- Pull out your purse or wallet...and locate your Social Security Card: Oh...you don't carry one anymore? Good! It's nice to see you're learning.

- Now do me one more favor, and pull out your health insurance card: That's your big mistake-due-jour, kids. Carrying this card is an invitation for trouble! Before you fire off a nasty e-mail to tell me that you "have to carry that card in order to get proper healthcare..." save your energy:

- If you're going to visit a doctor for the first time, then go ahead...carry your card! But once you check in, fill out all of their forms, jump through all of their hoops and let them photocopy your precious card, take it out of your wallet and store it at home in a safe place [preferably a locked file cabinet drawer], since you won't be needing it again anytime soon.

- Same goes for the pharmacy: Once they've got your info-in almost every case-you won't be needing your card again.

Insurance/Part I: Call your automobile insurance agent first thing tomorrow morning and make sure you've got Un-insured and Under-insured motorist coverage. These are coverages that protect you in the event you're in an accident with someone who's either driving without insurance or has the bare minimum (lowest limits) coverage required by law. This extra level of coverage is so damned cheap, you're crazy if you don't protect yourself from the other guy.

Insurance/Part II: Check the limits on your homeowners (or renters) and life insurance policies. Have your insurance agent review your policy limits with you-and explain in terms you can clearly comprehend-where you're covered and where you're not...and for how much.

Insurance/Part III: This one won't cost more than a few minutes of your time, so no whining and no excuses. Get off your rear and update the EMERGENCY CONTACT information card in your wallet or purse. Oh...you don't have one? You're a thrill seeker, aren't ya? Do it now! I'm about to give you a free web-based resource that will create a card that you can print and fold and tuck away in your wallet in a matter of minutes. But first, read on...

http://www.medids.com/free-id.html

This card needs to contain current contact information so in the event a perfect stranger attempting to assist you in a time of need can deliver you to familiar (and supportive) hands. You don't need to give up information like your Social Security Number, but the card does need to contain Next-of-Kin/Best Friend information for the top three relatives or friends you want contacted in an emergency. Include current pager or cell phone numbers, current home, work and even e-mail addresses. Be sure to include your full name, current address and home and work telephone numbers: If you know your blood type, put this down too, as well as any allergies or special medical information that would help an emergency medical technician care for you.

Unbeknownst to most consumers, when you signed-up for Caller ID, your pals at the local phone company "helped" by automatically activating ACR (Anonymous Call Rejection) on your phone line. ACR rejects any incoming phone calls from anonymous callers. The phone company does this because they don't want everyone blocking their identity when calling, potentially rendering Caller ID useless. Because I believe you're smart enough to decide which calls to take (and which calls to ignore), I'm empowering you with the technical knowledge necessary to neutralize the phone company. (Want to permanently block your identity from showing up on all outgoing phone calls you initiate?