Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Time to Win a LifeLock Membership!!

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Just in time for Christmas, lovely readers, I have a very special giveaway for you!

I’ve been singing the praises of LifeLock (the most amazing identity theft protection service there is, in my opinion!) since September and have been DYING to give you all a chance to win a membership.

Well what do you know? It’s a Christmas miracle!!! And it’s a great way to start of the new year right!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need winner will receive a LifeLock membership!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I am a compensated ambassador for LifeLock.  All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

My Holiday Shopping Strategy and My Best Tips for Keeping Your Credit Card Info Safe

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You may have already heard me mention on Twitter and Facebook that I have 25 people on my Christmas shopping list. I have a lot of siblings, in-laws, and a TON of nieces (and one sweet little nephew, too!). I have a 6 page list where I keep track of the gifts I have purchased, as I shop all year long so that I can afford to get fun and interesting gifts for everyone.

My goal every year is to be completely finished with my shopping by Thanksgiving.

I rarely meet this goal.

But I almost NEVER subject myself to Black Friday. I don’t think it is fun at all. I think it is stressful and a little bit sad, as it just seems to be a day of grabbing as much stuff as you can before someone else grabs it. No thanks.

But Cyber Monday? Now that’s a different story! I think I like it because I can’t see with my own eyes how many other people are shopping, and somehow that makes it easier to accept. Also, my work day starts around 4am, and if I can get some shopping done in the wee small hours of the morning, that’s ideal for me! No need to get out of my yoga pants!

Oh who am I kidding; I still wear my yoga pants when I go to the store…

Whether you are hitting the stores for those tempting holiday deals or just going online to get what you need (or both, which is what most Americans are doing now), you will likely be making use of your credit and/or debit cards. They are so convenient and in the short run feel much safer than cash, but each shopping experience you have with them is also another opportunity for identity theft.

Sorry to be a joy kill, but as you know I’ve been a victim MANY times, and a few of those times happened around the holidays, when I was using my credit card quite liberally.

I have a few tips to help you stay safe this holiday season. These are tips and tricks I have picked up over the years and I hope they help you.

Shopping in a store

1. DO NOT get your credit card out of your wallet until it is time to pay. Many people have it out and on the counter or in their hands while they wait for the total bill. In this day and age, security cameras and cell phones can easily get a picture of your credit card numbers and the name on the card. I know that sounds crazy, but it is true. Don’t get would-be picture takers the chance!

Shopping online

1. If you are like me you do price comparisons online before making a purchase. Sometimes a lesser known store might have a better deal than some of the online giants like Amazon. I’ve seen it! BUT….if the best deal is coming from a store or site you’ve never heard of, please take an extra moment to do a web search on the company and see if there are any complaints out there. You need to make sure that you are shopping with a reputable retailer before handing over your credit card information. Checking out the store with the Better Business Bureau is also a good idea and it only takes a few seconds. This strategy has kept me from handing over my credit card information to businesses that turned out to be shady on more than one occasion.

2. Keep your internet security software up to date to help you catch anything fishy (or should I say phishy?).

Holiday donations

1. I never make donations to organizations over the phone, because I don’t know if the person who is calling me really is from the organization in question, or if they are just claiming to be from the organization. Unfortunately this is a popular way to get people to hand over their credit card info, along with their addresses. Instead of donating this way, go directly to the organization you support online and donate through their site.

I hope my tips will help you play it safe this holiday season! For more helpful hints and tips (and for chances to win GREAT prizes, like a $1,000 Visa card!) remember to play the LifeLock for Life game online. It’s one of my favorite weekly games to play as it teaches me something new every time!

Do you have any tips for keeping your personal information safe while shopping and making donations this holiday season?

I am a compensated ambassador for LifeLock.  All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

How to Make Wise Charitable Contribution Decisions to Avoid Identity Theft

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As we close in on the final months of the year, the opportunities to make donations to worthy causes is going to increase significantly. I know I always receive requests from organizations I support annually to make my standard donation (0r to consider increasing my donation) before December 31, which is the deadline for it to count for this year’s tax deductions.

In additions to these requests, which I anticipate, I also receive new solicitations for support. Some of those are local, but MANY of them are national or even international. I typically receive these requests via email or even from Facebook. And it is becoming increasingly common to read online about particular individuals or families who are enduring some sort of crisis and who could use some financial assistance. Those posts, in particular, tend to tug at heart strings. And I would venture to say that the vast majority of them are true. But you would be wise to take just a few minutes to do your homework before you open up your Paypal account, or even worse, get out your credit card information. There are some red flags to watch for to make sure your identity is not about to get stolen.

