Holiday cheer is all around us and winter is in the air, we feel the chill of the season and the happiness of the time of the year. No matter where we go it’s hard to hide from the fact that it’s almost Christmas time. With mistletoe and lit up trees all around, the presence of stocking hung with care we keep our spirits bright all through the day and night. While we all spend the days with family and friends the thought of financial and personal safety are hidden way deep within.

We seem to have a sort of blindness to things that can be bad and detrimental to us all. With the rising threat of criminal activity on the rise here are some things you need to keep in mind. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America and around the world; a new identity is stolen every 3 seconds. That’s 20 identities per minute and 240 an hour. If you think you’re safe from these crimes think again.

No one is safe from this. Your identity has several vulnerability points that can be penetrated, your medical records, your DMV records, your credit and social security as well. These are just 3 of the 5 points related to your identity. The most vulnerable point this Holiday Season is your financial identity and here are a few tips to help keep you protected from those who lurk to steal your information and benefit by destroying you in the process.

First and foremost you need to practice safe online shopping. Remember to never give out your personal information to an unsolicited email, only shop at trusted and known online stores and websites that you trust. Make sure that the checkout area is secure by locating the closed and locked padlock on your web browser’s window frame. This will help to ensure that your identity is safe from identity thieves.

All in all online shopping is more secure that going out to your favorite diner or restaurant. Simply due to the fact that there is no margin for human error; you see when you dine out or hand your credit card to a human who runs the transaction manually there is a possibility for the handler to copy your information and start charging away causing you to incur unauthorized charges. When you are online this risk is practically eliminated by secure encryption and light speed processing of the transaction with no human involved.

Secondly you need to remove unnecessary items from your wallet. While you are out on the town purchasing every item on your list you need to leave all of the unnecessary items at home. Lost checkbooks, wallets and credit cards account for 33% of all identity fraud. Only take the minimum with you the single card or checkbook that you will be using. This way amongst all of the confusion and chaos your other valuable items are safe at home.

You need to also have excellent record keeping; as soon as your statements arrive review them. With the ability to review statements online you have the upper hand. Your detailed organization and keen accounting skills will be a third defense of protection. You’ll need to keep your original receipts together for reconciling them against your statements. If you detect any discrepancies you’ll need to contact your bank or creditor immediately.

The most important step of course is having protection for your identity. You can watch, learn and become an identity specialist for your own protection, but who really has time to spend every second of every day performing these activities. In a matter of minutes your life can change without notice; will you be watching while your life becomes impacted? Having fraud monitoring alerts in place is an essential way to keep abreast of your circumstances while you grab a hold of life and get every piece of fulfillment that you can.

You need eyes watching over you while you’re away at work or play and while you’re off having fun while you are away. When you’re in that store this Holiday Season remember that others will be watching waiting and ready to pounce when the timing is right. Be alert now and always through your days protect your self from becoming a victim. Be smart use the tools and technology for your own advantage and defense. Shop smart, protect yourself and relax with ease; while everyone else scurries about carelessly meandering through the shopping malls and retailers unwillingly leaving their entire future wide open.

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It is true that bankruptcy laws have changed in recent years 2005 to be exact; these new laws make it difficult for some filers to obtain a chapter 7 bankruptcy. Yet congress has not eliminated bankruptcy for the little guy they have made the debt elimination of a chapter 7 relief more difficult to attain. Instead a chapter 13 or reorganization or repayment restructuring is usually the case.

Filings are up and for many this is unfortunately the way to go. Bankruptcies are not a short term fix; they have the ability to destroy your good name for years to come. Even when you have gone through your time period of seven or ten years waiting for the bankruptcy or more commonly known as a bk. to drop off of your credit record report you still must legally state on credit applications that you did file for one.

If you do not technically it defrauding the lender, sound familiar? This is part of what led to the mega $700,000,000,000 bail out plan that put our country in a downward economic spiral with no end in sight. Regardless of the state of our nations economy you need to stay focused on your situation. Only you have the knowledge and intricate internal workings of your life.

It’s these little details that will give you the competitive edge; possibly you have an ace up your sleeve. Maybe you don’t need an ace you just need sound solid advice from a trusted professional who isn’t out looking for their next fee instead they are looking out for their clients interests whether they make a buck or not. No matter the case size, length or complexity you deserve a right to know your options.

If you are facing foreclosure maybe you don’t need the stay of a bankruptcy to protect your home, possibly loss mitigation or loan modification will do the job, how do you know if you don’t seek the advice? Can you avoid bankruptcy and snowball away your debt? Can a debt restructuring or elimination plan save the day? Again you won’t know unless you ask. Where do you go to find these solutions you seek? How can I the little guy afford these expensive advisors and why would they want to help me?

I’ve been there, I know these feelings you are going through. They aren’t fun, they aren’t welcome and before you know it… it seems as if everyone around you knows it too. The sad truth is that most people don’t understand what you are faced with and going through. They think your going to bring them down with your ship. Soon close friends are missing in action, family casts you out on your own and the only friends that call you are the creditors wanting to when you’re going to pay.

You can’t do it on your own and live your life too. You need a team of supporters; you need a team willing to go the extra mile; a coach or group of coaches, attorneys and advisers willing to go to bat for you. When your given the heads up every step of the way your able to walk with your head up high. I remember when I filed for bankruptcy, I felt sick and relieved at the same time. Sick due to the added financial burden and relieved from the stress of fighting the rudeness of collectors for my debts.

You simply direct them to kindly speak to your lawyer. Isn’t that nice? Nowadays people don’t have thousands of dollars for these services so this is where the power of leverage comes into play. By using an accredited, professional network of skilled legal eagles you have the advantage that comes from volume. Essentially you have the edge on the game that your friends family and associates don’t.

Attorneys with an average of nineteen years of servitude in their rightful niches, knowledge, alternatives, and historical data to back it up; you need the coaches in your corner fighting with you standing up for you, you also need unlimited access day or night to clear your concerns and your conscience. It’s time to stand up and fight back.

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