Basic Credit Card Safety Tips

Ultimately keeping you credit card safe is you responsibility. Indeed, in a worst case scenario, if it can be proven you may have been negligent in keeping your credit card safe, you may find yourself liable for the cost of all transactions made fraudulent on your account should you lose the card. To help you avoid this, here are 5 basic credit card safety tips:

Never have more cards than you need

While it is always advisable that you have more than 1 credit card, in case it gets lost, you should never have more credit cards than you actually need to use. The principal reason why this is the case is because it becomes harder to keep a track of which cards you have and where you have kept them with the more cards you have.

Always keep a photocopy of your cards

How many times have you been asked what you card number is only to find yourself looking for your card to get the number? Now, what happens if you have a card stolen and no credit card statement to-hand? You have a problem! For this reason, it is always best practice to take photocopies of you credit cards to so that always know where to find the number should anything unfortunate happen to your card.

Always keep your receipts separate

Among the most important of the basic credit card safety tips you’ll receive is never to keep your credit cards and credit card purchase receipts in the same place – because likely as not if you have lost your card, or if it is stolen, then you’ll have lost or stolen the receipts as well. Now there is no way for you to vouch which transactions were yours and which where not – or, there is no way to tell which was the last genuine transaction you made.

Moreover, never keep a record of your PIN with your card, this is only asking for trouble!

Never give your account number to someone you don’t know

If you are ever asked to give your credit card details to someone you don’t know, or who as initiated a discussion with you (rather than the other way round) over the phone or via email, you should always refuse. Worst come to the worst, phone the card issuer and ask them if it is okay for you to divulge the information or phone the enquirer back. If the enquirer seems reluctant to accept this, you have to ask yourself why!

Never leave your account details open to public viewing

It may sound rather basic to say you should never let ‘Joe public’ see your credit card account details, but ask yourself this question: “How often have you received a publication subscription form in postcard format?” Now, suppose you complete this with your credit card details filled in. Suddenly half the world has access your credit card number, expiry date and signature!

Although the above may sound like 5 basic credit card safety tips you already know, you would be surprised to see how many people fail to follow one or all of them!


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Forex the basics

If you want to learn forex, read on…

The term “Forex” comes from the words 'Foreign' and 'Exchange' and simply means to take part in trades involving the exchange of one countries currency with another.

It’s like if you’ve been to a foreign country, traded a lot of money in cash into that currency, then ended up with more cash at the end of the holiday and traded it back into sterling – only to find that the shift in the exchange rate has been great news for you – or maybe just the opposite.



Had you realised which way things were going to go, you could have bet a large amount of your cash on the movement and lived like George Soros for the rest of your days.

Alas, life isn’t like that, but investing on the ay you think things are going to go can be great fun. It can also be very useful if you plan to visit a foreign country in the future and want to shore up your finances today.

Say, for example you’re planning a big trip to the Sates next summer and you think the $1.56 or so on offer from the Forex markets currently is good value as you hold your money in pounds – then you could trade on the back of that ‘strike price’ today, without actually parting with your cash – or just a small proportion of it anyway.

The major currencies involved in the Forex market include the US dollar, the British pound, the Euro, the Australian dollar, the Japanese yen, the Canadian dollar, and the Swiss franc.

In fact, somewhere around 85% of all Forex trading centres around these major currencies. So why not try your hand first with a small amount – and see if you’re going to be the next George Soros?

This article was written by David, a keen financial blogger. He's always eager to give people advice if they want to learn forex, as it's definitely his forte.

Women trade better

Back in 2001 study entitled, “Boys Will Be Boys: Gender, Overconfidence and Common Stock Investment,” by Brad M. Barber and Terrance Odean looked at the trading and investing behavior of over 35,000 households.

In short, the results showed that men traded around half as much again as women.
Now anyone who has done much trading of any kind will tell you that the only people who really benefit when you trade a lot are the brokerages; whatever the trade subject.

So there we have it – women trade better. This is because they tend to be calmer, less aggressive and go with the flow a little longer. They aren’t as easily spooked into trading and their slight lack of competiveness, on the whole, actually means they perform better, ironically.

Whether this is the case, or not, in the world’s biggest of all trading markets, I have no idea. But I think the same principles will apply.
“So what is that market?” I hear you ask. Well, it’s the international foreign exchange market or “Forex”.

The Forex market is open 24 hours a day between Monday and Friday and has traditionally been the preserve of hedge fund managers, big banks, big business and a few crazily rich individuals.

