HOW TO: PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY & MINIMIZE PAPER MESS

If your like so many other different people, your world is paper controlled; with magazines, advertisements, bills, credit card offers, statements, yeah yeah you get the point! Not only can all of this paper be a huge stress but it can also be a big risk. With paper comes the good ol' paper trace.

"Identity Theft is a crime in which an impostor obtains key pieces of personal identifying information (PII) such as Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers and uses them for their own personal gain. This is called ID Theft. It can start with lost or stolen wallets, pilfered mail, a data breach, computer virus, phishing, a scam, or paper documents thrown out by you or a business (dumpster diving). This crime varies widely, and can include check fraud, credit card fraud, financial identity theft, criminal identity theft, governmental identity theft, and identity fraud." - idtheftcenter.org

The tragic result of identity theft and/or fraud on a victim can range from a loss of ability to obtain credit to extremes of losing a job, home, vehicle, business, and personal relationships such as a marriage. So take the necessary steps to help protect yourself, your family, and your belongings.

STEP ONE:
Purchase a document shredder & most importantly use it. Shred:

Address labels from junk mail and magazines

ATM receipts

Bank statements

Birth certificate copies

Canceled and voided checks

Credit and charge card bills, carbon copies, summaries and receipts

Credit reports and histories

Documents containing maiden name (used by credit card companies for security reasons)

Documents containing names, addresses, phone numbers or e-mail addresses

Documents relating to investments

Documents containing passwords or PIN numbers

Driver's licenses or items with a driver's license number

Employee pay stubs

Employment records

Expired passports and visas

Identification cards (college IDs, state IDs, employee ID badges, military IDs)

Legal documents

Investment, stock and property transactions

Items with a signature (leases, contracts, letters)

Luggage tags

Medical and dental records

Papers with a Social Security number

Pre-approved credit card applications

Receipts with checking account numbers

Report cards

Resumés or curriculum vitae

Tax forms

Transcripts

Travel itineraries

Used airline tickets

Utility bills (telephone, gas, electric, water, cable TV, Internet)

STEP TWO:
Contact the entities who are responsible for sending this crap to your house.

• Direct Marketing Association
  Mail Preference Service
  PO Box 643
  Carmel, NY 10512-0643
  http://www.dmachoice.org/
• Three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion can all be reached at the same toll-free phone number at 1-888-567-8688
• Publishers Clearinghouse: toll-free @ 1-800-645-9242
• Val-pak coupons: call toll-free @ 1-800-237-6266
• National Demographics and Lifestyles
  List Order Department
  1621 18th Street Suite 300
  Denver, CO 80202
• Got junk faxes? There should be an opt-out phone number on the bottom of the faxes, if not, or it doesn't seem to be working you can file a complain with the Federal Communications Commission at www.support or by e-mail at fccinfo@fcc.gov another way to get a  hold of these guys is to do it the old fashion way by writing or calling:
  
  Federal Communications Commission
  Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
  Consumer Inquires and Complaints Division
  445 12th Street SW
  Washington, DC 20554
  1-888-225-5322.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

If you need a little more back up in the department try Stop Junk Mail Association at http://www.stopjunkmail.org/ you can download the Stop Junk Mail Kit, it is accompanied with differnet forms you can use when corresponding with companies.

STEP THREE:
Once you have completed step on and two, deal with the stacks you have going on in your house right now. Sort your paper mess into five catagories:

• Respond to (this can be unpaid bills and/or notices, things you need to read, ect.)
• File (things you need to keep for long periods of time)
• Pass on (things that do not belong to you and need to be passed on the the rightful owner)
• Shred (see "what to shred" above)
• Recycle (newspapers, advertisements with no personal addresses or information, ect.)

