‘Tis the season for spreading cheer and good will toward men. And even through the stress and hustling bustle, there is a sense of joy in the air. But nothing can dampen your holiday spirit like losing your credit card or having the numbers stolen by unsavory types looking to cash in at your expense. Literally.

But AARP has come to the rescue. Their Web site is teeming with ways to safeguard your credit cards and to keep you from becoming a victim of fraud. In fact, AARP Maine is offering a free fraud prevention kit that covers a wide variety of topics. Get your own kit by calling Eastern Agency on Aging. We will be happy to send you one.

Meanwhile, here are some tips on preventing credit card thievery:

. Carry only one, or at most two, cards. Sounds like common sense, but I have friends who routinely lug around a fistful of cards. It is simply not safe.

. Immediately report lost or stolen cards to the credit card company. They will cancel your card and number. And stay focused when you are paying for something. It is easy to get distracted, especially if shopping with friends, but make sure your card was returned to you by the clerk.

. Guard your number. The person behind you in line may appear to be a perfectly nice and safe individual, but if criminals were easy to spot we wouldn’t need these helpful tips. Trust no one. Anybody could be writing down your credit card number without your knowledge. Then they could be off to the phone for some catalog shopping, charging merchandise while pretending to be you.

. When at a restaurant, if you leave a tip on the card, be sure to write in the amount and a dash before and after. That way no one can write in another number. For example, a $5 tip can turn into a $15 tip just by adding a “1” in front of the 5.

. Always check your receipts before leaving the store. Errors occur during busy times. Items can easily be entered twice. While this is perhaps an honest mistake, you will either end up paying or will have to make a return trip to the store for a refund.

Be alert, be careful and happy holidays.

Winter is fast approaching, which means heating bills. And with the holidays nearing, money may be flying out of your pocket as if each dollar has sprouted wings. Add in the price of prescriptions and it might be enough to break the bank. But, while you are on your own with Christmas shopping, EAA may be able to help you with the cost of your medications.

I realize the Medicare Approved Drug Discount Cards are complicated, at best. However, there has never been a better time to take a look at these cards. We have simplified the process and are here to serve you. No need for your own computer, booklets or charts.

All you need to do is write down what prescriptions you take, the doses of each, how often they are taken, where you like to purchase them and what you are paying now. Next, call EAA and ask for Stacie. She is our Medicare expert and, armed with your information, will find which cards best suit your needs. Then you can decide which one you like best. It is easy, and the service is free. Put Stacie to work on your case and maybe she will put some money back in your wallet.

How much could you actually save, you wonder? Well, one particular client who signed up for a card, with Stacie’s help, saved more than $700 a year on her prescriptions. The next big savings might be yours.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, or email info@eaaa.org.