First and foremost, I want to discourage you from making a donation over the phone, ESPECIALLY to an organization who called you. Unless you have caller ID that can trace the source of the call back to the organization, you really don’t know for sure that the person is calling from that organization. Additionally, even if the request is small (maybe just $5), the intention is not to collect much money from you during that call, but rather, to get your personal information so that your identity can be stolen later. It’s very risky to donate money this way, and if you have never donated to the organization before, steer clear of this “opportunity.”

I would say the same thing for anyone who shows up at your doorstep requesting donations for an organization. Basically, any time you are handing over your personal information to an individual, who has the potential to copy that information for their own personal use, take extra precautions.

Any reputable charity that seeks a donation from you will not pressure you to make a donation on the spot and will welcome the opportunity for you to do your research prior to giving. The Better Business Bureau can be a great resource for checking out how legitimate a nonprofit actually is.

As the holidays approach, please do continue to be generous to the causes you care about, by all means. Just take measures to ensure you are smart about where you give and HOW you give. Volunteering your time instead of your money is a great way to ensure that your identity is protected, so that’s one option to keep in mind.  You can also make in-kind donations. For example. my church is having an auction in November to raise money and my family is donating several items that attendees can bid on and that should bring in some money for the organization. We clear out some clutter and the church raises funds. Win-win!

Another option is to simply make sure you have identity theft protection in place so that as you make a donation online, you can do so with confidence. LifeLock does a fantastic job of alerting members to possible threats to identity. And should you find yourself in the unfortunately position of having your identity compromised, LifeLock will be on hand to help you sort everything out and get back on track as quickly as possible. As someone who has been through this situation MULTIPLE times, I can say that having someone have your back is HUGE and will relieve much of the stress!

In 2011, 11.6 million Americans were victims of identity theft. The threat is so, so real. And unfortunately, opportunities to make donations are one of the ways that information does get stolen. Please do keep your security in mind as you are approached for donations this year. Be smart and don’t give out your information to just anyone!

This month the LifeLock for Life sweepstakes on the LifeLock Facebook page also deals with issues related to making donations online. Remember that you can play every single week to win fantastic prizes (this month 5 winners will get a$100 donation to the charity of their choice, and 1 winner will get $1,000 to the charity of their choice! Woo hoo!). You’ll also learn some very useful information about ways to protect your identity (that’s one of my favorite things about the game…it teaches me something every time!).

 

I am a compensated ambassador for this brand.  All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

LifeLock Membership Giveaway (Actually, SEVENTEEN Giveaways!!!)

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Last month I confessed to you that I have been a victim of identity theft 5 times in the last 8 years (I feel sick to my stomach just writing that down!). LifeLock is an unbelievably amazing identity theft protection service that is helping me keep my private information on lock down so that I don’t add any more instances to my record.

I am absolutely delighted with the service that I am being provided as a LifeLock member, and I’m also getting a very good education on the things I need to do differently to keep my identity out of the hands of anyone who would abuse it.

Knowing how rampant the problem of identity theft is, I want you, my readers, to have the same peace of mind that I now have. I want you to become LifeLock members! And right now LifeLock is working hard to get the word out about their amazing services. They currently have 17 different giveaways for LifeLock membership services happening on different blogs. That’s 17 chances that you have to win some peace of mind, and this is happening at such a great time, because if you are like me, you are probably going to be getting out your credit card a bit more often over the next 3 months as all the holidays approach!

So here’s the list of all the places where you can enter to win a LifeLock membership, worth $110!!! Good luck, everyone! If you win one, let me know!!!

http://crunchybeachmama.com/2012/09/how-lifelock-can-protect-you-1-year-subscription-giveaway/

http://www.themommy-files.com/2012/09/protect-your-identity-and-future-with-lifelock-giveaway/

http://www.kellystilwell.com/2012/09/lifelock-review-giveawayenter-to-win.html

http://kiddiescornerdeals.com/2012/09/lifelock-identity-theft-prevention-services/

http://southerngirlramblings.com/lifelock-identity-protection-review-giveaway/

http://www.thanksmailcarrier.com/2012/10/lifelock-identity-theft-prevention-services-one-year-membership-giveaway.html

http://ayearwithmomanddad.com/2012/10/protect-your-identity-with-lifelock-giveaway/

http://t.co/Mrr058l8

http://makingitallwork.com/reviews-2/holiday-shopping-with-lifelock-priceless-giveaway/

http://www.annagainandagainreviews.com/2012/10/protect-your-identity-with-lifelock.html

http://www.contest-corner.com/lifelock/

http://mom2zqb.com/2012/lifelock-review-and-giveaway/

http://www.theartofrandomwillynillyness.com/2012/10/lifelock-helps-you-protect-your.html

http://www.livingsmartgirl.com/2012/10/protect-your-identity-with-lifelock/

http://mamabee.net/identity-theft-protection-with-lifelock-membership-giveaway/

http://www.miscfinds4u.com/blog/2012/10/07/lifelock-reviews/

http://www.crazyaboutmybaybah.com/protect-identity-theft-lifelock-giveaway/

 

 

I am a compensated ambassador for this brand.  All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

LifeLock Ambassador and a Chance to Win BIG ($1,000)!

