| The internet has made it quite convenient for people to | | | | checking the url at the top (the web address). If it says |
| shop online and many are making purchases from the | | | | http:target.com/sales/567/ghuytns%?wef or has sort |
| comfort of their home versus trying to tango with | | | | or weird extension- get out of there asap. Also, you |
| traffic and mill through mall mobs for their one day | | | | can identify a secured page versus a non-secured |
| every day deals and sales offers. Time is money and | | | | page by checking the http at the beginning of the url. A |
| consumers are making good use of their time by | | | | secured page will have the http with an s, like https:// |
| spending online. While shopping online has many great | | | | this ensures the information youre submitting is on a |
| advantages, like anything else, it has its downsides. | | | | page protected page. |
| Below, weve compiled some of the best online | | | | FOUR: Shop shipping and service fees. Surprisingly |
| shopping tips out there to help you avoid any online | | | | enough, some sites will allow you to make your |
| headaches when making your holiday purchases. | | | | purchase and enter your shipping details in anticipation |
| Follow these guidelines and you may just end of | | | | of a swift delivery while they do not physically have |
| saving more time and money. | | | | the item in stock. They could also be a middle man |
| ONE: Cater to credit and discard the debit. Using your | | | | with better online presence and have to order from |
| debit card may seem more convenient and thrifty, | | | | the manufacturer as orders come in. This can really |
| avoiding creditor fees, etc but many banks are now | | | | slow down your delivery and are often the case when |
| assessing more fees to debit card charges than the | | | | you hear those horror stories of kids not getting their |
| difference youd pay in interest. More importantly, | | | | presents xmas day...not that its all about the presents |
| should you become a victim of identity theft your | | | | right?....Anyway, make sure the item you're purchasing |
| entire bank account could be drained using a debit | | | | is 'in stock'. Look for shipping guarantees and read their |
| card vs a credit card. Also, banks have made it more | | | | policies. Skim the policy if you must but get the main |
| difficult to recover funds from debit fraud than credit | | | | points before clicking their buy now buttons. Become |
| card disputes. | | | | knowledgeable of their return policies and all their fees |
| TWO: Trace your transactions. Most online purchases | | | | too. Sometimes the shipping and handling fees |
| provide a print option from the purchase confirmation | | | | outweigh the savings you could have gotten going to |
| page. This is a great tool if everyone had a printer, ink | | | | the store yourself. |
| cartridges were half the price of a new printer, and or | | | | FIVE: Spend your dime on your time. Please...don't shop |
| we went conservatively trying to save the planet. A | | | | online while you're at work. Its bad enough were all |
| better option is to take a screen shot of the | | | | face-booking during business hours and writing it off as |
| confirmation page and email it to yourself, creating a | | | | -company networking- hogwash. Those employed |
| folder on your desktop or in your email account labeled | | | | should be very thankful to be in such a position as the |
| receipts. This is also ideal to do with your monthly bill | | | | current state of the economy plummets while |
| pays. Ever so often an online payment may not have | | | | unemployment rises. Losing your job and income |
| 'processed' and creditors are quick to hit you with a | | | | because you were spending it at an inappropriate time |
| fee. If you screenshot and document all your online | | | | is somewhat of an oxymoron. The movie Friday |
| transactions you're creating an E-trail to reference | | | | comes to mind...How ya gonna lose your job on your |
| should something arise later regarding your purchases | | | | day off?! Keep the income coming and spend your |
| or payments. | | | | dime on your own time. |
| THREE: Watch UR URLs. Number one / if you receive | | | | Remember to always budget before buying. Know |
| an email from an unknown source asking you to click | | | | what you have to spend in accordance with your |
| through delete it. Delete it and permanently delete it. | | | | regular monthly bills. With proper money management |
| Most viruses are spread by email. Some gimmick | | | | you can easily avoid going overboard for the holidays |
| about some fantastic deal that weve all fallen for. | | | | and falling behind. For a free budget counseling session |
| Along with email there any many phantom sites that | | | | call one of our certified credit counselors 800.905.1563 |
| mirror legitimate sites to make people think their on the | | | | and learn even more effective ways you can save |
| official page and BAM! You've voluntarily given all your | | | | money and be debt free with Freedom Debt |
| payment information to a hacker. Most of the bogus | | | | Management. We are a non-profit financial counseling |
| emails we mentioned earlier are directed to sites like | | | | organization rated A+ by the BBB for educating |
| these. You can identify these bogus bad boys by | | | | America and helping people become debt free. |