and then pay it off each month… that way their ‘regular’ accounts are not compromised.
Michelle N said: I always use a ‘low credit limit’ card just in case this ever happens to me. Damage limitation!!!
If you’re like me, your always juggling. I have work, school, and once a week I pay my bills online. My time is sometimes stretched very thin. I recently joined Gamefly for my 9 year old son to rent games. I was logged in when my husband called for dinner. I closed the site and went to eat. My son went to the computer shortly after that and clicked on the Gamefly website. I asked him, “how did you get in without a password”, to which he replied, “you didn’t log out”?. WOW, even my 9 year old knows this.
Moral to the story:
Always log out of sites. Often websites keep you in a logged in status even if you close the window. This allows anyone using your PC, or worse, hackers to access your account easily. If you have a laptop or any other WIFI device, it’s even easier to hack.