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Identify theft: I’m guessing this does not rank very high on the list of things you enjoy contemplating. If you are lucky enough to have not (yet) been a victim, then this may not seem like anything you need to spend your time worrying about. Your accounts seem secure with all their promised encryption. You aren’t in the habit of losing your purse or wallet. So what’s the worry?

The threat is so real, you guys. SO. REAL.

Hello, my name is Tiffany, and in the last 8 years I have been the victim of identify theft 5 DIFFERENT TIMES. FIVE!!!!!!

I’m delighted to be a new brand ambassador for LifeLock, a company that works RELENTLESSLY to help help provide identity theft protection to its members. You may be chuckling to yourself and thinking that I’m quite possibly the world’s worst choice for a partnership with LifeLock. But I think the fact that I seem to be a magnet for identity theft makes me the perfect ambassador. Every time I become a victim, I pick up a new practice that is supposed to greatly help reduce the chance that I’ll become a victim again. And every time, it proves to be insufficient.

I clearly need more vigilant and comprehensive protection. And if I need it, I’m guessing millions of other people just like me need it, too. I am really looking forward to sharing my experience as a LifeLock Ultimate member with you. And I’m REALLY looking forward to not having to cancel my credit card and fill out a bunch of paperwork about how I didn’t spend $600 at a Payless in Kansas (yeah, that happened…).

But for now, I want to tell you about a chance that you all have to win BIG with LifeLock!

Introducing the LifeLock for Life Sweepstakes on Facebook! This super fun sweepstakes just started on Tuesday, and it is going to run throughout 2013 so that you have MANY chances to win cool prizes. Every week you can go to the LifeLock Facebook page and answer 10 multiple choice questions that are all about helping to protect your identity (so you can learn something while you try to win!). Prizes are awarded weekly as well as monthly. The specific life events that LifeLock will focus its questions on will change every month. For September, it’s all about heading back to school!

And the prizes….they are AWESOME! This month LifeLock is giving away 4 Ultimate Memberships (ARV $275 each!) and one $1,000 Visa gift card! EEEEE!!!! That would cover Christmas at my house!

So head on over and “like” LifeLock on Facebook, visit the LifeLock for Life tab, and enter to win! I just played, and I learned a lot of things I didn’t know in just a few minutes!

 Disclosure: I am a compensated ambassador for this brand. All opinions (and unfortunately, all instances of identity theft) are my own. 

SafeShepherd: Helping Prevent Online Fraud. GIVEAWAY (5 Winners!!!)

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Have you ever been the victim of identity theft? I have (twice!) and it is a TERRIBLE feeling. I am the type of person who feels very comfortable shopping online, and for the most part, it really is safe. But the convenience of getting to shop from my bed and in my pj’s at all hours of the day and night and with stores located all over the country (or even the world) has the occasional drawback. Sometimes, the sites are not as secure as they need to be, and someone is able to access my credit card information. When that happens, it REALLY stinks. It doesn’t keep me from shopping online, but it does cause me to monitor my credit report closely and watch my bank account!

Identify theft isn’t even the only problem you might incur by having an online presence, though. People can find all kinds of information about you online, including your date of birth, address, income, names of your family members, your criminal history if you have one and more. This information, believe it or not, is actually for sale about you online, and people ARE buying it! Doesn’t that just give you the creeps?!

Fortunately, there’s a company out there who wants to help you keep your private information to yourself, and get it offline so that nobody can buy or sell it, and worse, make use of the information to steal your identity. SafeShepherd removes your family’s personal information from the internet so you can rest easy that you can protect your family online. It works by scanning the internet for information about you that could be compromising (talking about identifying info, not your Facebook photos that you shouldn’t have uploaded!). If they find something, they get it removed for you!

Want to know what’s REALLY wonderful about SafeShepherd? They offer basic accounts for FREE! There’s absolutely no excuse not to prevent online fraud thanks to SafeShepherd. With a basic account, you can find your personal info online, receive privacy alerts, and have your basic records removed from online.

You can also get a premium subscription for $14/month or just $65/year (the best deal!). This paid membership also provides always-on privacy monitoring (so you know anytime something new is added about you online), removal of difficult records, scanning for records at any time and personal customer service should you have any questions or need extra help.

Win it!: FIVE lucky Stuff Parents Need readers are each going to win a one year premium membership to SafeShepherd! Woo hoo!

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