Additionally most financial institutions have robust alert options that will notify you via text or email of activity in your account so you can keep a close eye on your hard earned dollars.

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Keep a close eye on your possessions.

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So to control your costs, if you use data-intensive mobile services, your best bets are to use Wi-Fi whenever possible and to install apps or other tools that allow you to keep a close eye on your data usage.

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Beyond keeping a close eye on the fundamentals of your business, it's also important to pay attention to all the overall drivers of the economy, from interest rates, inflation and unemployment to consumer indebtedness and currency values.

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