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Jill Russo Foster

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You are here: Home / Archives for Jill Russo Foster

It’s Time to Order Your Last Report for 2015

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This month use TransUnion

Hello, it’s Jill again, reminding you to get your finances in order so you can enjoy the holiday season.

How to Order Your Credit Report

The only authorized source for your report is AnnualCreditReport.com. You won’t be charged and they won’t force you to sign up for “credit monitoring”. It’s yours to review by law. Learn more.

Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com:

  1. Select your state, then click Request Report.
  2. Fill out your information, then click Continue.
  3. When it asks you to select a service, select TransUnion.

Not comfortable ordering online? There are other ways to order your report:

  • Mail your postal order by downloading the form at AnnualCreditReport.com
  • Call in your order at 1-877-322-8228

What should you do with your report?

  • Review it for accuracy!
  • Follow the instructions to correct any errors.
  • And, always remember to keep copies for your records.

Were you hoping for your credit score instead? Try CreditKarma.com. It doesn’t give you a FICO score, but it comes close by providing scores from TransUnion and VantageScore. And, there’s no charge for you. CreditKarma funds their service through website advertising.

May you have a fun and meaningful holiday season from Halloween through to New Year’s Eve and everything in between.

P.S. I’ll send you another reminder in January so you can start 2016 off right.

Identity Thieves Don’t Stop with the Living

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You know that I go to great lengths to protect myself from identity theft.  I do what I can from my end even though I have no control over corporate breaches.  Ugh!

But, there are others in my family who may be at risk.

Have you ever had a close family member pass away?  You probably said ‘yes’ to that question.  If so, you know that the family writes an obituary for the newspaper that includes a number personal details.  When I was the Executor for my father’s estate, I did that.  I even looked at the newspaper to see what information other families included to make sure I didn’t leave anything of importance out.

Well, that was mistake number #1.

I (like many others) handed a potential identity thief the information on a silver platter. I included his date of birth, where he grew up, the names of my mother and siblings, his past places of employment, and the organizations he was a part of.  I included everything everything but his social security number.

According to AARP, 2.5 million deceased people have their identity stolen postmortem each year.  This is wide spread and the victims can’t speak up, so it’s a win for the thief.

So what can you do about it?

  • Send death certificates to the three credit reporting agencies and request that a death alert be posted to the deceased credit report – I did this.
  • Contact the banks and investment companies with death certificates. See if you can get the accounts out of the deceased’s name.  In some states you can do this if the account was joint – I took care of this, too.
  • Notify the Social Security Administration, the IRS and Motor Vehicles – this is where I could have done more (partial mistake #2 – I did social security and the IRS but not motor vehicle).

Then, preventatively, check the deceased’s credit reports to monitor for any suspicious activity so you can catch it early on.  For more options, please go to my previous newsletter on reports available to consumers.

Hopefully, I won’t lose anyone close to me anytime soon, but from now on I will do ALL the steps – not just most.  I was somewhat lucky, as my father was collecting social security and had a government pension, so I notified both. It didn’t even occur to me to notify the DMV.  Learn from what I have done (and not done) to protect your loved ones.

Stay away from these types of loans

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Are you familiar with these types of loans?  These are the ones, I would strongly encourage you to stay away from:

1.      Payday loans aka payday advances rely on your employment / payroll history.  You borrow short term money to be paid back at your next pay date.  These are unsecured in the sense that there is no collateral.  Depending on how the interest is calculated by individual state regulations (in the states that allow them), your interest rate can be upwards in the hundred percentage range.  Not a very cost effective way to borrow money.

2.      Balloon loans / mortgages:  These types of loans are NOT fully amortized.  With most “good” loans you make an agreed upon payment, and at the end of the term the loan is paid in full.  But that is not the case with a balloon loan.  Your payments are not high enough to pay off the loan at the end of the term.  Once you think you are finished, you end up with a very large final payment which may be 50%, 60% or even 100% of your principal (hence the name ‘balloon’).

3.      Rent-to-own loans: You make rental / lease payments towards the ownership of an item (furniture, TV, computer, etc.).  You can terminate the rental / lease at any point and return the item, though there may be a penalty.  Once the agreed upon payments are made, the item is yours.  This looks like an affordable way to get what you want right away, but it isn’t. Typically, you pay substantially more for the item than if you just used a credit card.

In each of these cases, borrower beware.  Read and understand any legal agreements prior to signing.  You need to understand what you are getting into and for how long, so that you can make an informed choice that is right for you and your situation.  If you don’t understand the contract or feel pressured, that would be your signal to walk away.

