Both fraud alerts and credit freezes are useful tools for protecting your credit. They both have the same purpose: preventing identity thieves from misusing your credit file.

Money is a powerful tool, and learning how to use it is an essential life skill, which is why frugality is such a valuable quality. Yet, it is easy to get caught up in the noble quest of being thrifty and lose sight of what is essential in life. Let us take a step back and look, in no particular order, at things to value more than money. And because this is a money blog — and we couldn’t resist ourselves — we will also look at how these lofty goals not only make us happier but also improve our long-term financial health.

America’s love affair with credit cards seems to be going sour. At the very least, the honeymoon is officially over. In 2012, twice as many consumers between the ages of 18 and 35 reported not having a credit card than in 2007. Moreover, those who do have credit cards are now less likely to use them online or to register for rewards programs.

Driving’s a risky business. In 2012 alone, there were 5.42 million police reported vehicle traffic crashes.

Identity theft continues to be a serious threat, with over 880,000 internet crime complaints reported, leading to losses exceeding $12.5 billion every year. If you suspect you’re a victim of identity theft or a data breach, placing a credit freeze on your report is an effective way to protect yourself. This guide covers what a credit freeze is, how it works, and the pros and cons to help you decide if this is the right step for you.

Money matters. How you manage it matters even more. According to a study from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School, money buys happiness but only up to a point. Once you hit an annual household income of $75,000 the effect money has on happiness flattens out.

There are few purchases we agonize over more than buying a car. For most of us, buying a big-ticket item like a car is a huge deal, so nobody should fault us for trying to squeeze the best deal possible out of the auto dealer. The problem is that when it comes to negotiating the best possible price on a new car, we are often barking up the wrong tree.

Mortgage interest rates are currently at record lows. However, this won’t last forever. Sooner or later, the Federal Reserve is going to raise interest rates and this could have severe effects on the economy of many households. Plan by taking practical steps while interest rates are still low.

Every year $16 billion in credit card rewards go unclaimed, according to a 2011 report by Colloquy, a loyalty research company. That represents a third of all credit card loyalty points issued, an estimated $48 billion a year. To get a feel of the scale of the credit card rewards sector, consider that $48 billion is more than the total currency circulation in many developed countries, including Canada, Switzerland, and Australia.