Dec. 15, 1982
A column encouraging everyone to avoid the Christmas “splurge urge” asked whether people would be willing to consider taking a loan up to 24 per cent to buy things they’ll never use or see again, which is precisely what we do when buying Christmas gifts with credit cards that cannot be repaid within 30 days. Unplanned or overenthusiastic holiday shopping can push a family into serious financial trouble, especially when January’s bills arrive. Although not necessary to be Scrooge, setting a realistic limit within one’s budget for Christmas spending — and sticking to it — was recommended. Also suggested is keeping an eye out for sales throughout the year to get the best deals, as well as setting aside a monthly sum to build up some savings specifically for Christmas. Also important is to track expenses and be aware of how much as been spent, which just might dampen one’s “splurge urge."
Dec. 18, 2012
With the holiday season descending, shoppers were advised to be especially cautious of scammers, particularly with telephone soliciting and while surfing the Internet, said Sundre RCMP Const. Earl Hutchinson. Hackers are able to steal personal information online as well as over the phone from anywhere in the world, the constable said, adding a fraudster could be calling from next door or thousands of miles away. The officer advised against ever giving out personal information through text messages. “Make sure you know who you’re giving the information to, and if it’s over the Internet that your site is secure.” Additionally, people should never give out information such as credit card numbers, social insurance numbers, or passwords, he said. “Be vigilant and ensure that if people are asking some inappropriate questions as to things that you normally wouldn’t have to pass out.” A common scam was for a caller to identify as a Microsoft representative who claimed to have identified a virus or problem with a home computer and to help fix it by directing the victim to a website, which once accessed would compromise the unwitting individual’s personal information. “The big thing is for people to be aware of these types of solicitations.”