How to plan for a dog before buying a puppy

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I am passionate about travel, but it doesn’t compare to how I feel about my dogs.  Brownie has been a member of the family for seven years now.  We rescued her at about 8 weeks when she was only 12 pounds, a far cry for her 70 pounds now.  We love her just as much as any of our other dogs.

But owning a pet can be a budget breaker.  Pets are expensive.  You need to consider their day to day costs – food, supplements and services – which can range in price from affordable to “how am I supposed to pay for that?”

The Initial Costs

According to peteducation.com, the first year can cost between $500-$6,600 depending on how much you’re willing to spend.

You have the simple comforts and necessities: bed, leash, collar, food bowls, toys – these aren’t too expensive individually, but can add up when you’re buying them all at once.

Then there are your legal requirements, like puppy shots, license and tags.

You may also want to consider having your puppy neutered and micro-chipped.  Thank goodness where we rescue the cost of puppy  neutering is included, so it’s not an extra cost for us.  If you rescue, ask to see if you can save too.

Finally, depending on the dog’s personality or medical issues, you may have other expenses.  Brownie went through the teething stage, as puppies do, but she wasn’t interested in inexpensive items like shoes or pillows. She chewed the molding around the door so that we needed a carpenter to make the repairs.  That was expensive.

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The Costs Going Forward

According to the Pet Education, the annual costs can be anywhere between $300-$2,500.

Brownie’s annual vet check-up and shots cost about as much as a car payment and are due every summer along with her license.  That’s not including any extra trips to the vet for illness, injuries, etc.  All these need to be planned for.

Your homeowners / renter insurance can increase depending on your dog’s breed.

Lastly there is caring after your dog’s emotional and physical well-being.  Do you need to have a dog walker while you’re at work or to board your dogs when you’re traveling?  More costs.

Lots to think about. Besides just selecting the right pet for your family, make sure to plan the financial part, too.

How to painlessly cut the cost of necessary expenses

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Do you feel like you’ve cut your expenses to the bone – that there’s literally nothing else to cut?  I want to challenge your thinking on that.  Have you looked into what I call the necessary expenses (things that you need or are required to have) to try to get a discount or find a cheaper supplier?

This is what I did for our household:

I contacted our electric company and went from 15¢ to .08¢ per kilowatt. This saved us $40 the first month alone.  Now I have reminders on my calendar to check before the next possible rate change in 6 months.

I was contacting our credit card company about a dispute issue and they asked if there is anything else they could do for me.  I responded, “I would love a lower interest rate.” They immediately reduced it by 2%. Yes, sometimes it can be as easy as that.

I called our cell phone provider to pay a bill (normally I pay online, but my computer had crashed) and they said they could lower our bill by $20 per month because of our loyalty – without me even asking! Another $20 back in our budget.

If you want to try lowering the cost of your necessary expenses, always be polite and ask simple questions, like….

  • Why did my bill go up?
  • What are my options for reducing my bill?
  • My budget doesn’t allow for me to pay this, what can we do to reduce the cost?

All these little savings add up to more money in your pocket.  If you can’t reduce your bill, shop around and see what’s out there.  Then, bring your findings back to your current providers to see what they can do.

Let me know how you do.

To succeed in college, you must back up

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So, you’ve prepared your child for college, which includes buying him a decent laptop.  That’s where he’ll store all his homework, access his assignments and turn in his papers. Should be good to go, right?

Wrong. Imagine this: Your child just finished writing this really great paper and it’s due in two hours. Suddenly, the computer crashes. Maybe it’s a virus. Maybe it was because of the soda he spilled on it last night. The ‘why’ doesn’t matter right now – all that matters is that a full semester’s work was lost in a few seconds.

What’s your kid going to do?

Hopefully, he’ll…

1. Borrow another computer from a friend or the school to…
2. Access his files from the external hard drive in his room or from his cloud backup service, and…
3. Send his paper on time.

If you don’t understand anything in Step 2, read on:

External Hard Drive

This is an external storage device separate from your computer. It’s portable – from the size of a wallet to a small box. You plug it into the computer with a USB cable.

Pros: You don’t need the internet to access your files. It’s portable and you can plug it into any other computer as needed. You pay one-time for the device and not a service.

Cons: It can be lost, stolen or damaged and you need to remember to back up your files.

Cloud Backup Service

In simple terms, this is a service that stores a copy of your files on the internet. It backs up continuously and automatically as long as there’s an active internet connection.

Pros: Backs up for you and you can access your files anywhere on any computer.

Cons: Need to keep paying for the service to access your files. Must have a functional internet connection to access files.

Now that you know the different types, why not both?

Backing up frequently is critical, but so is access. You can get a 1 terabyte external hard drive for around $60 and you can use a cloud backup service for $5 per month.

