Stuff Parents Need

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

How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure While Filing Taxes Online

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This weekend Tim and I will be filing taxes online. Have you filed yours, yet? You still have a bit of time, but I think the sooner you can rip that band-aid off, the sooner you can start to feel a little bit better.

Proud to be an American

On the one hand, I don’t mind paying my taxes at all. I am happy to make my contribution to the greater good in this country. I’m grateful for reliable infrastructure in my home, on my street, in my city, and all over this country. Those things cost money! I use those things, so I should help pay for those things.

On the other hand, I feel like this about paying taxes:

not impressed about filing taxes online

This is largely because the income I contribute to my family is from freelance work, and when I get paid, the taxes haven’t been taken out. I have to pay them at tax time. I wish I could tell you that I was extremely disciplined and squirreled away every cent I would need to pay later. But I haven’t. I think I have about half of what I need saved up. The other half is going to come straight out of savings. I hardly even remember what it is like to get a refund check. I’m one of the folks who owes quite a bit this time of year. Even though I am willing to pay what I owe, it puts me in grouchy mood, to say the least!

Death and Taxes…Both Certain, Both Annoying

Whether you anticipate getting a refund or writing a check this year, filing taxes is still a pain in the rear. Even the EZ file for those of you with very uncomplicated tax prep needs still requires you to take a little bit of time and submit all of your information. For those of us who itemize, have small businesses, or just a lot of different assets or deductions to claim, filing can take hours and hours.

So just imagine how much insult would be added to the injury if your identity was stolen as a result of filing your taxes online. Wouldn’t that be INFURIATING??!!

It’s happening. A LOT. Just think about all the sensitive information you have to provide in order to file your taxes. I’m not saying that filing online is a bad idea. Not at all! That’s how I’ve filed for the last 8 or 9 years and it is how I’ll be filing this year. BUT…you do need to take some precautions!

filing taxes online securely

How to Prevent Identity Theft While Filing Taxes Online

1. Go with a reputable company. Make sure you are using a reputable tax preparation service. I happen to use Turbo Tax. Many others use H&R Block. And there are other reputable options out there, as well. Please don’t use something you’ve never heard of or that you can’t find strong recommendations for online. You can also use the IRS website for filing. Make absolutely sure that you are on the official IRS website and not some other URL trying to make you think it is the right spot.

2. Software check. Ensure that your virus protection software is updated and turned on. Even the best anti-virus system does you absolutely no good if it isn’t running!

3. File only from a secure network. Do not file from a public setting. You can never be certain about the security level of the network other than one you have set up. Remember, you are sending out your social security number, so you need to be EXTRA careful about it.

4. Be wary of tax-related emails. Do not respond to unsolicited emails from the IRS. The IRS NEVER EVER initiates contact with taxpayers via email. So if you get an “IRS” email informing you of great new rebate offers, or even of missing information, DO NOT respond to it. It is a scam.

5. Enroll in a identity theft protection service such as LifeLock. I receive monthly updates from this company, as well as alerts if anything suspicious is happening with my accounts. LifeLock can alert you very quickly to any problems that may have occurred. This is an extra measure of peace of mind, not just during tax prep time, but all year long.

Is anyone else out there going to be writing a check this year for taxes? Anyone else out there NOT IMPRESSED by having to do it? Tell me I’m not alone! Or if you are getting a refund, go ahead and brag…I’ll celebrate with you since I can’t celebrate the same outcome for myself! Are you filing taxes online or taking a different route?


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

3 Ways to Protect Your Identity During a Move

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In the 10 1/2 years that we’ve been married, Tim and I have lived in 8 different homes spanning 5 different cities in 3 different states.

Every time we move, we swear we’ll never do it again. But obviously we are kidding ourselves!

moving

I’m not going to share with you my best tips for packing up your home, for finding a great moving service, or for discovering a diamond in the rough when looking for homes to purchase or rent, though I have experience with all of those endeavors. Today I want to talk about one thing you might not be considering as you plan a move:

protecting your identity as you change addresses.

I’ve got LOADS of experience with getting our addresses changed, as well as with dealing with all the mail that previous residents get forwarded to us because they didn’t properly change their addresses. I want to share my top 3 tips for keeping your private information private as you move.

1. Fill out change of address forms with the post office BEFORE you move! Many people do this after they are “settled” at their new locations. That is a fantastic way to lose a bunch of your mail and leave it exposed for whoever happens to live in your home after you (or for passersby who are looking for some mail to steal….and I swear that happens as I have had mail stolen from my box before!). You can schedule the date you want your forwarding service to take effect, so it doesn’t have to be done AFTER you have moved, I promise!

