If you plan on traveling over the Holidays, it’s important to keep a few things in the forefront of your mind. Amid the rush to pack, wrap gifts, check flights and wrangle your crew it’s easy to forget things or put yourself in danger.
Our helpful tips will keep you organized and on track to Holiday bliss!
Love your neighbors
Whether you live in an apartment building or a neighborhood, it’s always important to keep an eye out for your surroundings. If you plan on leaving, ask your trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your home for suspicious activity, pick up your mail or if you trust them enough, give them a key so they can turn lights off/on at different times or check for flooding/water damage or frozen pipes.
Indoor/outdoor cameras can be set up to send notifications to your smart phone when they sense motion or sound.
Consider some high-tech gadgets to help protect your home
In the age of technology, it’s no surprise that people have been turning their homes into “smart homes”. There are so many tools you can use to help you keep an eye out while you’re gone. Indoor/outdoor cameras can be set up to send notifications to your smart phone when they sense motion or sound. Motion detector flood lights are also a cheaper way to keep your home secure, and easy to install and available at your local hardware store. “Smart doorbells” also record movement and allow you to actually speak to the person at the door!
Call ahead
Before you travel, always remember to call your financial institution and credit cards to let them know when and where you are traveling. This way, you can avoid having your card declined or canceled, and the company can make a note to your account to watch for fraudulent activity. You can find more information on calling TDECU ahead of your travel plans here.
Secure Your Home
Watch this short video from the Texas Department of Insurance to learn how you can prevent theft during the holidays.
Monitor your accounts
Even though you’ve called your credit cards and financial institutions to let them know you’ll be out of town, it’s still very important to monitor your accounts while you’re away. Credit card fraud rises by 20% during the Holidays, so it’s important to be extra vigilant. If you do notice any unusual activity, make sure you immediately contact your credit card or financial institution to have them stop the charges and cancel the card.
Whether you decide to ask your neighbors for a hand, install motion-sensitive lights, or a smart doorbell, we hope these tips help you and your families stay safe and sound!
Our team at TDECU wishes you a happy, safe Holiday season this year! Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns, we’re here to help!