That’s cheap security considering you’ll be covered for both hardware and internet related disasters.

This all sounds scary, but what are the chances?

Using a computer for school or work opens you up to some major security risks that I think need to be addressed.

1. The actual item can be lost or stolen.  (You should have a locate app installed to increase your chances of finding what’s been lost.)

2. Your computer can be infected by a virus or hacked.

3. It can be damaged by liquids, a power outage, or a simple accident.

4. User error. This is where you accidentally delete or overwrite your file.

With so many security issues, the chances of something happening are pretty big. Dorm rooms are crowded work/living spaces occupied by distracted teens. Things happen… a lot.

And, it’s happened to me – a grown up with my own spacious home. Back in June, I crashed my computer. I was saved by backups and the pros to get me up and running again – but it took at least a week.  I can’t thank them enough.  Now, not only do I have an external hard drive and cloud back up, I have added an automatic backup systems to be double safe.

It’s July – get ready for college living now

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If you’re getting ready to send your child off to college for the first time, here is a list of things you need to do, or have them do, before school starts.

Research what it’s like to live on campus. What are the rules and regulations? Where is the best place to do laundry or buy food? What student groups are available? What’s the game schedule? When and where are the plays, the concerts and movies? What stores, restaurants and services are in walking distance? Visit the school’s website and Google Maps to start. From there you may find forums or groups that will help you plan for the place you’ll be living for the next year.

Buy or rent your text books online if possible.  Text books are expensive. As soon as your class syllabus is available, start comparison shopping. What options are available to you? Downloadable? Hardcover-used but with shipping fees? The school book store may be the most expensive source, but if you wait until the last minute it will be your only choice. (Always use the ISBN to verify that you have the correct edition.)

Get to know your roommate. You’ll be sharing a very small space with someone you’ve never met. Summertime is the best time to reach out.  Find out about them (likes and dislikes), set up of dorm room (who is bringing what) and discuss any issues you are concerned about ahead of time. If you need a roommate off campus (one that’s not assigned by the school), try roomsurf.com.

Doctors and dentists close to campus. It’s time to think about your child’s medical. Set up a physical before they head off to school. Renew prescriptions now so they can take it with them. Check with your insurance carrier to find doctors close to campus in network because emergencies happen. Out of network costs can be a drain on your budget.

Put Orientation on your calendar and go. This is your chance to get to know the school, campus, services and class information.  This is a must for anyone going to college or going to a different school.

Technology. In the summer, you can get great deals on laptops, tablets, software, printers, etc. Find out what you need, and get it while the sales are hot.

Don’t wait until fall. Your child will be busy enough trying to handle living on their own for the first time. While the college dorm may seem like a cozy, self-contained environment, it can be surprisingly challenging for the unprepared.

Avoid extra cruise fees (and still have a great time)

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Now that you know how to prepare for the airport, I want to help you get the most out of your cruise.

As you know we enjoy cruising and do it often.  They seem like an inexpensive way to travel – you have one flat fee for your room, meals and entertainment.  But there are extra fees, some of them unexpected, and that’s where the cruise lines make their money.

Here are some of the fees you might incur and how to get around them.

Beverage Fees

Not just alcohol, but soda and bottled water come with a fee too.

How to get around it: Some cruise lines let you bring a small quantity on board with you at embarkation.  We routinely bring  bottled water and soda, and have even brought on a bottle a wine in the past. Don’t forget your corkscrew, or they’ll charge an uncorking fee to open it for you.

Fitness Fees

You may have a full access to the gym aboard the ship, but the exercise classes come with a fee.

How to get around it: I have to admit, I love water aerobics and have paid a fee for that class.  But I typically abstain from classes, and instead start my day with a walk on the jogging track.  On days were the weather isn’t cooperating, I use the machines in the gym.  I love the smell of salt water and the quietness of the early morning, getting my exercise in as the sun rises.

Dining Fees

Most of your food is included when you eat in main dining room and at the buffet.  But you’ll find they offer some high end, very tempting options for a fee: like expensive meal choices, specialty restaurants, premium coffee and ice cream, and some brand name restaurants.

How to get around it: Cruises have food, food and more food.  Check out what free options are available before you even think about exploring the fee options.  For example, you’ll have to pay for the premium ice cream at the Ben & Jerry’s on board, but the soft serve  from the self-serve ice cream machines are free.

Shore Excursion Fees

The cruise line will offer tours of each port and beyond – for an additional fee. The fee applies if  you’re just using their transportation service to get to the city so you can explore on your own.

