Are you prepared for a change in the green?

When it comes to financial safety, learning how to safely use your credit cards online can be extremely important. Here is a tip to help you do so.

First of all, look for what is called a Secure Socket Layer. Also known as SSL, the SSL protocol of a website uses a level of encryption to scramble the communication between your computer and the person you are making a payment to.

This means that anyone who tries to intercept the communication will be unable to read it because it has been translated into a type of secret code. You can check whether the website you are making a payment to is encrypted with SSL to protect your details.

First, look at the URL in the address bar at the top of your internet screen; a secure website will begin with https:// where as an unsecure site will only have http://. Each internet browser will also have its own way of telling you the site is secure too.

For example, Netscape version 4.0 and higher will show a locked padlock in the bottom left corner of the screen, while Microsoft Internet Explorer will show a lock on the status bar when SSL is active on a webpage. This is the first step to insuring privacy and protection.

No matter what time of the year, spending urges never seem to cease. Although there is a rare group that can spend and splurge on whatever they like, whenever they like… most of American’s find their spending is limited to the dollar amount of their paycheck.

However, often times, even with a clear knowledge of our limited resources we find ourselves living luxury’s we cannot afford. Thank you credit cards! The purpose of this post is to give you three basic tips on how to limit your credit-card debt.

Fun Fact: The average American household has at least ONE credit card with approximately $11,000 in credit-card debt.

1. Borrow only for those things which are MOST essential. Borrowing for college, a home, or a reasonable car is OK. Just remember, don’t ever get into so much debt that you can’t afford to pay it back.

2. DO NOT purchase with credit those things that you consume quickly. If you can’t go out to eat this month, that’s ok! If you can’t go to the movies this month, that’s ok! There’s no easier way to swamp yourself with debt than to use your credit card to purchase your day-to-day items. If eating out or going to the movies is something you love but can’t afford right now, save a little each month until you can (there’s no movie worth paying interest on for the next few months!)

3. Control your spending. Write down everything you purchase on a daily basis and at the end of the month weed out those things which are not essential. Believe me, this will put a few extra bucks in your pocket. There’s nothing worse than not knowing where or when your money has been spent (and even worse if you realize too late that somebody else has been spending it for you…).

Credit Cards have received a bad reputation over the last couple years. All of us are taught to loathe them because we have placed the blame of our economic crisis on them. Despite what we say they are, we have to take a closer look at these pieces of plastic.

Most people are so attracted to credit cards because they like the rewards and benefits offered upon application. The problems arise when these people do not act responsibly and pay off their debts every month. They then do not receive any of the advertised benefits but pay into the creditors pool of wealth.

We should turn this around and start paying off our credit debts. If we do we can ensure ourselves a taste of the benefits and start to see the good in credit cards.