Monitoring your own credit, for free.

The web site www.annualcreditreport.com -- "This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion." Instead of checking all 3 and waiting a year, check one and then wait 120 days (4 months) and then check the next. (Use a calendar to remind yourself!) After a year rolls around, start over with the first bureau again.