How to get around it: There is ease and peace of mind with the cruise directed shore excursions, but lots of times you don’t need them.  We have used outside companies and/or toured on our own for a fraction of the cost. Yes, it takes research and planning but it can be well worth it.  We’ve even booked shared transportation with others on board ahead of time, so we could see exactly what we want in a much smaller group – and for a fraction of the cost.

This has been our experience. Check with the cruise line you’re using because they may have different rules than the line we use. Nothing is worse than purchasing a case of water to bring on the cruise and having to leave it on the pier because it’s not allowed.  If want to get around an extra fee, and you can’t find details on it in your cruise contract, then call the travel agent or cruise line and ask ahead of time.

Bon voyage!

How to get through the airport and on the plane

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As you know we just got back from an amazing European cruise vacation. I want all of you to try it, but I know that some of you won’t because you’d have to fly to London.

You can get around the expense, but you can’t get around the new security rules. What if you say the wrong thing and get thrown off the plane? What if you bring the wrong thing and get taken to security in front of everyone? What if they won’t allow you to get on the plane with something you need or want, and your choice is to throw it away or miss your flight?

Because we’re experienced travelers, we don’t worry about that at all.

If you want to get through the airport and onto that plane without stress, do what we do.

1.      Make parking reservations – I can’t stress this enough.  What if you planned on leaving your car at the airport only to get there and find the airport lots are full – now what?  We park offsite with a reservation – no hassle.  They even have a frequent stayer program and we get one night free for every 7 we pay for.  The best perks? They have a shuttle to the terminal and if it’s cold outside, they warm up car when we arrive.

2.      Sign up for text or email alerts – They’ll offer it when you make your reservation.  We set up a text alert for 4 hours before the flight so we can avoid waiting at the airport for a plane that’s been cancelled or delayed.  If you didn’t do this when you bought your tickets, I am sure you can add it now.

3.      Weigh and measure your luggage – there are so many rules and regulations. Here’s what you should know before you go:  What is the size limitation of carry ons and checked luggage?  What are the maximum weight restrictions?  There is nothing worse than having to repack at the airport to avoid fees.  Measure your suitcase before you start to pack, and weigh it after you’re done.  Don’t waste your money on a luggage scale, you can use your bathroom scale.

4.      Plan your carry on bag – Are you checking your luggage or carrying it on the plane?  Checked luggage goes in the cargo hold, so you can pack any size toiletries. Carry ons stay with you, either at your feet or in the overhead bin. If you are carrying any luggage on, pack your toiletries according to the TSA regulations and place them in an easy to access area (i.e. on top of your clothes or in an outside pocket).  This makes the security check point so much easier.  Check out the TSA website for the complete rules and regulations

5.      Charging electronics – not all seats in a plane have power ports. Check your seat details by going to SeatGuru.com and looking up your airline, flight number and date of flight.  Sometimes airlines will change planes and you won’t have the power port you expected, so make sure all your electronics are fully charged before you leave home.

6.      Check in online – You should do it before you leave home.  Our airline lets us check in 24 hours in advance.  I do this to the minute to possibly snag an upgrade.  Some airlines make you wait until check in to select your seat assignment.

7.     Preplan your layover activities – If you know you are going to have a layover, check out the airport in advance (many have apps).  When flying British Airway into or out of Heathrow, you can schedule a massage during your layover.  You can purchase a day pass to an airline club.  We’ve done this and had a great experience with good healthy food choices, free Wi-Fi, and a comfortable place to relax.

These simple plan-ahead tips make flying easier, so relax and make those reservations.

What do you do to make your trip less stressful?

The Best Pre-Travel To-Do List

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Before we travel, we check off a pre-travel to-do list.  Today, I am going to share all the steps we take before leaving on vacation.

Home

  • Stop the mail and newspaper delivery
  • Set timers on electronics to turn on and off at natural times
  • Unplug or turn off all other electronics – it will save you a lot of money
  • Clean out the fridge and take out the trash
  • Water the plants
  • Tell your local police that you will be away so they can check your house when patrolling

Finances

  • Pay bills ahead or set up automatic payments to avoid late payment fees
  • Notify your credit card companies of your whereabouts and how to reach you
  • Clean out your wallet and remove anything you don’t need

Packing

  • Charge the electronics that are traveling with you
  • Pack chargers in your luggage
  • Use plastic bags. Put jars, tubes, and dispensers in sealed plastic bags (if they break your other items will be fine).  I put my clothing in huge bags, so if my luggage is out in the rain on the tarmac, my clothing will stay dry.
  • If you are traveling with a passport, remember to make a copy to take with you.  It makes getting a replacement so much easier.

I hope these tips will help you have a safer and happier vacation.

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