As Americans gear up for the holiday season many will be turning to credit cards to pay for travel, home décor, holiday meals, and gifts. According to the Federal Reserve it’s estimated that last year Americans racked up more than $851 billion in credit card debt.
If you’re one of many using your credit cards to pay for you holidays expenses you’ll want to make sure you’re keeping your accounts safe. One misstep could lead to months, if not years, of issues affecting your credit report and how you borrow money. Protect yourself from identity theft this holiday season by following these simple do’s and don’ts when using your credit cards.
- Do sign your cards or mark them as see I.D.
- Don’t carry around credit cards you don’t need
- Don’t place your card on a counter, you might forget it and someone could easily swipe it
- Do shred your credit card applications
- Do keep your statements and additional credit card information in a safe place
- Do use a password to protect your home WiFi connection
- Don’t give out your credit card information over the phone (unless it is to your creditor) or email
- Do read your statements online or when they come in via snail mail to make sure no false charges have been made
- Do shred your receipts if you don’t need them
- Don’t lend your card to anyone
With the breach of many accounts as of late it’s important to be as safe as you can when using your credit cards this holiday season. You should also consider using cash in lieu of credit cards to steer clear of holiday debt!
