The Truth About Identity Theft: 6 Tactics To Keep You Safe

The problem of identity theft is growing worse every year. Criminals with the smallest amount of personal information can now steal an identity and cause damage that could take years to repair. Criminals are also finding new and inventive ways to steal identities. Six tactics will help to protect anyone from identity theft.

Manage Passwords and PINs Carefully

All passwords and personal identification numbers (PINs) for credit cards should be managed carefully. The passwords and PINs should not correspond to numbers or words that could be guessed by a criminal. Passwords should be changed every 30 to 60 days to something completely different. You should also not keep all your passwords and pins the same across the board. This can be just be inviting a thief to access more information then they originally could have.

Shred Documents or Go Paperless

Picking bank statements and other papers out of the trash is still an effective way to steal an identity. It is important to shred all documents that contain personal information or account numbers. It could help to sign up for paperless billing with banks and utilities to eliminate printed documents from the trash completely.

If you choose the route of going paperless, the only other idea you have to worry about is keeping your passwords safe. Considering that you should have a different password for each and every account, sometimes it is good to have these passwords written down somewhere in case of an emergency. But you want to be careful with where you store these passwords and make sure they are out of sight and reach of anyone looking.

Store Wisely

For documents that cannot be shredded, think of a secure location for them. There are safety deposit boxes at every bank or you could invest in a fire safe to keep in your home. The point is, you want to make these documents unreachable to anyone outside of your family.

Check Accounts and Credit Reports Regularly

All accounts should be checked regularly for any usual activity or changes in information. This should include bank accounts, credit card statements and accounts with utilities or other companies. They should be checked to ensure the address and other data is correct. They should be checked for unauthorized activities. This is especially important when looking at a credit report.

Protect Incoming and Outgoing Mail

Identity thieves can steal mail directly from a mailbox. It is important to use a locking mailbox or to have a mail slot that leads into the home. Outgoing mail should be put in a secure mailbox and never left in an unprotected location for pickup.

Never Respond To Unsolicited Requests for Information

Unsolicited requests for information should be ignored. This includes emails and mailed letters. If the request seems legitimate and is from a known source, then it is best to find the official number of the institution and contact them directly to see if the request is valid. Be especially leery of websites that ask for personal information. The only thing you should be giving out to a site should be an email address. Never give any numbers of your social security number out over the internet. This is an easy way for criminals to get their hands on your information.

Scan For Spyware and Malware

Spyware and malware can extract personal information from a computer and record keystrokes. Computers should be scanned for spyware and malware once every week or month depending on usage. Installing active antivirus software will help as well.

Part of avoiding identity theft is quickly recognizing anomalies and staying out of uncertain situations. It is important to scrutinize everything before providing personal information over the phone or online. Personal information needs to be protected at all times as if identity thieves were waiting around every corner.

Six Items Or Services You Didn't Realize Are Draining Your Wallet

One of the best ways to get control of your finances is to focus on products and services that are not needed or you are simply spending too much money on. Once you become aware of your spending habits, you will most likely recognize issues specific to your own finances. The following are only six ideas, and some of them may apply to you.

Impulse items at the supermarket

Most of us waste money at the supermarket. Often it is due to not knowing specifically what you are going to buy, and you impulsively purchase something you could do without. The way around this is to make sure you have a list before you go to the store. 

Too much fast food

Getting into the habit of buying fast food is costly. Although it may seem cheap to buy fast food, making your meals at home and even making a lunch for work is lower in cost. It is healthier when you choose your food carefully, and quick meals can be made at home as well. 

Bottled water

It is difficult to convince people, but tap water can just as healthy as bottled water. While bottled water may be more convenient in some situations, using that as your only source of water can be very costly. Not only is it a drain on the wallet, but those plastic bottles are polluting the planet. Find yourself a good sports bottle that can be reused. If you prefer bottled water, consider getting a large, refillable cooler instead of buying cases of water bottles. 

Use your dealer for car repairs

Car dealers have certified mechanics, so they have the specific skills and parts needed to fix your car. They use the genuine replacement parts and honor all manufacturer warranties. Having the job done right the first time is a big money saver. Click here for more information about how you can save money in car repairs buy going to a dealer. 

