“The annual holiday shopping season is a peak time for identity theft, so it’s critical that consumers be on high alert and educate themselves in order to help reduce the risk of becoming victims,” said Adam Levin, chairman, Identity Theft 911, which offers ID theft resolution services.

His company offered these tips for safer holiday shopping:

• When shopping online, look for a small “padlock” icon in the browser, which means the site has been verified to be secure.
• Use credit cards instead of debit cards.
• Keep credit card numbers secret. Don’t store credit card and personal information in any online accounts
• Check bank and credit card statements and accounts every day to make sure each transaction is legitimate. Remember that shopping Web sites have no reason to ask for Social Security numbers or passwords, so never provide them.
• Never send payment information via e-mail.
• Don’t use automated teller machines that are in secluded areas. They are more likely to be equipped with card readers than an ATM in or near a bank.

If your kids are like mine, they have made you keenly aware of the fast-approaching summer break.  And with the  summer kick-off holiday of Memorial Day just a few days’ away, summer travel and vacation plans are being completed at a feverish pace.  So here are some things to keep in mind, lest you overspend and end up with a year’s worth of debt for your freewheeling ways.

Plan Wisely
To help you reduce the financial stress of planning your summer getaway, we’ve found a cool and free web-based “travel calculator,” designed to help you plan your vacation budget and stick to it once you’ve left home. The calculator will help you determine the cost of gas (updated daily based on national averages) for your trip as well as account for all the small things that really do add up, and, if you’re not prepared, sneak up and cause you headaches for the rest of the year.

Take the stress out of your next vacation
Jason Alderman, director of Practical Money Skills for Life, shares insights and links to websites where you can research and save money.

Don’t turn a glorious summer into a winter of discontent
Thinking of spending beyond your means for this year’s vacation? Find out what that will really cost with Practical Money Skills for Life’s Cost of Credit calculator.

Stop identity theft before it happens
Keep your identity safe and your money where it should be– in your account. Be aware of situations that identity thieves love.

Check your credit report when you get home
Even if you think you’ve kept all your information and valuables safe, we recommend checking your credit report for suspicious activity when you return home. Check out or last post, “Tips to Help Build and Maintain Good Credit” for more information.