The violent winds of the current economy seem to be stirring up the perfect storm for great deals on a new car. Auto manufacturers and dealers are obviously hurting and under pressure to find a way to increase sales, so it seems likely that consumers will begin to enjoy some of the best deals on new cars between now and the spring . So, if your old beater is on its last leg and you've just been waiting for the right time to take the plunge, now is the time to ask yourself three important questions.

It may start off practically unnoticeable, with a few charges here and there. Over time, though, your credit card statements begin to reflect purchases in places you're quite sure you've never visited. Items show up that you know you didn't buy. You start to notice charges from distant gas stations, restaurants and even online purchases. Is it just an oversight on behalf of your credit card company, or are you a victim of credit card fraud?

Several credit card benefits are often overlooked by the so-called personal finance gurus that claim consumers should leave their credit cards at home when hitting the malls this holiday season. Paying for everything with cash can certainly be beneficial for those who just don't know how to budget, but advantages such as having Purchase Protection, especially on more expensive items, shouldn't be forgotten by the smart consumer.

Is it really necessary to carry your social security card around with you like a driver's license? Not at all, yet many people sill tote around one of the most confidential pieces of personal information as if they might need it at any moment. If you do, you're taking a great risk because identity thieves armed with your social security number can do a lot more than simply open up a fraudulent credit card account. They can essentially start a whole new life using your SSN as the foundation.

Citigroup Inc. and American Express are two of the largest credit-card issuers who recently announced they will hit millions of consumers with interest rate hikes just before the start of the holiday season. A two to three percentage point increase seems to be the target, but the severity of the rate hikes will likely fluctuate depending upon whether you carry a monthly balance.