Super Saver - Tips for the New Year

(WZZM) - New Year after New Year, there are many lists that come out suggesting new ways to save money and not get scammed.  We took the best of the best and came up with our top tips when it comes to the topic with the help of some experts.

Identity Theft

According to the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan, now is the time to fight identity theft.  You've probably heard it before, but scammers are getting smarter and smarter, so you need to be extra cautious. 

• Always shred paper with sensitive material, that inculdes anything associated with your bank accounts, bills and credit cards. 
• If you have a smart phone or tablet, chances are you no longer use public computers, but you still need to be extremely careful.  Wi-Fi hotspots often aren't secure and any information you access including passwords, can easily be read by strangers.  To prevent it, you should only log on or send personal information to websites that you know are fully encrypted.  Encryption scrambles the information you send over the internet into a code so it's not accessible to others.  If it's not fully encrypted, wait until you get home to access that important site. 
• The BBB also suggests you be on the lookout for job offers to "make easy money".  According to the BBB, that's a sign it's not legit.

Debit Cards

Bankrate.com has come up with its "riskiest places to swipe your debit card". 

• Our first of three risky locations is at the gas station pump.  Debit card numbers can be easily skimmed here, that's when a thief reads your cards magnetic strip off of a public location. 
• The second "risky" place is online anywhere.  When you use your debit card online, it is succeptible at several different points throughout the process and after the purchase.  
• The third "risky" place to swipe you debit card according to Bankrate is at a restaurant or anywhere where an employee takes the card out of your sight and could easily write down the information to use a later time.

Gym Memberships

One final tip, this comes from yours truly and several "experts" every year.  Don't sign up for a gym membership unless you're actually going to use it. 

Sure, right now in January there isn't much to do, so it seems like you have time to work out and you probably do.  But what happens in March or April, when the weather starts to warm up when you can get outside?  Will you still get your money's worth? 

Here's to a happy and financially healthy New Year!