But there’s no reason us girls shouldn’t get in on a slice of the action and the study I referred to above may even mean we’re better at it than men.

If you find the right Forex broker, you can follow their online tutorials, guides and tips and get to understand the Forex market without taking any risks whatsoever.

The easiest and wisest way to get started is to try out a demo-only account at first, but really try and be self-disciplined in trying to act exactly as you would if it was real money. Then try different strategies out for a good while to see if you’re really suited to it before you take the plunge for real.
Good luck!

This article was written by David, who is always on the lookout for a great forex broker to help him out with his trading plans.

The customer is king

CRM software is essential in retaining and building effective customer relationships. But it’s only a tool and like most tools – it can be only as good as its end user.
Let me explain.

What did you think the first time you ever went into a fast food restaurant and you were told to have a nice day by the “customer services representative” or some such title?

I know what I thought. I thought it was great – genuinely I did. Even though it was well over 30 years ago now - I distinctly remember thinking to myself “what a nice girl and what a nice thing to have said. She clearly loves her work and is a friendly person” etc. I was well-disposed to the outlet in other words.

Of course, I was a little naïve to say the least. The next time I went to the same famous fast food chain (they were brand new in England back then) and a spotted youth said the same thing to me in a deadpan way, the light gradually began to dawn.



And so it is with customer relationship management software; the principles are exactly the same. The software is a tool to be used well – not simply to be used. Ask any business guru about customer relationship management like successful real estate developer of note David Lichtenstein, for example, and they’ll all tell you the same thing; you have to mean it.

Saying “the customer is king” is empty; meaning it, and treating the customer as well as he or she deserves to be treated is quite another.

It comes through in things like speech, body language etc. in other words; in communication beyond our ken. It’s said that 90% of communication is non-verbal. The same goes for reading between the lines in written communication. You have to “be it” not just try to “think it”.

Tips To Help Reduce Your Debt

As debt continues to increase in many households across America, more families each year are finding themselves looking for ways to reduce their overall household debt. For some, this may be easier said than done. Debt reduction requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Especially when you are used to spending money left and right.

Those that are serious and committed to reducing their debt will eventually reap the rewards of being debt free. Reading my simple seven tips will give you many ideas, about how you can reduce your debt.

Cut back
When you start to cut back on spending, you will find corners that you can cut through out the month, to help you pay off your debts. Simple things such as, being aware of all of the electricity you use, and turning off lights that are not needed as you leave a room, will help reduce your light bill, therefore, you save a little more money to reduce your debt with. Once you become aware of your spending habits, and start cutting back, you will start to notice more ways to cut back each month.

Budget
Budget your income. List all of your monthly bills and their due dates. Apply them to your budget, as well as other household needs, for example, groceries, gas etc. Allow yourself only so much money per month to spend on extras. Sticking to your budget will show self control, and determination for reducing your debt.

Limit the use of your Credit cards
If you can not pay cash for it, then do not buy it. If you have to charge something, make sure that you can pay the balance in full when your next credit card bill comes in. Never charge on your credit card to only pay the minimum monthly amount. You will never get that maxed out credit card paid off that way. The importance of paying your credit card balance in full, can not be stressed enough.

Get rid of your credit cards
If you are determined to reduce your debt, cutting up your credit cards will help. If you do not have them, you can not use them. If this is too big of a step for you, at least get rid of the unnecessary ones. Keeping only one or two, low interest rate cards for emergencies only, is a good idea. Remember if you can not pay cash for something, then you probably do not need it.

Pay off your debts
If you have already acquired some debt you need to pay off, now is the time to get started. Decide which debt is your smallest and start with that one. Pay on it as your budget will allow. Once you have gotten your smallest debt paid off, you will have a feeling of satisfaction and know that you can pay off your debts. Then move to the next smallest debt, when you are paying them off one by one, it is easier to do, with out feeling over whelmed. Before you know it, all of your debts will be paid and you will feel great about knowing you paid them off.

Debt consolidation
Debt consolidation is another option to look at for reducing your debt. Debt consolidation companies, will call your creditors for you, and make payment arrangements for your debts. Many companies will get you one low monthly payment to pay each month, until all of your debt is paid off.

Financial counseling
Make an appointment with a financial counselor to help you reduce your debt. Some people find, having someone else point out the errors in their spending habits to help tremendously. Financial counselors can also show you how to better manage your money, and stick to a budget.