Banking fees

The number of banking fees that a typical person experiences is high. Even when they are low, by the end of the year, they can add up to a larger amount than expected. The best way to reduce this drain on your wallet is to open an account with a credit union. The fees are lower, and in some cases, they will waive some of those fees. When the time comes to get a loan, you will find out that they have lower interest rates than banks. 

Insurance

Consumers often pay too much for their insurance policies. This is especially true with car and home insurance. One reason you may have too much insurance is that there are specific types of coverage that are not needed, or the value of the policy is greater than the asset. One of the biggest issues with paying too much money is not getting quotes. People get into the habit of paying for insurance with the same company year after year, not realizing there may be a much better deal with someone else.

These ideas are only a few possibilities. You need to take a look at your own expenses and search for possible money burdens on your wallet. Making simple changes to your spending habits can make a big difference in the amount of money you can save.

Retirement Questions: Four Things You Need to Know About Annuities

retirement (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

There are so many questions most of us have about retirement, and often, we just push them to the backs of our minds and wish we didn't have to answer them. However, it's important to get prepared as soon as possible. Many looking to prepare for retirement don't know much about annuities, or even know that they exist. This is an important option that should be looked into. Annuities are forms of investments that provide investors monthly payments during retirement. It is important to learn about annuities before purchasing an investment contract. Find out as much as you can about this type of investment. You can learn more by asking the right questions from annuity providers to avoid making bad decisions.

1. Are there fees involved with Annuities?

While annuities are designed to provide investors with ways of creating regular payment during their retirement years, investors have to pay certain amounts of money to purchase annuity contracts. The fees charged for this type of investment vary and are determined by the insurance companies. Investors may have to pay different types of fees including mortality and administrative fees among others. When investing in annuities, research the fees and charges of different annuity providers to make an informed decision.

2. What type of investment is this?

Different types of annuity contracts are available for purchase including fixed, variable, and equity-indexed annuities among others. Fixed annuities offer fixed interest rates on retirement and fixed payment during retirement. Variable annuities offer investors greater control of their investment options. The returns of variable annuities are tied to investment returns of the annuities. Finally, equity indexed annuities are tied to financial indices.

3. How do Annuities affect Investors’ Financial Rating?

Many people view annuities as guaranteed investments. While this is true, the investment is guaranteed by insurance firms themselves. This means that investors have to choose insurance companies with good financial ratings.

Various tools can help investors compare insurance companies. Examples of such tools include financial ratings provided by reputable financial rating entities. These entities provide data on how companies are performing financially and whether investors should be worried about their retirement investments.

4. What Happens to your Money when you die?

Some annuities come with death benefits while others do not provide any form of death benefit for beneficiaries of deceased investors. People should find out if their annuity contracts obligate their insurance companies to pay their beneficiaries for a certain amount of time after they die.

Some annuity investments provide lump sum payments to beneficiaries upon the death of an investor. If an investor’s annuity contract does not have this provision, the insurance company will keep all the money paid in the investment if the investor died before using the money. This can have a significant impact on the financial status of the beneficiaries. Annuities become very important as you prepare to enter retirement. If you set up a fixed annuity now, you would be able to receive the benefits during your retirement period. Fixed annuities offer stability, guaranteed interest, and a set amount of money each year that those who get them can rely upon. It can be difficult to know what exactly is the best place to start with planning for retirement, and even then, it's tough to know what choices to make. Educating yourself more thoroughly on your options is a great place to start, and you should certainly look for answers to all your questions regarding annuities and retirement. Once you're satisfied you at least have an idea what your ultimate goals are, you should likely talk with a professional that can help you sort out how best to treat your personal finances now to be as well off during your retirement as possible. 

Information credit to PNW Annuities Services Seattle.

Six DIY Projects You Can Do At Home To Save You Money

In this age of rising costs, people are looking for ways to save money. There are certain services you may have paid for in the past, but you can save more by doing them at home yourself. Before you pay for another service, ask yourself if it’s something you can handle doing at home to save money and boost your financial position.

New Window Treatments

You don’t have to be a whiz on the sewing machine to make new curtains. You can actually buy fabric that you love and use nothing more than an iron and special no-sew ironing tape to create a hem. Next, attach wide ribbons to the top using the same iron-on adhesive. Make it a little more secure by sewing decorative buttons at the base of each tab, and you’ll be rewarded with sharp window treatments that cost a fraction of the money.

