How To Shop Online Safely

Shopping online has become something we take for granted in the years since Amazon, and Yahoo Shopping hung out their online shingles. I have found some great bargains online but like you, I sometimes wonder whether the site I am using is completely safe. Here are a few things I do to make my online shopping as safe as I possibly can.

Stick to the familiar

I tend to buy from a short list of sellers where I have found the shopping experience to be easy and the service prompt. My purchases include items from auction sites and I limit them to sellers who have 99% or above approval ratings. Any online seller with a lower rating prompts me to look at the complaints from previous shoppers. If too many online buyers grouse about delivery times, return policies and charges to their Credit Cards, I usually move on to the next seller.
My short list of online shopping sites include well known brick and mortar stores who have a known policy for addressing issues. Otherwise I purchase from highly regarded online sellers who have been around since internet shopping was in its infancy. I find it never hurts to take my time reading the fine print and on the one occasion I failed to do that, I ended up paying too much for an item that was, to put it mildly, not properly displayed.

Sweat the details

You may also want to read the return policy of some shopping sites as you may end up paying a restocking fee if the order you placed was not what you intended. Make sure you understand the charges for shipping and handling just in case the total bill turns out to be less than the stellar bargain you envisaged.
You may want to pay attention to the site's security measures. Look for a padlock display in your toolbar to tell whether the seller is using secure server technology to protect your credit card information before you enter it. It also helps if the seller displays endorsements from security rating providers at the bottom of the page. While security measures do not guarantee your private information won?t be hijacked in transmission, they do offer some measure of protection. Of course there is no protection if you are lured by a phishing site that mimics the intended online seller and trick you into making a ?purchase? on a site that is almost a carbon copy of the legitimate sellers?.

Privacy issues

Some web merchants will sell your information to affiliate companies so you may want to read their privacy policy before you hit the send button. Most reputable online shopping sites tell you up front that they will not disclose your information to a third party. Others make you wade through their site to find their privacy policy. If you are uncomfortable with what you read, move on as there is all likelihood that the product you want can be had elsewhere.
Once you have decided that the coast is clear, go ahead and hit the submit button (remember to click only once) and by all means, print a copy of the order you just made. I have found it useful to download rebate forms at the same time and I usually start filling these out as I log off the online shopping site.

Paying by credit card

Some protection is offered from deceptive sellers if you pay by credit card as you are usually only held liable for the first $50 of your purchase. Your credit card company will investigate any complaint you may have with respect to charges or deceptive representation of goods you bought. I prefer to use an online payment site as a proxy for my purchases from new sellers. I am fairly confident in the measure of protection they offer and I haven?t been disappointed yet. With that being said, it's a prudent move to check your monthly credit card statement carefully, to ensure you aren?t being slammed with some questionable charges.

Registering with a seller

Most online stores require you to register before you make a purchase. If you don?t want to be nagged by emailed offers later on, look for the opt-out box that most sellers provide. I have found it useful to use an email address that I call my junk box and that is usually loaded up with nonsense offers from online sellers of all types.
Whether you are likely to return to the site or not, make sure you use a reasonably secure password made up of both numbers and letters. And try to avoid using easily remembered numbers like your social security number or drivers license.
You never want to assume anything when shopping online. Make sure you take as many safety precautions as possible. If you find yourself in a predicament, call the Federal Trade Commission or visit their website and fill out a complaint form. As in the brick and mortar world, it pays the buyer to beware.

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5 Ways To Cut Costs Around The Home

The world is in an economic crunch and more people than ever are looking for ways to save money. Every penny matters and yet many people do not realize that within their own home there are probably a number of things they can do today to save money. Cutting costs does not mean giving up on the things you love, want, and need. It is important to look at the way you are living and then find ways to significantly reduce your investment. Chances are good some of these items below can be done right now and add money to your pockets.

#1: Appliance Management

One of the biggest draws of money within the home is the use of appliances. Do you hear the television in the background? Do you have fans running or perhaps even have the toaster plugged in? Most people realize the importance of turning off lights in the home, but what about unplugging. You may not realize it but when appliances and other devices are left plugged into an electrical socket, they draw electricity. Therefore, by not only turning them off, but also unplugging them, you will be saving money.

How much can you save from just managing your appliances better? You could decrease your electric bill by as much as 25 percent in some instances. Big culprits are televisions, computers, and larger counter top appliances.

#2: Adjust The Temperature

Another big way to save money is to adjust the thermostat in your home. Did you know that you could reduce your heating and cool bills by as much as 20 percent by simply decreasing your heating temperature by two notches and by increasing your air conditioning temperature by two points? Do you feel the difference between 66 degrees and 68 in the summer, sometimes, but not by much. In the winter, what would the different between 64 degrees and 66? It may mean wearing an extra layer of clothing, but for a savings of 20 percent, it may be worthwhile.

#3: Know The Grocery Bill

While other expenses like your mortgage and utilities may be difficult to reduce, you may find it far easier to reduce your grocery bill. Perhaps you think that you are already doing so? Here are a few ways to reduce this large cost.

* Shop the outside aisles of the grocery store instead of the center. You get more healthy foods and less prepackaged products that cost far more.

* Consider store brands. The quality of store brands has risen in recent years. You may not notice the taste difference but you will notice the difference in the lower bill.

* Do shop the sales, but that is it. When something is on sale, this loss leader is a good bet. Stock up. But, avoid impulse buying during these trips. It could cost you. Moreover, use coupons on top of sale prices to pay half the price or less for the item.

#4: Bundle Services

Sometimes you can save a good deal of money by simply bundling your services. For example, your local cable provider may be running a special that allows you to get your Internet, cable service, and phone service for a fraction of the cost you are currently paying. Find out what special offers are available. Also, talk to your insurance agent and ask for discounts. By having multiple products through one provider, you may save considerably.

#5: Track Spending

Regardless of if the purchase is for the home or if it is for personal use, you should track what you are spending. While most people hate this word "budget" it is one of the best ways to know where your money is going and to help to reduce costs.

Go ahead and try out some of these methods. Chances are good you do not realize just how much money is going out the window in these areas.

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