What to do before vacation begins

There are so many things to remember before you depart on a vacation. I have put together a short list of the Top 5 reminders before you leave on your trip:

Stop the mail . A pile of mail is a sure sign that you are not home. Deter burglars by stopping the mail altogether. It’s easy to do- simply go to www.usps.com, hold mail, and request that the mailman deliver accumulated mail a day or two after your return.

Adjust your thermostat. In addition, if you have a programmed thermostat, make sure the batteries are new to prevent the heat or air from malfunctioning due to a dead battery. 

Call your bank and credit card companies to let them know you will be traveling. There is nothing worse than trying to purchase something abroad and the transaction declining because your bank thought it was fraudulent.

Pack an extra duffle bag or suitcase or even nest a carry-on into your checked bag so you can bring home your treasures. You don't want to pay those overweight bag fees when you arrive at the airport overloaded. Unless you have a hard fast rule of “no shopping,” this will be the easiest way to bring back more than you brought.

Don’t post your every move on social media . In addition, turn off the location on your cell phone. Anytime you post on social media, it will show where you posted from. 

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