Tips to Keep You Safe During Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

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It’s tax time! Have you ever considered that you could be at risk for tax identity theft? Tax identity theft occurs when a thief files a fraudulent tax return using your Social Security number and collects your refund. It also occurs when someone uses your Social Security number to earn wages and sticks you with the tax bill. Often, people do not realize they are the victim of tax identity theft until after the crime, when they try to file their taxes.

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How Debit Card Fraud Happens — and How to Avoid It

For many people, debit cards are the perfect plastic. They offer most of the conveniences of credit cards with no risk of accumulating debt.

But like credit cards, debit cards are vulnerable to rip-off artists. And debit card fraud is particularly scary because thieves can withdraw money directly from your checking account.

Here's how debit fraud happens and how to protect yourself.

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Buy Your Retirement Home Before You Retire

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If you’ve been thinking of buying a second home, you may not want to wait much longer. You may have heard that mortgage rates are expected to rise this year, which means waiting could cost you. Securing a mortgage for your second home now, while rates are low, means you can buy more home for your money.

If retirement is in your 5 to 10 year plan, you may be starting to think about buying your retirement home now. Or, you might want to buy a second home as a vacation home for your family. Either way, now is a good time to buy.

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Dating on a Budget – How to Woo Your Date Without Breaking the Bank

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One of the hardest things about saving money is trying to budget during a holiday, especially one that gives you the opportunity to dote on someone you love. So how do you make birthdays, date nights, and even Valentine’s Day special without draining your bank account? We’ve compiled a few inexpensive date ideas that will impress your date without breaking the bank.

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