Lightloch's Domain

As our society and the world at large become more and more complex, it is of increasing importance for one to keep his or her personal records, identification and other important information both consolidated, organized and safeguarded.

By this I mean such items as licenses, passports, social security cards, birth certificates and other sensitive documents of this nature. In the case of U.S. citizens (particularly younger people who may be living out on their own for the first time), do you even know where your Social Security card is? Somewhere at your parents’ house perhaps? Lost years ago? Well now would be a great time to get all this stuff together. Identity theft is rampant, and you will want to keep tabs on this information at all times.

As far as security goes, many people opt to lease a lockbox at the local bank, but honestly you can get similar protection for a fraction of the price by purchasing a fire/water/theft proof box or safe at your local general store. This enables you to have your most important documents and records protected against the unexpected yet still on-hand for that new job or loan or whatever else might come up.

For those who may have lost any of these things, there are ways to get official replacements either by contacting the appropriate government agency directly or even licensed third-party services that can expedite delivery for a small fee. Birth certificates, for example, must be obtained (either directly or indirectly) from your state and county of birth (many states have a website to accomodate orders). Social security cards naturally come from its own office, and new passports or renewals from the U.S. Department of State.

So after all is said and done, do yourself a favor (as I always say) and get organized in at least this aspect! The last thing you want is to have all of your important personal records floating around who knows where.