2. Do not assume that the post office will let everyone who sends you mail know that you have moved. They will not!!!! The only way places that send you mail will learn is if the post office returns some of the mail to the sender after your forwarding service has expired. They don’t always do that, and even if they do, you will then be dealing with delays. For example, if your credit card bill is mailed to you and then returned back to the sender without your new address listed, the credit card company won’t know how to contact you and before you know it, your bill is late. It is your responsibility to notify all of your contacts (everyone from the utility companies where you may have outstanding bills from the old address to your favorite magazines) of your new address. It is CRITICALLY important that you notify any of your creditors (banks, credit card companies, etc.). Just imagine if your bank sent your new credit or debit card to your old address and it got into the wrong hands (and by the way, any hands that aren’t yours are the wrong hands!).

3. Try to get to know the new residents, if possible. I have met the people who currently live in the house where we last lived, and good thing, because UPS and FedEx have dropped off several packages to them since we left. Those would have been lost forever if they didn’t know how to contact me. You can always send a note through the mail to the new residents simply giving your forwarding address and your email address or your phone number in case they want to get in touch with you about any mail that has arrived.

LifeLock is continuing their wonderful LifeLock for Life sweepstakes in 2013, and for January and February, the focus is on moving into a new home. I just went through all the questions and seasoned as I am at moving, I still learned a few helpful tips. AND…I’m entered to win a $1,000 Visa gift card! 🙂 Take a second to enter for yourself, too! There will also be 9 winners who will receive a year membership to LifeLock!

What about you? What are steps you take to make sure your personal information isn’t left at your old address when you move?

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

My Very Favorite Products of 2012

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I have had so much fun over the past few months highlighting my favorite products of 2010 and 2011. And now I come to my favorite products of 2012! This list was the most difficult of them all to create. After initially going through all my posts I had 42 products that made me squeal with delight. Sheesh! I painstakingly narrowed it down to 16 products that I want to give one more shout out to as we close our 2012 year.

Do keep in mind that any positive review on my site is completely honest. What you see below is the cream of the crop for my family. These are the products that have surprised us the most, given the most delight, and enjoy the most use. They are in no particular order.

1. Everyday Minerals. This mineral makeup company has generous sizes of product, outstanding prices, beautiful colors, and coverage to match premium brands.

2.  Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler. While it is petite, it is the perfect fit for our small kitchen. Keeps our recyclables out of sight. Lots of love for this product!

3. Jahgoo Infant Bath. Another great space saver for those of you with babies 0-6 months. Layah recently outgrew it. We all were quite sad about that!

4. Attribute Apples. I continue to be amazed at how frequently Darah requests to play with this game. She loves sorting them by size, color and other attributes.

5. LifeLock. This service has helped keep identity theft at bay and also kept me alert to other potential threats, such as registered sex offenders in my neighborhood. I’ve been so pleased with the service provided and absolutely believe that it is worth the cost and then some.

6. Vanessa Gade Jewelry. This designer has a true gift. My necklace from her collection is one of my most beloved material possessions.

7. Pork. Yes, as in the other white meat. I had the opportunity to try out several different cuts of pork this year. We weren’t pork eaters before that time, but now we are. It’s delicious and surprisingly versatile!

8. Bobble Water Pitcher. I have purchased replacement filters for my Bobble since reviewing it because we use it multiple times, every single day. It has a permanent home in our fridge!

9. Ruggable Rug. I can’t say enough what a genius idea a washable rug is. The white shag run we own has been washed several times and still looks absolutely fantastic.

10. Beaba Babypote. This nifty container gives me the opportunity make squeeze pouches for my girls. It saves me a ton of money!

11. Shower Hug. This is the item that pregnant women and brand new moms have no idea they need until they try it. It is bliss!

12. First Years Feeding Chair. We ditched our old high chair that was twice as expensive and took up twice as much room. This chair rocks!

13. Dexas Ice Cube Trays. These bad boys make the biggest ice cubes ever, and they are super space efficient in the freezer. I use them daily!

14. Swaddlebees Simplex One Size Diaper. I’ve seen some amazing diapers, but this one takes the cake. It’s the whole package, folks.

15. Hot Dots. These flash cards are fantastic for learning and independent play. They travel well, too! I’ve bought several more packs and even bought some as gifts.

16. Olay Products. I have been extremely impressed with how well everything I’ve tried from this company works. My skin looks great!

There’s my list! Did you have any standout favorite products you used for the first time in 2012? I’d love to hear about them!

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.

