Notify All Accounts of Fraud

If you are a victim of identity theft, make sure to contact all retail outlets that have issued you a credit card to report the fraud, in addition to your other credit card accounts. You want to talk to each store's security and/or fraud department and explain your situation. Many department stores have a fraud department for a reason. Use them and save needless headaches.

If you liked this you may also like:

• Give Your Kids Some Financial Responsibility

  If you want your kids to learn how to be financially responsible adults, you have to let them handle money from an early age. If you give them an allowance, encourage them to save a portion, but they should have a certain percentage to do with as they wish. They will learn a good lesson if they blow all their money on something frivolous and don't have money left for something they really want.

• Flexible Spending Accounts

  Most large companies offer Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). These plans allow employees to set aside pretax dollars to pay for a variety of unreimbursed medical expenses. If you know that you will be spending $1000 on medication throughout the year, you can set aside that much in your FSA. Just be sure to use all of the money in the account by the end of the year, or otherwise you lose what's left.

• Last Minute Travel Deals

  When planning a trip, the more flexible you are with your travel plans the more money you can save. Airlines and travel sites often offer special deals and incentives for last-minute travelers or for travelers with flexible travel dates. Visit site59.com or cheapfares.com to check out the best rates available on several airlines, or sign up for e-mail alerts from your favorite airlines or travel sites.

• Matching Grants

  If you are receiving scholarship money from sources other than the school you will be attending, check to see if your school offers any matching funds. Some schools set aside funds to match the grants that the student receives.

• Interest Rate Reduction

  You may be eligible to receive a discount on student loan payments by adhering to timely payment arrangements. A lot of lenders offer a 0.25% rate reduction when you allow payments to be automatically debited from a checking or savings account. Check with your lender to see if they offer this option.