STEP FOUR:
File the things in the file pile, some ideas on catagories are:

• Auto
• Bank History
• Birth, Death, & Marriage Records (also any other important records might go here)
• Budget
• Charitable Donation Records
• Home Records
• Income Tax Records
• Insurance (all types of insurance records go here, also keep in mind you might want to keep a record of inventory along with supporting photos, videos and reciepts)
• Investments (such as savings, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, pension, ect.)
• Medical Records
• Legal
• Pet Information (including medical records and registration)
• School (transripts, registration, report cards, ect.)
• Social Security

  

  I love this green filing cabinet!
  

  If you have any questions or comments you can comment below or send me an e-mail at HannahKozlowski@yahoo.com .

HOW TO HAVE A FANTASTIC HOLIDAY!

We all know what to expect come the month of December. Start with a HUGE to-do list, a shopping list, a wish list, add on multiple family functions, a heap of procrastination, and extremely high expectations. It’s no wonder that by the time we hit Christmas, we’re not feeling like it’s the happiest time of the year. I suspect this is also the reason why my husband calls me a Grinch. This year, I am determined to make a change, and I want to help you make that change also!

“People at Christmas time, spend to much, enjoy too little, and pay for it for the next 6 months. The holidays aren’t about getting and having. There about doing and being.”

Holidays have a sneaky way of just happing to you. You may even have a count down going, but somehow holidays take on an unruly mind of their own and just show up unannounced. Which is why a lot of people feel like they did not have a chance to prepare. However, with the correct planning, anticipation, and hard work, you can conquer this dreaded season with ease.

VISUALIZE IT:If you start with clear intentions, your much more likely to achieve your goals. As you lay in bed tonight, close your eyes, and imagine what you want your holiday festivities to include. Retrace these things that you imagine, and when you feel like you have a list going in your mind, grab a journal and jot these things down.

PREPARE:The holidays are like a ship, and you are the captain. You need to have your crew established, the map to wear you are headed, all of the goods and supplies you are going to need on your journey, and most importantly your patience and your agility to combat the rough water ahead.

PRIORITIZE:Decide what holiday traditions are the most important to you. Is it caroling with your family and friends, or decorating the outside of your house with lights? Is it a Christmas party, or maybe a New Years party? Decide on three or four. If you try to accomplish every one of the traditions, you will end up overwhelmed and probably not giving each item the attention it deserves. Once you decide on the things you want to do, build a timeline to decide what needs to be done first, then start a to do list, start to finish. When you hit your to do list, HIT IT HARD! The more adamant you are, the faster things will get knocked off the list, the tasks will be completed better, and people will ultimately see your hard work, dedication and heart.

THINGS YOU MIGHT NEED:*Make a binder that includes a list of things you need along your journey this season, decide if you are going to delegate any tasks to others, and make sure you choose an ultimate goal, based on what means the most to you and your family and focus on that goal. Items within this binder may include, Gifts, Food, Décor, Cards, Songs, Budget, Menus, Wish lists, and any other category that you would find helpful. Purchase all wrapping paper, tags, tape, boxes, postage stamps, ingredients for recipes you plan to cook, Christmas lights, ornaments, hooks, Christmas cards, a good holiday jingle CD or two, and definitely some eggnog!

DELEGATING:Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to knock every task on your list by yourself. You have family who can help, and most importantly you can HIRE SOMEONE! Take your list to your inner circle and ask who would like to do what chore. With the remaining list decide what you would like to do, and lastly what you can outsource! Carpet cleanings and catering are just a couple of the great things you can hire someone to do. If you have little people in your household that you need to shop for, hire a babysitter for the day, utilize the time by starting and finishing all your shopping for them. I understand anyone who is in charge of the holiday madness wants to conquer everything on their list solo without any outside help. They want it done their way, and the bragging rights! However, the wonderful thing about delegating is that you get to choose what is most important to you, and you get to pick those things, and let other people take care of the minor details.

ORGANIZATION:Keep your binder you constructed. This will become your go to all year long for different special events. Make a section for notes, you can remind yourself of things you learned this season. When events are wrapping up, decide what is garbage and what is reusable. And by “reusable” I mean the rest of the roll of wrapping paper you did not use, or the roll of tape you didn’t get though, extra gift tags, decor and ornaments. If you don’t have a large Rubbermaid tub, get one. Label it. Store it in the garage, and organize and label the things you are keeping inside. Trust me, this will make December 2011 much simpler.

