As we enter into a new year, here are three pieces of advice I recommend.
Change your passwords.
No one enjoys working with passwords, but they’re necessary for keeping your accounts secure — at least until something better comes along.
You likely already make sure that your passwords are strong and difficult-to-crack. You might even go the extra step, and never use the same password for more than one account at once.
But there’s another issue to consider: Should you change your passwords on a recurring basis? And if so, how often?
Conventional wisdom holds that you should change your passwords every few months. For years, this was the advice given by security experts, and it’s still easy to find this advice online.
Search for recurring payments
What Are Recurring Credit Card Charges?
Normally when you use your credit card to make a purchase, it’s a one-time deal. You swipe or dip your card at the checkout, or enter your details when shopping online, and that’s it. A one-time charge shows up for the purchase on your next card statement. You choose to pay it in full or pay it off over time.
Recurring credit card charges, on the other hand, are charges that come back again and again. They can be larger charges, but most often, they’re smaller costs that you don’t necessarily notice unless you’re carefully going over your statements each month.
Gray charges are a type of recurring charge that’s associated with hidden fees, automatic renewals or increasing service fees for things you regularly pay for. The “gray” comes from the under-the-radar nature of these costs; they can sometimes be the result of sneaky or even fraudulent tactics used by the company that’s charging you. In other words, it may be less apparent to you that you’re paying for them.
Negotiate a better cell phone plan
Call Your Current Carrier
After you’ve checked the status of your current cell phone plan/device repayments and done ample research on what’s available, it’s time to call and negotiate. Have your list of requests in front of you, and prepare what you are going to say. Let them know how you’re feeling and what you’re looking for in a new cell phone plan. Remember that the worst that can happen is for the carrier to say no.
Don’t be Afraid to Walk Away
If the carrier isn’t willing to negotiate, or what they are willing to compromise on isn’t worth it to you, it’s o.k. to walk away. Walking away from the company and going to another carrier gives you power to negotiate again. When one cell phone carrier door closes, another one opens.
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