When purchasing a product that offers a rebate, be sure to send in all required materials, but keep copies for yourself. If the rebate does not come within the time promised, report the company to the FTC or your state Attorney General.

Beware of free trials. Often, signing up for one means agreeing to a membership that automatically goes into effect (and begins billing you) after the “trial” period is over. Also look out for nonrefundable fees, automatic billing, and the process for canceling.

When taking out a loan, check out the reliability of the loan company by researching them through the Better Business Bureau, your state attorney general’s office, and any other source you can find to make sure the lender is reputable!

Never lie on your loan application. Lying on a mortgage application is fraud and may result in criminal penalties.

Get a credit card with no annual fee. Make sure that the annual fee doesn’t go into effect after an “introductory” or “enrollment” period.

Forget about companies advertising free credit reports–your reports are already free! You are allowed by law to get one free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, every year.

Ignore high-pressure sales tactics, including the “ticking clock” scenario or aggressive posturing. Salespeople use these tactics to confuse and fluster you enough to agree to a deal you don’t want.

Ads that make promises may be there to lure unwary consumers into bad deals with hidden terms. Avoid merchants and lenders that advertise that they can make all your problems go away.

Be wary of “debt consolidation” and “debt management plans” that require up-front payment, pay agents on commission, or charge exorbitant fees. These may be scams that will only get you further into debt.