Weed Control

Rather than paying the professionals high fees to spray your yard with pesticides, do this yourself. There are attachments that you can hook to your own garden hose to spray herbicides on the lawn. You can also buy the spray bottles and just spot treat weeds as they rear their ugly heads. You’ll save money and keep your yard safer for your pets and children.

Car Repairs

Some repairs are best left to the professionals, but there are others that you can handle at home. While you may not know how to fix a transmission, replacing a damaged bumper isn’t nearly as difficult. When you need to replace one of your auto parts, start by finding what you need at 99 Truck Parts, which offers new and used selections. This allows you to save even more when you do the work yourself.

Lights and Plumbing Fixtures

You want a new light or kitchen faucet, but you dread the cost of hiring a professional. The good news is that you probably don’t have to hire someone for help. New lights and faucets usually come with directions for installing them. Remember to shut down the water or power to the fixture you’re working on, and prepare to change it out yourself to save money.

Paint

If you’re looking to change the colors around your home, remind yourself that it’s just paint. You’ll want to invest in some drop cloths, quality paint brushes and remover in case of accident. Move the roller slowly across the wall for the best paint distribution and smallest mess. It will take several hours of your time, but you’ll save a small fortune in labor. This is a great way to update the look of your home without having to pay for a costly remodel. 

Recycle

There are countless ways to recycle items around your home, and most of them will help you save money. Rather than going and buying a new bathroom vanity, learn how to turn an old dresser into a fantastic and unique vanity. Instead of buying candles, learn how to make your own from the kids’ old crayons. You can even make your own compost for fertilizing by saving your kitchen scraps and yard clippings.

There are plenty of DIY project you can do at home to save money. While some are more decorative, others will help you save money while keeping your home and car in top condition. Don’t be afraid to do it yourself and reduce your expenses at the same time.

Financial Debt management -- Tips and Benefits

If you are looking forward to get rid of the debts that you have build in the past you must take some steps to actually see things happening. You must manage your debt efficiently so that you could avoid the seriously bad effects that they could have on your financial future. The debt management plan in the US helps its people who have taken loans to restructure them in order to repay their loans on time and in an effective manner. If you make a clear plan on how you should manage your finances then you will get an approximate idea of the time that you may take to complete the repayment of the loan.

You should take a firm decision for your financial condition which may include your credit card debt also.

1. EVALUATE YOUR DEBT AMOUNT:

Before going through any repayment plan of your debt , you should get an exact idea of your finances. Combine all your debts and calculate the exact amount. Then calculate the exact amount of your monthly income and make an estimation of how much you can devote to your debt management plan.

2. CHECK THE FEES OF THE COMPANY

If you want any debt assistance then you should also be aware of the charges that these help may take . Some charge you with the reasonable amount while others charge you heavily for the , so before proceeding for any assistance you must first ask about the charges the company is asking for. 

3. THE REPUTATIONOF THE COMPANY

Before moving any further with your plan you must ensure that the company is worth trusting or not . You could find out, by going through the complaints and feedback of the previous customers. This will give you a rough idea whether to trust the company or not.

4. BENEFITS OF ENROLLING IN A DEBT MANAGEMENT PLAN

When your credit card accounts are given to the collection agencies and you start living in fear of your financial limitations. The debt management plan can be your saviour, it could act like a shelter in the mid- noon. Here are some advantages of the plan

5. OFFERS EXPERT HELP AND DEBT ADVICE:

Once you consult the debt consultants they will provide you with the best help that they could and can tell you some effective money management tips. These are experienced people and it is on the basis of the same that they offer solutions to people depending on the kind of situations they are facing.

6. REDUCES INTEREST RATE AND CHARGES:

The debt negotiators are trained in such a way that they could negotiate your debt drastically with your creditors. You could see the effective results as soon as the negotiation is done. With this you would have to pay low monthly instalments and you could get rid of the debt very soon. However, do not leave everything on the debt settlement agencies. Use your knowledge, contacts and the expertise to get a hang of your financials and taken an informed decision.

7. STOPS CREDITOR CALLS:

The debt negotiators will take the calls from your creditors. the debt management will help you to pay your instalments on time and in return the debt collectors will stop bothering you every now and then you could get the peace of your mind back and soon you will be able to pay back the cash loans no credit check.

