InsightsandAdvice.com

Protecting yourself against identity theft involves nothing more than protecting personal information such as: Your full name, date of birth, birthplace, phone number, address, mothers maiden name, social security number, bank account number, credit card number, and your pin number. Anyone with knowledge of just one of your high sensitivity items can do a lot of damage. Part of the battle of preventing identity theft is recognizing how this personal information is stolen and from where.

Where your Identity can be Stolen From:

YOUR MAIL:

• Don’t leave outgoing mail in an unsecured location. Deposit mail in USPS collection boxes.
• Don’t leave mail in your mailbox overnight or on weekends.
• Have your mail held at the post office while you’re out of town.
• Get a mailbox that locks.

YOUR COMPUTER:

• Use anti-spyware and anti-virus software.
• Be wary of online shopping sites. Only shop at sites that you trust and are secure. See FTC - Online Shopping for more information.
• Don’t get baited by phishers.
• Encrypt your wireless internet connection.
• Erase your hard drive if you ever sell or give away your computer.

YOUR TRASH:

• Bank statements.
• Credit card statements.
• Pre-approved credit card offers. (Read this to see why.)
• ATM receipts.
• Canceled or voided checks.
• Expired passports, visas, and credit cards.
• Tax forms.
• Bills.
• Paystubs.

Ways to Safeguard your Personal Information:

• Don’t keep your social security card in your wallet.
• If you’ve lost your credit card(s) be sure to IMMEDIATELY report them as lost or stolen.
• Never provide your personal information to someone who contacts you through an unsolicited phone call.
• Check all bills and bank statements as soon as they arrive.
• Check your credit reports for free. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to do so.
• Opt-OUT of “pre-screened” credit card offers. To do so call 1-888-5OPT-OUT.
• Don’t ever list both your date of birth AND your social security number on a resume / application. There’s no need, initially, that they have both and it’s doubtful they’ll be as careful with your information as you would.
• Guard your checkbook. It has your name, address and bank account number all in one place.
• Know who else has your personal information.

What to do if your Identity is Stolen:

• Should you ever become a victim, contact your banks and credit card issuers, the three major credit bureaus, file a police report, and file a complaint with the FTC.
• If all this seems overwhelming and even if you are able to follow all of the above advice and you’re still worried about having your identity stolen, which no matter how much you protect yourself is still possible, then I would recommend looking into the services of a company such as LifeLock.
  

Click Here to See the Scary Stats of Identity Theft.

Here’s a simple trick that will both conserve water and take care of watering your plants. After a long hot day I started noticing that every night I was finding at least a few half drank cups of water sitting around. Rather than throwing them down the sink every night I started pouring the two or three cups of water on one plant and then the next night I would water the next plant and so on and so on. I was able this way to both conserve water and make sure my plants were getting the water they needed. Super simple.

Jet lag is rough! I’m sure if you’ve traveled before you’ve felt the effects of jet lag! Sadly, the more time zones you cross during your flight means not only the greater the adventure, but also the more jet lag you’re likely to experience. The negative effects of jet lag will leave travelers with the following effects:

• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Disorientation
• Swollen hands and feet
• Headaches
• Digestive problems
• Lightheadedness

Strangely enough jet lag effects women more than men. Obviously not in all cases but in most cases it’s true. Scientists believe estrogen to be the culprit. According to scientists estrogen is also behind chronic nagging but let’s leave that to another post. Just kidding ladies!

Another strange but true aspect of jet lag is that most people are more affected when traveling from west to east. This may be because flights from west to east are counter to the circadian rhythm. Most people have a circadian period which is a bit longer than 24 hours, making it easier to stay up later than to get up earlier. So how to combat Jet Lag you ask? Well there’s a million “tips” out there and lot’s of good advice but here’s something new you haven’t heard. First though, let’s cover the basics on how to help reduce jet lag.

• Drink Plenty of Water Before Your Trip
• Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol on Your Flight
• Sleep on the Plane if it’s Nighttime at Your Destination
• Stay Awake on the Plane if it’s Daytime at Your Destination
• Relax on Your First Day!
• Take Supplements! There’s a Ton Available and Should be Listed Below

Now the one thing that’s been recently suggested by scientists is that travelers should abstain from eating! You’re body is at a loss, totally confused as to what time it is, what meal it is, and when it’s time to sleep when you’re crossing time zones. Scientists have found that by “resetting” your body’s clock by not eating you can greatly reduce the effects of jet lag. To “reset” your body’s clock you can avoid food for approximately fifteen hours. By doing so your body will go into a basic “start over” mode. Abstain from eating during your flight! Once you touch down, eat whatever meal is appropriate to the time zone you’re in and proceed from there. You’re body will naturally “reset” once it’s gotten it’s first meal of the day!

Happy Traveling!

There is NEVER a bad time to plant a tree! A few good reasons? Well, research shows that trees help the speedy recovery of hospital patients and can reduce stress in the workplace. Community trees are linked to higher property values (as much as 28%), increased income levels, increased tax revenues, increased number of jobs and worker activity which directly correlates to higher numbers of customers and shoppers.
Windbreaks from trees can shield a home against snow and wind, reducing heating costs by as much as 30%. A large shade tree or trees can reduce air conditioning costs by 15 and up to 50%. Neighborhoods without trees, particularly those with many parking lots and asphalt coverage, can be up to 30% hotter!
These are just a few of the great reasons to plant a tree! So enough of why you should plant a tree, you’re ready to take action, right?!?
It’s easy, here’s how you plant a tree properly so that it grows fast and healthy!

• Step 1 - Buy the Tree

It’s obvious, but make sure that whatever type of tree you buy will not only survive but will thrive in the environment you’re going to plant it in. Also take note if the tree you’re planting needs shade, partial sunlight, or full sun. These are imperative to the survival of your tree.

• Step 2 - Digging the Hole

Grab a shovel and start digging! You’ll want to make the hole just a little wider (maybe a 4-6 inches) than the pot the tree comes in. Dig down deep enough so that you can fit the whole tree in the hole you’ve dug and that the tree itself rests a few inches below ground level. You can test this by placing the potted tree into the hole.

• Step 3 - The “Pedestal”

This is easy but important. To ensure your newly planted tree doesn’t get root rot you’ll want to place a “pedestal” of dirt in the center of the hole. Make the “pedestal” an inch or two in height, this will stop the trees roots from just sitting in a puddle of water.

• Step 4 - Planting Your Tree

Remove your tree from it’s pot or sack. Place it into the hole you’ve dug and make sure, again, that you’ve got ~6 inches on all sides, a pedestal at the bottom of the hole, and that the base of the trunk isn’t to low in the ground. (It should be about even with the level of dirt around it.) If the soil you’re planting in isn’t rich soil, meaning it’s flaky and dry, then it’s recommended you add about 1/4 fertilizer or manure to the dirt you end up filling in around your tree. This will help feed your tree vital nutrients. Pack the dirt around your newly planted tree tightly making sure there are no air pockets around the roots.

• Immediate Care for Your New Tree

Immediately after planting your tree water it thoroughly! Fertilizing your tree is also recommended. Be sure to read the directions on the box so you don’t over-fertilize and burn your tree’s roots. After you’ve planted your tree, watered and fertilized it wait an hour and go water it thoroughly again. If it’s in a windy area and is already a few feet tall you may want to place a stake next to it and tie your tree to the stake to make sure it doesn’t blow over.

Now sit back, water your tree as recommended, and enjoy watching it grow!

You may also like: Ways to Help Protect the Planet this Summer