Travel Tips You May Be Forgetting (And a Chance to Win a $4,500 Travel Voucher!)

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Are any of my readers getting geared up for a road trip this weekend to see family and friends? I bet many of you are!

First and foremost, I want to wish you safe travels. Please don’t forget to get your air pressure checked and make sure you have anti-freeze in your car if you are traveling in cold areas. Don’t try to race the clock and make a personal best in the time it takes you to get from point A to point B.

And if you are traveling with kids, bring snacks. Lots of snacks. Squeeze pouches are my personal favorite for the littles. And for myself, plenty of iced coffee and mint chocolates. Yum!

You are probably already mindful of all of these types of safety tips, but you may not be thinking about the safety of your identity while you travel. Travelers are prime targets, so be mindful, please! A few weeks ago my aunt was traveling in Kentucky, and on the second day of her travels there, she got a call from her credit card company about some suspicious charges. Someone in Kentucky was trying to purchase a $700 airplane ticket. She was able to trace her credit card use back to McDonald’s, where she suspects an employee may have somehow gotten her information, perhaps through the system there. She had to cease using her card on the spot. Fortunately, she had alternate methods of paying for things she needed, but what if she didn’t? What a mess that would have been!

It’s also possible that someone in line used their cell phone to snap a photo of her card. Did you know that this happens ALL. THE. TIME?????

One of my biggest tips for you for the security of your identity, whether you are close to home or on the road, is to NEVER have your credit card out of your wallet while you are waiting to pay. I see people all the time laying their cards on the counter while they wait. All of your information is just sitting there, exposed, and you never know who is watching and either has a photographic memory or can snap a photo without you noticing.

If you think you will be spending a fair amount of money while you are away from home, it is also a good idea to contact your credit card company and advise them of where you will be spending money (geographic location, not specific stores). If they know you will be in California, for example, they won’t flag a charge there as suspicious, but if one pops up in Florida while you are away, they will know you aren’t there!

This month, LifeLock’s goal is to give you great tips for traveling over the holidays that will help keep you safe. Please check out their LifeLock for Life sweepstakes happening right now. Four winners will get LifeLock memberships for two (!) and one lucky duck is going to get a $4,500 travel voucher. Wowzers!!! And really, everyone is a winner who plays because you are going to learn some really helpful information to keep your identity safe, potentially saving you a whole lot of headache!

I have also learned some great tips over the last few months simply by following LifeLock on Twitter. I definitely recommend putting them on your follow list!

I’d love to hear any tips you have for folks traveling this holiday season, be it related to identity protection or anything else! Comments here are going to be worth an extra entry for something awesome that I’ll be posting in two days, just FYI!!!

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

Twitter Party with LifeLock Celebrating the New Movie Waiting for Lightning (12/13 at 1:30pm EST)

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LifeLock is having a Twitter party this Thursday at 10:30am PST, 13:0pm EST. And when LifeLock throws a Twitter party, they really do it right!!! There will be fun prizes and lots of great info about the upcoming movie Waiting for Lightning, which tells the story of extreme skateboarder Danny Way. There will be a signed skateboard up for grabs as one of the prizes, which would make an AMAZING gift for any extreme sport fan on your holiday shopping list!

RSVP here! http://bit.ly/DannyWayParty

Additionally, the LifeLock Facebook page has a contest going on that you can enter daily for a trip to 2 to LA to win a private screening of the film with Danny Way!

Here’s a trailer of the film if you haven’t yet heard about it:

So get yourself signed up for the Twitter party AND sign up for the sweepstakes. Someone is going to win big…shouldn’t it be you???

 

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

Black Friday LifeLock Twitter Party: Prizes Include $400 Best Buy Gift Card!

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LifeLock knows that many MANY of you are getting really excited about all the great deals that will be available on Black Friday. If you are going to be out early in the day and will be home resting your weary feet (and your tired credit cards!) in the afternoon, then you need to join the LifeLock Black Friday Twitter party, which will be happening that day at 6pm EST (3pm PST). It will be a great opportunity to learn some really important tips about keeping your identity safe throughout your shopping frenzy and beyond.

And there will be prizes. Lots of prizes. Including a $400 gift card to Best Buy!

Want to attend? Of course you do!

You don’t even have to leave this page to get signed up, either. Here’s the form to RSVP right here. You have to RSVP to be eligible for the prizes, so be sure to do it! If you can’t see the entire form at once, just scroll down on it (I checked to make sure you can do that!). If it gives you any grief, just click here to go to the RSVP page.  Ok, enough talking from me…I’ve got to get myself signed up, too! See you there!

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.

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.