The most important step towards getting a financial resolution to your debts is to know how they are poised. If you have multiple debts, you need to have a complete understanding of how they are going to impact your monthly and the payments your are required to make.

Personal Finance Tips: Financial Freedom for you at Any Age

Financially free can sound like an idea that most single women would love to adore. An average American spends more than he earns and gets trapped into financial problems. But becoming financially independent is not a big deal. Keep reading and may be you will find a way to become financially independent. 

Steps that lead to financial freedom

Your first step should be to make a budget irrespective of your income. This will help you to know your exact position where you stand financially in terms of your debts, requirements, needs, desires, income and all. Imagine your budget to be a road and finance your destination . Without a proper road map you would not reach your destination and end up wasting time and fuel; same is the case with your finance. Why would you work so hard if you do not how to manage four financial condition and what you should do with your hard earned money. Budgeting will help you to figure out your priority.

Savings and staying away from loans

You should start saving early. If you save every month it will improve your financial condition. It gives a back up for our tough times and also help us to follow a disciplined way of spending the money. Saving money secures your future. Saving will help you trust your own funds rather than trusting on some credit card services at the time of emergencies. You should save enough for any kind of emergency that may pop up. Once you have saved enough of emergency fund, start planning your retirement funds. It is never too late or too early to plan your future. If you keep waiting for better times to come like better jobs and all then there are chances that you might never begin.

Take care of your debts

To get financially free the debt need to be calculated and moreover eradicated so that you could start saving for future you should begin by paying the smallest debt and once that debt is over than you should pay the next smallest and slowly and steadily you should pay off all the debts. If you get any kind of raise in your salary you should devote it to cover your debt instead of spending it. The little things contribute to the most when it comes to saving money. If you spend $5 extra everyday then this could sum up to $150 in one whole month. But if you save this amount then this could contribute to your savings a lot and effect them. This may be difficult especially for single women but controlling the finance is all about behavior if you change some of your habits then this could result in a large and positive impact on your savings and finances.

Taking to some of the simple steps can give you results which you might have never expected. When you are young and have just begun earning, there are two paths in front of you. Either you start spending into acquiring all the luxuries of life or you start on calculated spending, and go on a planned savings wherein you always divert a portion of your income towards investments. 

The latter is a difficult path and one needs to take a long term approach towards the same. One can actually get very good returns on the investments they make over a longer time period. Looking at this one can really enjoy the efforts they have put in into building their lives and finances and over a period of time they can always become financially free. For more information you can visit our website.

Quick Comparison of Chapter 7 vs 13 Bankruptcy Filings

Bankruptcy is steeped in myths and prejudices. If you are like most people, the first step towards repairing your finances is to overcome the feelings of shame, guilt, inadequacy and fear of what you don’t understand. Bankruptcy is designed to offer reasonable relief for honest debtors who are facing extreme financial hardship. If you don’t have any way of fulfilling your financial obligations, you should definitely consider a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. 

Advantages of Bankruptcy

As soon as you file a bankruptcy claim, a shield known as the automatic stay will keep creditors from contacting you and from proceeding with their legal filings. Any creditor that disobeys the automatic stay will face heavy fines and may even be forced to pay your attorney fees. However, creditors do have the right to ask the judge for permission to proceed with collection processes which may include foreclosure or repossession. Here are the biggest advantages of filing bankruptcy:

• Almost all lawsuits filed against you will be stopped
• Your wages can’t be garnished
• Evictions, foreclosures and repossessions will be averted
• IRS seizures will halt
• Most debts including credit cards, utility bills, phone bills, medical bills, most loans and judgments will be discharged

Top Bankruptcy Alternative

Bankruptcy should never be your first choice. You should resort to it only if you have exhausted all other possible solutions:

• Sell some assets to help pay debt
• Try negotiating with creditors to lower payments
• Restructure your mortgage
• Withdraw or borrow against pensions or retirement accounts
• Ask family and friends for help

Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13

Whether you file chapter 7 or 13 will depend on your situation. Chapter 7 liquidation allows you to eliminate almost all your debt, but you may be required to forfeit many of your assets including your home and valuable collectibles. These assets will be divided amongst your creditors. Anything you acquire after the bankruptcy cannot be touched. However, income tax refunds, divorce settlements, inheritances, and life insurance money may be applied to your debts for a certain period.