QUICK TIPS:Untangle lights before storing and wrap them around a piece of cardboard.
* Buy all-purpose wrapping paper, as it can be used all year for other special occasions. Consider gold, red & silver. I also enjoy the cute lime green color for Christmas, and every other gift giving time!
*Make sure you stay realistic about things, as far as your schedule, your skills, and your wish list. Don’t expect the world of your family, your spouse, or others around you.
* USPS will send you a set of flat rate boxes for free. Check out: USPS.COM

* If you travel, send your gifts ahead of time to arrive before you, also when returning home send your gifts back. Usually this is cheaper, and obviously a lot less hectic.
* Pay attention to presentation. This will make a huge difference in the things you accomplish.

Cheers to a happy and absolutely fantastic Christmas, Hanukkah or Ramadan! Remind yourself who the most important people are in your life, and commit to making them happy first and foremost, and do not forget that you are the most important person on your list.

IF YOU HAVE A HOLIDAY DILEMMA FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME @ HANNAHKOZLOWSKI@YAHOO.COM OR WRITE A COMMENT EXPLAINING WHAT IS GOING ON!

PROJECT: Rachel Prihoda & Nick Flink

My client Rachel Prihoda had a closet disaster & needed help! Rachel doesn't have a lot of time on her hands, as she is employed full time, is also a college student, and still maintains a social life. She was using her closet as more of a storage space than a secure place for her wardrobe. She was on an extremely small budget & wanted the organization done in a matter of hours. She also wanted something that was easy for her & also for her boyfriend to maintain.

The first thing Rachel & I started to do was go though her things & decide what she needed to PUT AWAY, KEEP, PASS ON, FIX, or TOSS.

PUT AWAY things are all the random things that do not belong where you found them. (I.E the vacuum cleaner and the fan in the bedroom closet) Also in this category is other people's clothing or belongings that you may have borrowed or used and they need to be returned to the owner.

KEEP* is all the stuff you want, need, & most importantly things you are going to use.

PASS ON is stuff that will go to charity, like a goodwill store or a St. Vincent De Paul. Pretty much anything that is too good to toss, but you don't need it anymore.

FIX is only for clothing items that are worth the repair. Think, 8 dollars at your dry cleaners. If it has been broke for a year already and you've made do with out, toss it.

TOSS is just that, a toss bin, and it should exit the house immediately after the purge, as you might start "second guessing the garbage!"

Before:

After:
*KEEP as can be expected you run into items that you can't decide if you want to keep or pass on. "It's so cute though, I love pink, I just don't where pink because it's not a good color on me, but maybe I'll start wearing it?" Does this sound familiar? Here's how to conquer that problem, in the picture above you will see there are orange tags on Rachel's hangers. These orange tags were for those items that she was unsure about. As you wear the items you can take off the tag and throw it away, and after 2-6 months (depending on how many you have) the remaining tagged clothing is donated to charity. VOILA!

Before:

After:
As you will see in these pictures, Rachel has a fan and a vacuum cleaner stored in her closet, and an assortment of random things that also do not belong on the bottom of her closet. These items got an immediate and permanent home else where.Rachel was not the only one contributing to this disorganizing. Her boyfriend Nick also helping in the demise of this marvelous walk in closet that so many would envy. ( Including me!) Nick's side was going to be a little trickier though, due to the fact that he was not too thrilled about the idea of this. He also was insistent that we could not throw out, or give anything away. He had overwhelming dresser drawers and a lot of empty space on the top bar of his side of the closet. First, we hung up all of his shirts. Color coordinating as we did on Rachel's side. ( This makes it look more organized, not to mention, you can also find what your looking for more easily.) We also had to tackle the common area shelving, which had been taken over by the both of them.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

I have to give great thanks to Rachel Prihoda & Nick Flink for letting me into thier home! It was a pleasure. =)