If you have yet to make resolutions for the New Year, it’s not too late. And you’re not alone.
Forget about those hard-to-keep resolutions such as losing 10 or more pounds, learning to cook like Julia Childs or winning the lottery. Instead, focus on one resolution that’s easy to keep year-round: Be a savvy consumer.
With that in mind, your BBB offers the following 10 ways to make your resolution stick throughout all of 2012.
1. Beware of job offers to make easy money. Scammers target job hunters, so beware of offers, work-at-home schemes or business opportunities promising big money for little work and no experience.
2. Look for the BBB seal and always check businesses out before buying. Nearly 400,000 businesses meet your BBB’s Standards for Trust and bear the BBB Accreditation Seal. But, your BBB doesn’t just report on Accredited Businesses. You can review reliability reports for nearly 4 million businesses by visiting wynco.bbb.org.
3. Always read the fine print – especially for free trial offers. People complain to the BBB after signing up for free trial offers online that result in repeated charges to their credit or debit cards sometimes amounting to as much as hundreds of dollars every month. Read the terms and conditions of free trial offers before handing over credit or debit card numbers.
4. Keep your computer safe. Install anti-virus software on your computer and regularly check for software and operating system updates and patches. Don’t open attachments or click on links in emails unless you can confirm they come from trusted sources.
5. Never wire money to someone you don’t know. Many scams require you to wire money back to the scammers, who know tracking money sent via MoneyGram or Western Union is extremely difficult. Even more troubling is it’s nearly impossible to get your money back.
6. Fight identity theft. Always shred paper documents that include sensitive financial data and dispose of computers, cellphones and digital data safely. Your BBB offers tips and checklists on what to shred and hosts annual Secure Your ID events nationwide to help you stay safe.
7. Ask your BBB for help. File a complaint with your BBB if you have a disagreement with a business or have been ripped off by a scammer.
8. Create a budget and stick to it. If you’re cash-strapped, setting a budget can help you stay afloat in 2012. Your BBB has advice on how to create a budget and help you get out and stay out of debt at www.bbb.org.
9. Fight fake check fraud. Educate yourself on the common types of check fraud and be wary of checks that come with claims you’ve won the lottery, are eligible for a government grant or have landed a job as a secret shopper.
10. Get everything in writing. Don’t just take a business’ word for it. Get verbal agreements in writing to limit miscommunication and misunderstandings between your expectations and what the business delivers.
Being a savvy consumer is ultimately about using money wisely. This year, resolve to create a budget, research businesses before buying and stay away from scammers. Good luck! And happy New Year!