Chapter 13 restructuring gives you three to five years to pay all or a portion of your debts but makes most of your assets untouchable. This is for people who have a regular income but just got overwhelmed with debt. Your repayment plan must be approved by the court and it must pass two tests:

• The best-interest test: Creditors must get at least the same amount of money they would have received if you filed a chapter 7.
• The best-efforts test: Requires that you pay all your disposable income, minus reasonable expenses, to creditors.

Choosing a Bankruptcy Attorney

You should definitely hire an attorney to assist you through this difficult and complicated legal process. Though there are many generalized lawyers out there, a specialized legal team like Lynch & Belch P.C. and others in that market will thoroughly understand bankruptcy law, help you with all paperwork, secure maximum relief for you, and will have excellent customer service.

You should never let debt take over your life. If everything else fails, bankruptcy is a viable option that has many benefits that will help you get back on your feet.

50 Plus Travelers Going on Vacation: Planning Ahead for Cash Purchases

Traveling can be stressful. There are a lot of plans that have to be made, reservations, itineraries, not to mention saving up and setting a budget. If you’re going outside the country all those things can get even more complex, and at the same time you have to add on concerns about passports and customs and so forth. Whether it’s a family vacation or a business visit, anything you can do to simplify your life when that trip comes up is a good idea. One of the things that make the biggest difference is planning ahead for your money. Here are a few ways to be prepared when it comes to your wallet.

Make exchanges before you go whenever possible

Foreign exchange is tricky. Every market plays a role in how much one currency is worth as compared to another. Those rates are constantly changing, and it can be pretty difficult to keep track and make sure you’re making smart moves even without the added stress of traveling. If possible, you should plan ahead and exchange some currency before it’s time to leave. In most cases you’ll be able to use your credit card, at least at an ATM, or find someplace with decent rates for currency exchange. Some places, especially if they’re popular tourist areas, may just accept your US dollars. But why bother with the hassle if a little planning ahead can save you?

This plan gets a lot more complicated if your trip is taking you through multiple countries who don’t share a common currency. You don’t want to be carrying too much cash around, even if it is from a variety of countries. While you may want to plan on exchanging most of your cash as you go, it’s still a good idea to have a little of each, just in case you find yourself in a tight spot somewhere, say you can’t find an ATM that will accept your card.

With that being said though, try to budget as close as possible. If you have a lot of cash left over after your trip, you’re going to pay to exchange it back into US dollars. Pull out as close to what you will need as possible, and if you are going on another trip any time soon, save the extra instead of exchanging back and forth.

Learn to recognize the currency you’ll be using

Another advantage of exchanging some cash beforehand is that you can get to know it. When you’re already in an unfamiliar place, likely with an unfamiliar language, adding to that trying to count unfamiliar money is just a nightmare. Most of us completely take for granted how well we know our currency. We can tell how much a bill or a coin is worth with a quick glance. You could probably tell me a value just by seeing the president.

If you don’t have a feel for the currency, you run a few risks. First, you might just be embarrassed taking so long to count it out. Second, it makes it a lot easier for someone with less than honest leanings to take advantage of you. Third, you don’t want to accept counterfeit bills, and tourists are the perfect target for that type of scheme.

Try to get a feel for how much things cost

While you’re busy keeping track of how much your cash represents, there’s another easy way for you to be scammed. You have a pretty good idea how much something is worth in US Dollars. You wouldn’t pay $20 for an ice cream cone, even in Disneyland. That is a real risk if you don’t have some intuition about the currency you’re working with though. You’ll be so busy making sure you counted right, you may not notice that you were charged a fortune. At the same time, don’t let them charge you in US Dollars either. In that case, they can use any exchange rate they want. Even if it seems reasonable, it may be anything but.

As of this writing, $1 US is equal to:

• 101.55 Yen
• 13.16 Mexican Pesos
• 0.72 Euro
• 0.60 British Pounds

Keep in mind these numbers fluctuate constantly, so look up the current exchange rate before your trip. Getting an idea of what to expect can keep you safer, and likely save you quite a bit.

