Enjoy the Summer, Keep your Debit Card Info Safe

This summer you may find yourself traveling a long distance for a fun adventure, or you may be driving the kids all over town or around the state for different events, such as swimming lessons and little league baseball games. This means using your debit card more often than you usually do – for the purchase of fuel, flights, food and fun. You’ll also find yourself at your local ATM more often. Even though you’re busy, it’s important to take a moment to manage your money and to remember some safety tips when using your card.

The following are some Consumer Reports suggestions about staying safe this summer…

• Beware when using foreign ATMs –
  If you see an out-of-order sign on a legitimate ATM, beware of using a nearby ATM. Thieves may have set up a phony ATM to “skim” card data. Consumer Reports also suggests keeping your PIN code separate from your ATM or debit card. Also, when keying your PIN into an ATM or card reader, shield the keypad with your free hand. Do not allow hidden cameras or any person to be in sight of the keypad.

• Protect your card and information at gas pumps –
  Consumer Reports reported “Card-skimming at gas stations is likely to increase during summer months, especially in vacation areas.” To protect yourself, they suggest using cash or credit cards at the pump, if possible. Should you have to use a debit card, process it as a credit card transaction instead of using your PIN.

• Update your account weekly –
  Be sure to maintain your account, so should any unauthorized transactions take place, you may report them to your bank quickly. Time is of the essence!

• What to do with receipts? –
  Do not discard receipts at ATM locations or the gas pump. Keep them until you match the amounts with the transactions, wait for them to clear the bank, then shred the receipts.

• Your trash may be a treasure to a thief –
  Be sure to shred bank account statements and other financial information prior to tossing them in the trash. Trash is among the top methods used by thieves to commit Identity Theft. Protect yourself – Don’t let them do it to you!

>> Have you heard of other “card-skimming” scams? Share with the community, so that we all can work to protect our identity.

Out with the Old

Unused items are piling up in storage, you’ve doubled up on electronics and it’s time to purge.  It might be hard work, but the benefits of holding a garage sale are numerous.  You get rid of stuff and make a little extra cash.

Since it’s now garage sale season, we thought we’d list some of the tried and true tips to holding a successful sale:

• Set a date when you can devote your full attention to the sale.  You can go solo, or enlist friends or family to join you.  The more stuff you have, the more enticing it is for people to stop.

• Be prepared for early birds, and even plan for them.  Set the coffee the night before and start early.  Sales on Thursdays can be popular.

• Display of your goods can make or break your sale.  Try to group similar things together, hang clothes on a line and clearly mark items.  Also, make sure your larger items are viewable from the road.

• Advertise, advertise and advertise.  Make signs for the end of the block, and place them on busy roads with large arrows.  Place an ad in the local newspaper, and also check online sources like Craigslist.  You can post certain items and mention your sale, or list your sale by itself.

• Price items for the purpose of your sale.  Are you there to make money? Or to just get rid of stuff?  Price everything with a tag.  And have a box of free items!

• Have fun.  Just think of all the new space you’re going to have and the extra cash in your pocket.

>> Do you have any garage sale tips that have worked in the past?  Or maybe you go to garage sales regularly and can offer some tips to sellers?

Looking to Save a Little Extra?

Put away the plastic! 

Research has shown that consumers spend more money when paying with credit cards than with cash. 

It could be because it’s hard to give up actual dollar bills, or because credit cards are so easy to use  (out of sight and out of mind, with no math required!)

Either way, you end up spending more in the long run when you don’t carry around cash, or even a debit card.

Credit cards are useful and easy, and they can provide great benefits. But, be aware that they can also stifle your savings plans.

>> Do you manage your credit cards or do they manage you?

Summer Airfare That Won’t Break the Bank

Searching for affordable summer air travel, especially now, is an immense task.  With fuel prices already high and airlines limiting seats available, finding a flight within your budget could prove difficult.  Have no fear though – it is possible to fly to the beach or our Nation’s capitol this summer for a fair price, you just need to keep a few things in mind.

• Start early and search often. (Early means about 3-4 months prior to your departure date.)    Farecompare.com offers an extensive guide on the best time to buy a plane ticket and provides detailed insight into the airline industry.  Read more here.

• Know how much you want to spend and jump on a good deal when you see it.  Good flight prices go fast.

• Be flexible. Always leave mid-week, if you can.  And take a look at other airports in the area.  If you typically leave from KCI, consider smaller airports in Manhattan, Wichita, Columbia or Springfield, MO.

• Use flight search applications – beyond Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline.  Here are a few: ITA Software, Booking Buddy, FareCompare or SkyScanner. ITA is always a good place to start because you can mark a destination and also pull in results for other airports within a 300-mile radius.  This is the type of source travel agents use. 

• Consider fees. In today’s world, it isn’t just about the flight price anymore; you have to also consider the baggage fees.  Airfarewatchdog.com provided an updated fees chart on March 22 for most airlines. Be sure to include these fees into the price for an accurate total. 

• Seek help and advice. If all else fails, look for advice and tips on other websites, forums or blogs.  People monitor airlines for a living and share their knowledge on a plethora of websites.  Some useful sites include: FareCompare Blog, Fodor’s Air Travel Community, FlyerTalk, and Airfarewatchdog Blog. 

And always sign up for airlines’ e-newsletters and follow them on Twitter and Facebook!

Not too worried about the price of airfare, but looking for the least agonizing trip?  HipMunk is to the rescue.  This quirky website, proclaimed as the “better flight search”, shows you your search results by agony, price, stops or duration. 

>> Where are you going this summer and have you purchased airfare yet?
Any tips you could give to the community?

Local Deals, Unbeatable Prices

Really good deals are hard to pass up, especially when extra money for nights out on the town or for spa days is harder to come by.  Enter several of the social buying sites that have exploded in popularity during the past year.  These sites promise one steep discount per day, usually between 50 to 90 percent off.  The social aspect of the site is that a certain number of buyers must purchase the deal before it is available, but with such fantastic deals, rarely are there not enough buyers.

These deals can be perfect for trying out new activities, treating a family member to a birthday dinner or saving money at a place you already patronize.

Don’t go overboard, though – the idea is to stretch your budget and enjoy a treat every now and then, not to buy too many and go broke.

Tip for your summer vacation: Check out cities you might be visiting for vacation and see if you can take advantage of an excellent hotel or restaurant deal.  You are able to purchase deals from any city – not just the one where you reside.

Local sites for superb deals:

• Groupon – 
  available for Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka/Lawrence and several cities across the country

• DealGarden – 
  available for Topeka, Manhattan and Lawrence

• Daily Deal! – 
  available for Topeka and surrounding areas

• Living Social – 
  available for Kansas City

>> Have you purchased a Groupon yet?  What’s the best coupon you’ve snagged?  Know of other money saving sites?  Let the community know – click ‘Reply’ above to join the conversation.

Extended Warranties: Are They Worth it?

Extended warranties are commonplace these days; companies make more than $15 billion dollars off them, according to CBS News.

But are they really worth it?  For some things maybe, but the overall consensus seems to be no.  A general rule of thumb is to skip the warranty if you can afford the risk of buying a new one, and purchase the warranty if you can’t.  Remember, the company selling you the product is betting it will last more than 2 years, while selling you the peace of mind if it doesn’t make it.

Check out a fantastic guide on the subject from Consumer Reports here.

Extended Warranty Tip:
See whether your credit card provides similar coverage for a purchase before considering an extended warranty.  Some of them offer similar coverage, typically lengthening the original manufacturer’s warranty by as much as one year.

>> Have you had luck with extended warranties?