Surviving in the world today would be extremely difficult without some sort of financing. Most people and businesses use banking institutions to safeguard their monetary assets. These are the same places people turn to when they need a loan for a house, car, or other reason.

It is important to take care of your money and watch out for things that could cause it to disappear. Often times the cause of a financial decline is outside of your control. The tips in this section can help you avoid mortgage fraud and to know the difference between a recession and a depression. This information can make a difference in how you save and invest your money.

Tips, Tricks, and Answers

The following articles are available for the 'Financial Safety' topic. Click the article''s title (shown in bold) to see the associated article.

   Avoiding Money Scams
It is a sad fact but there are many, many different people out there who's only goal in life is to separate you from your money. Typically they will do this through various types of scams and other forms of dishonesty. Avoiding money scams isn't all that difficult if you always remember a few simple guidelines.

   Avoiding Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage fraud is one of those types of swindles that you don't always think about or catch, but one you most definitely need to be aware of. If you simply verify the facts yourself and go in with a wary eye then you should be in good shape when it comes to selling or purchasing a home.

   Differences Between a Recession and a Depression
The differences between a recession and a depression come down to severity. A recession indicates a decline in GDP for a total of two or more consecutive quarters. A depression indicates a decline in GDP for over three years. A depression can also be defined as a decline in GDP of over 10%. Economic downturns are less severe today than historic downturns such as the Great Depression of the 1930s due to increased government spending and fewer bank failures.

   How Safe Is Your Bank?
The federal government provides several safeguards to protect your savings and investments. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is the logo to look for when choosing a bank. It provides assurance that your deposits are protected up to $250,000. There are also similar safeguards on credit unions and brokerage accounts.

   If Someone Calls at Your Door to Sell Something
You know the feeling: It is a busy day, and suddenly a knock comes at the door. Someone is there to sell you something, and you're not sure if it is safe to trust the person.

   Planning For Financial Emergencies
Financial emergencies can come in many forms, loss of a job, a chronic health condition, a natural disaster or death of a spouse. It is important to be protected by having an emergency fund set aside to cover living expenses.

   Protect Yourself from Con Artists
There are people out there whose self-selected job it is to separate you from your hard-earned money. Protect yourself by learning how you can avoid and deal with con artists.

   Recognizing Credit Counseling Scams
Credit counseling is a useful credit tool that can get you well on your way to a stable financial score, however you do need to watch out for scams and fraudulent activity. If you can simply do research and use caution when investigating credit agencies then you'll be able to protect your information and your financial reputation.

   Recognizing Financial Scams
Financial scams can be found everywhere and if you're not careful you could find yourself in a tight financial bind because of fraud. If you can spot and consequently avoid scams however, you'll be in good control of your finances and recognizing financial scams actually isn't that hard.

   Recognizing Money Scams
It is sad facts of life that our society has people in it how are constantly trying to scam others out of their money. While you can always try rely on luck to avoid being the subject of a scam, or you can learn some basics of recognizing money scams. There are literally thousands of money scams out there, but these guidelines will help you recognize most of them.

   Resources for Fighting Scams
It can be a humiliating, and even scary, experience to find yourself the victim of a scam. Unfortunately, since everyone can be potentially at risk to a fraud or con artist, you need to be as educated and protected as possible. The best way to do that is by finding the right resources for fighting scams.