What You May Have At Home That Could Bring In More Money

Some homeowners don’t realize that they may have hidden treasures in their home. These valuable items might be in plain sight, overlooked or stashed away and forgotten. In today’s economy, every little bit of income is a welcome relief. To find the value of anything worth investigation, the Internet or library are popular sources. Whether the items are antiques or contemporary, just about anything collectible has a website that describes the item, dates it and appraises value to it. It only takes a little research to discover the value of anything that catches your eye and might provide extra income. If you have seldom or never gone through articles in your basement or attic, the time to start is now since these are likely troves for unexpected treasure.

Paper and Print Products

The sky is the limit when considering old paper and print products. We’re talking about old books, comic books, baseball or football cards, stamp collections, old programs, advertizing or movie posters and other paper items that denote age, groundbreaking events or cultural significance. First addition rare books and comic books in good condition are very desirable to collectors, and age is certainly a consideration. Books over 100 years old that are rare and not first editions can fetch money as well as author-signed copies from famous authors. Comic books from the 40s to the 70s are valued by the collector for either rarity or subject matter—Spiderman, Batman and Superman, to name a few. An old stamp collection can bring in a tidy sum if it is an old and forgotten collection that might have increased in value over the years.

Movie and circus posters are valuable when found in aged and original condition regardless of the genre or subject matter. The oldest movie posters come from the silent era of films that feature some of the very first actors that became household icons. Any poster related to King Kong, Frankenstein, Karloff or Lugosi films (The Black Cat, The Mummy, Dracula) and Metropolis can fetch very high dollars. Some of the very early Ringling Brothers circus posters are very desirable and rare. Movie and circus posters have extra value because of the artists who rendered them and some names are considered very valuable.

Old baseball and football cards, the earlier the better, are sought after by serious collectors. This depends upon the athlete, their record, notoriety, or even their controversial nature such as Shoeless Joe Jackson. 

The Old Toy Box

Grandpa and Grandma’s toys may be very desirable to any collector since they may have been made during the war years or prior. These toys were made to last, usually made of metal, prior to the plastic manufacturing process. Japanese toys made of tin from the ‘60s and ‘70s have a niche all their own, and in good condition can sell to the highest bidder. Some toys that are more recent can fetch enormous sums, like the 1994 GI Joe Manimals Vortex MOC C-7, which pulled in $20,100 on eBay just recently. Toys need to be researched, with particular attention to age, manufacturer, popularity if in a series or film media and condition. Toys in their original packaging can fetch twice the price of a standalone piece.

Gold and Silver

You can never go wrong with gold and silver jewelry since these items are worth their weight in precious metals. However, if they are antique pieces such as rings, earrings, broaches, bracelets and necklaces, there can be some hefty money involved. Any semiprecious gems or stones attached to the item are an added bonus. Gold and silver items can come in different styles like art deco, baroque and Victorian. Antique pieces will typically have that older, worn look that might have a patina which shows some exposure to the elements. 

Gold is rated in karats, typically 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K. Sterling silver may have markings like .925 or .999 which denotes the amount of silver used in production. Any plated jewelry pieces do not command as much as the pure metals. It is very important to have jewelry appraised by a professional. Such sources like a Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, local jewelry shops and jewelry appraisers are qualified to determine the intrinsic and real value of domestic and foreign jewelry. 

Old Mobile Phones

One of the more contemporary sources of hidden treasures is the discarded mobile phone. It is not uncommon for a family to discard old mobile phones in exchange for new ones that debut every year or so. A family can accumulate a half dozen or more. The thing is they have value when turned into buyers who have exchange programs on the Internet. You would be surprised how much they can demand in price, simply because they are loaded with expensive circuitry and metals that are highly recyclable. Now is the time to gather them up and research their worth on the Internet. Some models will command higher prices than others. 

Searching for hidden treasures in your home is not complicated. You don’t need a road map, old house or secret panel to find potential items of value. It takes some luck, but mostly a keen eye and a little investigation to determine exactly what you have that might bring in unexpected dollars. You might be surprised at what’s been sitting under your nose all this time.

Where do the Over 50's Spend their Money?

The over 50's SWANS (Stopped Working and Now Spending) is one of the most cash rich demographics even in these times of recession and cut backs. Many of these over 50's have already purchased their houses and paid off their mortgages so the money that us younger generation are spending on rents and our own mortgages are free for their own use. 60% of over 50's receive non state pensions and more than 2/3rds of over 50's have said that the recession has made little to no change to their spending habits. So what do they spend their cash on?

