⚠️Protect yourself from scams

Plus: Holiday🎄decorating tips; how to combat loneliness

View this email online Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Life Kit digital editor Malaka Gharib  I just found out I’ve been footing the bill for a stranger’s parking fees for months.  Earlier this year, I got a text message requesting to share my parking app account with someone I thought was my husband. But it was a total stranger! And they’ve been happily using my credit card to pay for their (very pricey) parking fees in Nashville: $42 for 45 minutes in a tourist area, $60 for two hours downtown.  By the time I noticed (because I’m terrible and never check my credit card statements), I had paid over $300 in parking fees for this random person, all because I didn’t take a moment to double-check the link and see who the request was coming from.   If you’re susceptible to fraud like me -- and not great about reviewing your bank account statements -- check out Life Kit’s guide on how to protect yourself from getting scammed. It has simple, practical actions you can take right now to reduce your chances of getting swindled.    Read the story now Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop Protect yourself from scams Here are some of my favorite tips from the episode that helped me secure my apps and data. And in case you’re wondering -- yes, I got my money back.  🤑Sign out of Venmo when you're done using it.  Picture this, says Amy Nofziger, the director of fraud victim support for AARP. Say you're walking down the street and a teenager comes up to you and says, " 'Oh my gosh, I lost my phone. I need to call my mom to pick me up. Can I borrow your phone?' 'Well, of course,' you say. 'Here's my phone.' You see them dialing a phone number. But actually what they've done is they've gone into your Venmo app" and transferred money to themselves.    So make sure to stay logged out of peer-to-peer payment apps like Zelle and Cash App on your phone. It may feel like an annoying step -- having to log in every time you use the app -- but it can protect you. 🚫Set up your phone to decline calls from numbers you don’t recognize. To reduce your chances of answering calls from scammers, go into your phone settings and select the option to send unknown callers to voicemail. "That means that anybody that is not in your contacts that calls you will go directly to voicemail," says Nozfiger. "If it's important, [the caller] will leave a voicemail." 💳Use your credit card whenever possible. Use your credit card rather than your debit card, says Kelly Richmond-Pope, a forensic accounting professor at DePaul University. "Your credit card company has a level of protection that the banks don't seem to give. So I've always used my credit card for as much as I can." If someone makes a fraudulent charge on your credit card, the most you'll be liable for is $50, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. But if someone gets a hold of your debit card, they can take money straight out of your checking account, leaving you without access to that cash while you sort things out with your bank. You also may be liable for much more of the losses, depending on when you report the fraud.  Click here for more tips Newsletter continues after sponsor message  🎄We asked, you answered: Your best holiday decorating tips 🎄 Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR Last month, we asked you to share creative, sustainable ideas to make your home merry and bright for the holiday season. Here’s a selection of responses, which have been edited for length and clarity.   Read our story with interior designer Elaine Griffin for more fun, offbeat ideas on how to decorate your home for the holidays.   Hygge style  A couple years ago, after reading about Scandinavian winters and hygge, I bought some low-cost fairy lights and a collection of candles. We keep them up through the darkest months of the winter, adding a live Christmas tree and some amaryllis flowers in December.  It's cozy and makes these long nights and short days feel special. It's been a game-changer for me and my partner, and we appreciate winter so much more now (beyond just the holidays). --Kim George Inspired by nature My favorite way to decorate for the holidays is to make my own crafts. I dry thin orange slices in the oven and use a small skewer to poke a hole in them, then thread twine or yarn through them to make a garland. I make simmer pots with various ingredients to add humidity and a beautiful fragrance to the air. Ingredients can include: orange slices, lemon slices, ginger slices, dried rose petals, dried lavender, dried spices (clove, anise, cinnamon sticks, cardamom), and flower petals. --Mari Carmen Castellano Free decor   My friend taught me to ask for the trimmings from the Christmas tree stands. She takes them and makes wreaths to give away.  --Catherine Roth Listen Sponsor-Free Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening AND that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with making a difference. You can also check out loads of other NPR+ podcasts with benefits at plus.npr.org. Explore Life Kit+ This week on Life Kit Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR How to keep kids safe from guns in the home. Firearms are the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. Here’s how to take life-saving precautions to protect children — whether or not you own a gun. Read the story here. Feeling alone? 5 tips to create connection and combat loneliness. We all feel lonely at some point, but long-term social isolation can damage our mental and physical health. A new book called Project UnLonely shows how creative expression can foster friendships. Read the story here. What should you wear to run in the cold? Build an outfit with this paper doll. How cold is too cold? What kind of gear should you wear? And how do you stay motivated to workout outside when the weather is dreary? Cold-loving runners and a doctor share their advice to get moving during the winter. Read the story here. Want a marriage that lasts? 5 questions to ask your partner before getting hitched. These conversation starters get at the heart of your values, including how you deal with conflict, your attitude toward gender roles and your relationship with money. Read the story here.  💕 Listener impact 💕 This week, we received an email that warmed our hearts -- we hope it warms yours too. This response has been edited for length and clarity.    I cannot thank you enough for the episode you did on student loans and the resource about Free Student Loan Advice. To say this resource changed my life is not an understatement. I have been carrying student loan debt for nearly 30 years and had been unable to get any straight answers from StudentAid.gov about the status of my loans for possible forgiveness. After hearing your episode, I contacted Free Student Loan Advice and within 24 hours had a clean plan of what to do.   This morning, less than 90 days after contacting Free Student Loan Advice, I received an email from my servicer that my loan had been completely forgiven in its entirety, almost $12,000.   This episode literally has changed the outcome of my life. Thank you doesn’t seem adequate. But thank you. --Kate LaSala     Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? 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