10.  Do not print your Social Security number on your checks or give it out unless it’s absolutely necessary. Ask your creditors and merchants if you can substitute a special password or code to use instead of your Social Security number. Usually they’ll understand what you’re trying to do. Order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement annually to check for fraud. 

 

You have to protect your credit, especially when having financial hardships. A good credit history can help bail you out from a financial bind, and a tarnished credit report can pull you down and can even affect good financial standing. Protect your credit because it is the foundation of your finances. 

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