Entertainment

Now that they've stopped working and have started spending their savings following their children leaving the nest, the over 50's tend to start to enjoy themselves again. Whether it be going to the theatre, out for meals and down to the pub for drinks with friends they have no work or children commitments left so they can enjoy themselves and their money.

Holidays

Many over 50's have children and grandchildren spread around the world and with them now being the cash rich demographic with time to spare on their hands it is they, rather than the other way around of olden days, that does the travelling to see family members. On top of this, with their lack of commitments and large cash reserves they tend to take two or three holidays a year, often heading to warm and exotic places that they have wanted to visit but not had the chance until now.

Gambling

What is life without a little risk? the over 50's generation are asking as they enjoy a flutter on the nags and occasionally the football matches at the weekend, with large accumulators with many selections and big payouts from small stakes favoured by the older generation. On top of this they enjoy the old favourites too such as playing live bingo at the local hall, while the more technically savvy of the over 50's who would have invested in computers or laptops to keep in touch with family on Skype and by email are tempting to play online bingo on sites like this one in an attempt to increase their cash surpluses too.

Renovations

Having lived in their own purchased and now mortgage free homes for many years, many of the over 50's are now favouring renovating their homes to give them a fresh look and a new lease of life. Whether it be internal, such as new furniture, wallpaper or coats of paint, or external including redoing the garden or the brickwork of the house, the over 50's and their cash reserves are always looking to keep their residence fresh and up to date.

Hobbies

This is a big one for the SWANS as they are no longer working they have plenty of free time to do as they wish to do so. Whether it is growing their own fruits and vegetables in their allotments or travelling around the country to following their favourite football, rugby or cricket teams the over 50's have both the time and money to do this with a comfortable ease.

Clothes, Jewellery, Scents and Gifts

The over 50's generation like to look good and, as such, with the amount of cash readily available to them they enjoy purchasing clothes and jewellery that will make them both look and feel good about themselves. To top this off they spend a large amount of money on ensuring that they smell the best too so the top of the range perfumes and men's fragrances are on their lists too. It's not all about themselves either as they enjoy selflessly purchasing gifts for friends and family on birthdays, at Christmas and even randomly too.

Kings and Pawns: Five Things You Can Buy Used and Save Money

Aside from the obvious things like houses, boats, cars and clothes, there are quite a few useful items you should always buy used to save money. When it comes down to the bottom line, there are few reasons to buy these items brand new.
Books

There are stacks upon stacks of used books sitting in thrift stores and on garage sale tables just yearning for some one to turn their pages. With the advent of e-books, hardly anyone buys real books anymore, which makes the used market even sweeter. Instead of walking out of a book store with one book, you can buy enough to keep you reading for weeks.
Sports and Exercise Gear

Why not take advantage of children outgrowing their gear quickly or well-intentioned people who hardly used that exercise equipment they purchased as a New Year's resolution? It's easy to find barely used sports and exercise equipment at a fraction of the price of new. Local ads, sports shops and yard sales are all good places to shop and save.
Jewelry

If you knew what the markup is in jewelry stores, you would never walk into one again. Classic and vintage jewelry is always in style at a mere fraction of of the cost of new. Try pawn shops for some of the best buys on used jewelry.
Kitchen Utensils and Gadgets

Don't fall for those late-night television ads offering some gadget at an outrageous price. Wait a month or two and someone who got it as a gift will be unloading it in a yard sale or donating it to a thrift store. If you don't absolutely need a matching set of everything, kitchen utensils are extremely cheap in thrift stores, and you can get better quality for much less money.
Tools

From the garden to the workshop, quality tools can be found for pennies on the dollar if you take time to look. Flea markets and estate sales are excellent places to find tools of all sorts. Power tools from pawn shops are a good bet because they have usually been tested.

Save money buying top-end used items for less than you would pay for a lesser quality brand new. Be careful of buying used items online, because you can't test them and may end up losing your money. It's safer to buy from places where you can examine the merchandise to ensure its condition, like Deerfield Pawnbrokers. Where possible, companies with a refund or return policy also protect customers.