There has been a lot of criticism over the practice of credit card companies using social media as a resource for recruiting new business. Lenders have been found to roam around on Facebook and Twitter in an effort to find what the younger set is ‘liking’ so they can develop better strategies for gaining new customers.

Experts are concerned about this recent turn of events especially in light of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act which was developed to protect consumers of all ages from aggressive lending tactics. When this law went into effect two years ago, it put a stop to the credit card kiosks in malls and on college campuses that were soliciting new business by giving away free swag.

To date, American Express has been found to be the most aggressive social media user for promoting their credit cards. There are deals appearing on the popular social media portals that offer discounts to card holders if they sign up and synch their credit cards to their social media accounts. American Express contends they do not target their media campaigns to those under the age of 21 but have not stopped checking in on Foursquare or Facebook.

Technically, there are not yet direct violations of the CARD Act but there is concern about credit card companies navigating through loopholes in the system. One expert has said that the law was not written to be precise enough, stating that the regulations concern direct mail or on-campus marketing practices and not the online world.

Specifically of concern are the younger generation who may be more likely to run up significant debts on their new cards simply due to lack of understanding and experience. While credit card companies maintain they do not market to the under-21 crowd, their inventions such as the college team loyalty cards and rewards programs are most popular with the younger generation.

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A little over a week from now, I’ll be chilling at home, grabbing dinner with friends, and heading out to visit family. Hopefully you have at least a few days off coming your way soon. First on my to-do list is relaxation, but Im also planning to spend a few of those precious vacation hours on money-saving tasks. Here are some ideas in case you want to join me:

• Filing and shredding. My file folder is not looking good, people. There is paperwork from 8 years ago and I’ve been stuffing things in the wrong compartments for months. In my experience, organized records make it easier to stay on top of my budget, manage my  accounts and deal with taxes come spring. For tips on better organization and how long to keep paperwork, click here.

• Selling that old stuff online. Rugs, skiis, clothes, computer equipment, CDs—whatever unused stuff thats taking up space in your (my) place could be a lot more useful as cash. Not something you can sell? Cleaning out unwanted clutter has benefits beyond income. Reaching goals—financial and otherwise—is easier when your place is organized.

• Polishing that resume. Even if you aren’t looking for work right now, pulling out that resume and making sure its up-to-date is a great idea. You never know when an amazing opportunity will land in your lap and you’ll want to have it ready to send out ASAP. For resume tips and templates, this site is a great resource.

• Cleaning up your desktop. I mean your virtual desktop or your physical one. Downtime is prime time to get rid of all of the files, junk mail, and other things bogging down your work space. Imagine starting off next semester or the next workweek with a clean and easy-to-use space.

• Refreshing your budget. Maybe your budget is working pretty well for you but could work better. Maybe it needs some serious editing because of a recent life change. Maybe you don’t have one! Reviewing your recent expenses and updating your budget so it’s a workable plan for you can help you get off on the right foot in the new year. This information can help.

Happy break, and for tips on improving your finances by boosting your credit score, visit whatsmyscore.org.

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The first thing you should do when you receive a PCS order is seek out your installation relocation office to determine what allowances you will be able to receive, as well as get in touch with several agencies that can help ease your transition. The office will also be able to give you a lot of other helpful information and aid you in planning your move.

Depending upon where your new station is located either within the U.S. or outside it you will have a number of different allowances, but its important to remember you may not receive all of them, the report said. An installation housing office will help you determine exactly which you qualify for, and whether there is any government housing available to you when you move. If not, it can also help you to find private housing or arrange temporary lodging until more permanent arrangements can be made.

Further, it may be able to help you better understand exactly what does and does not qualify for the various housing allowances you may be able to receive, the report said. For example, there are a wide variety of household goods that qualify to be moved, as well as many that do not. In addition, service members moving overseas may ship one personally owned vehicle at government expense, but that vehicle must be for personal use only.

Moving can be a hectic time that can throw a lot of your finances into disarray, so its important that you stay on top of everything and keep close tabs on all payments so nothing slips through the cracks.

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Do you have a credit card that gives you cash back, points, miles or another reward? I recently signed up for a credit card that lets me earn miles toward flights—and just earned my first free flight! The trick, Im figuring out, is getting the most value out of your points possible. When shopping for the ticket, my available miles were enough to get a free ticket to Chicago one day, and not enough the next. Yep, many rewards can change in value from day to day. Here are a few ways to ensure you get the most out of those precious rewards:

1. Choose carefully. Research several rewards cards and compare their benefits before choosing your card; also read the rewards rules carefully before making a decision. Often, choosing a card in an area of interest use is a good tactic too: if you are a big-time car commuter or fly constantly, it may make sense to choose a card that caters to those items.

2. Track your rewards. I check my points constantly, ready to redeem them the second I can afford what I want, but apparently lots of people out there lose track of what they have and forget to use what they have earned. For me, having an online account set up where it’s easy to check my points and spent them works perfectly.

3. Spend frequently. The longer your rewards sit unused, the more likely they are to shift in value. Spending them when you have enough to purchase something you want lowers the risk.

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Credit card companies are showing more evidence that the economy of the United States is getting stronger. Results of latest studies show more consumers are using their credit cards once again, showing more charges recently than in the last year.

In 2011, American credit card holders charged almost $48 billion in new credit card purchases. This is a huge leap from the charges completed the previous year and 577 percent more than in 2009. Credit card companies were also very aggressive in both 2009 and 2012 in writing off bad debts from defaulted accounts. Consumers are still shown to default on their credit card accounts with a total of $44.2 billion in defaulted debts.

Credit card companies are also more actively promoting credit card accounts in new ways to increase consumer use. Mobile payments and other online business ventures are helping to increase credit card usage, especially over the Internet. Visa is set to release their ‘digital wallet’ product to make online purchases more secure by allowing transactions to be completed without having account numbers typed in for each purchase.

While credit card companies are still encouraging credit card use, the industry is still following strict standards when it comes to card approval. Consumers still need good credit scores in order to benefits from the best credit card rates and the highest credit card limits. Consumers are advised to check their credit scores and clean up negative credit information by eliminating debts before trying to apply for a new credit card.

There are also a variety of offers to consider when it comes to credit card selection. Consumers should do their homework to find a credit card that makes sense for their own financial life rather than relying on pre-approved card offers coming in the mail. Researching multiple card types and offers allows the consumers to make smarter financial choices.

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#1: Improve your credit card luck

You can get lucky with these offers, too. Be diligent about paying your bills on time and stay out of credit card debt.

#2: Use a credit card to save and invest money

#3: Use your rewards credit card for major expenses

You have to be careful with this, but if you have an emergency fund, you can pull this off with less risk. You use the card for the purchase or to pay for a service (like a plumbing disaster) and then you pay it off during the grace period.

Soon, Ill need a new fridge so Im already planning to use a rewards card for the purchase.

#4: Have a low-interest card for emergencies

The ideal situation is to have an emergency fund and a credit card with a very low APR for emergencies. But how many of us can pull that off given the economy for the past few years?

Not a whole lot of people. But if youve managed to take care of your credit score (see tip #1), you might qualify for a low-interest card. This is essential if you dont have an emergency fund. What if your basement gets flooded or you need a new roof? Having a low-interest card doesnt put more green in your pocket, but it lets you keep more of the green you already have in your pocket.

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