Step 9 - Use cash whenever you can.

Remember, always keep your cash transactions below the reporting requirements in your country of residence. And beware of falling in to the trap of structuring, or smurfing, as it is called. This is when you take several transactions just below the reporting requirements, and are seen to be doing so to evade the law.

If cash isn't an option for some reason - go to a post office or a convenience store and buy a money order. A money order is always better than a personal check or your credit card. Remember, all bank transactions are kept on record and all credit card transactions are maintained on computer for at least 6 years.

Cash leaves behind no record and this is important if you don't want to leave an easy-to-build picture of yourself through your spending habits.

With credit card and bank records, Big Brother can unravel your life. He can find out where you shop, what you buy, which restaurants you eat at, which hotels you frequent (and with whom). He can find out to whom you owe money, the amount of your payments to creditors, whether or not you support a religious group, a political group etc.

If there is anything that gives the tax authorities reason to believe that the lifestyle you are leading cannot be sustained by the income that you are declaring - then you had better watch out. The most important thing to remember is that what the government can't know about your private affairs won't hurt you.

Step 10 - Avoid credit cards.

As a rule, try to avoid credit cards for all but the most essential purchases. They leave a paper trail that leads right up to your front door. Pay off old balances if you can and close accounts you do not use much.

People seem to hate this idea, but believe me it is not as crippling as it sounds. I've operated without any credit cards for the last ten years. It can be less convenient at times, but it is not a huge problem. Besides, you save yourself from all the advertising that credit card companies often hurl through your front door!

If you do apply for or already have a credit card, make sure you tick the box where they ask if you mind including your name on lists they have for sale. They are required by law to ask your permission to do this.

So take the effort to write to them and say NO. Often the lists sold contain demographic and specific personal information about the people on them.

You absolutely do not want to be included as part of any list for sale. But if you write to the list owner requesting they delete you, they are obliged by law to remove your details from their records.

Step 11 - Remove your name from databases.

I can't stress the importance of this enough. You really have to remove your name from all mailing lists. This is an absolute must for anyone wishing to preserve any privacy at all. Why? Because most direct mail companies you purchase a product from then rent out your name to other direct mail firms. They make a lot of money doing this. And you do not know who will be renting that list next.

Whether you have just answered an advert for gardening equipment, office stationery, or an offer for discounted clothes - it doesn't matter. Get your name off the lists.

And this includes subscribing to privacy publications or buying privacy-related products. My advice would always be to do so under a different name, giving your mail drop as the address for everything to be sent to. That way, if you are worried about your name escaping into unwelcome hands, you can always have a specific mail drop just for the purpose of receiving privacy information. And you can close it at any time.

Don't wait until tomorrow to do this. Do it today.

You might like to know that, if you order any products from us, we will assign you a code word and a personal client number. If you wish, we erase all history of your name from files and replace these with your coded details. So, you can actually maintain an entirely anonymous relationship with us.

We also never rent or sell our clients’ names to anybody, even though we could make money from doing it. We really do try to ensure that all aspects of your personal and financial privacy are safeguarded.

Step 12 - Protect your signature.

This is another very simple measure to take, but it's worth it.

Try never to sign for things that are then taken away, like the courier package delivered to your doorstep or your office. They don't need your actual signature, so don't give it to them. The signature facsimile is downloaded into most courier companies' mainframe and is therefore available to senders and receivers upon request.

Signature databases have come on line now -and you cannot know how secure your signature will be. The last thing you need is for someone less than honest to be able to download a copy of your signature for their own use.

If you are happy using several signatures, this is ok, as long as you can remember which is which! My particular preference would probably be just to mark an X. That's pretty useless to everyone.

Step 13 - Obtain some Alternative ID.

If this sounds illegal, it isn't. There is nothing wrong with having an alias. It is only illegal if you attempt to defraud someone through the use of your alias. But if you keep it for simple purposes, only then a second (and perhaps third and fourth) identity can be a useful weapon.

For example, you can order any number of different documents through the post from companies offering a wide range of products. You send the company your passport photos together with a name and address and sometimes other bits of info like date of birth.

They then send you a small laminated card that identifies you as being someone else, with another job and a different address. You can easily slip that into a wallet.

Then you build up your alternative character by ordering other forms of ID until you have completed an alter ego.

Remember, these cannot be used in any official way. They are only novelty items. But they are an inexpensive and easy to obtain. And they could prove very useful.

You can have some business cards made out, compliment slips, etc, using your mail drop address and a fax-forwarding service. All this gives you an edge.

There is no requirement to use your own name, so pick another one. But pick one that you will find easy to remember. Your new ID may serve for several purposes. I'll leave it up to your imagination what those might be.

Step 14 - Keep your travel plans to yourself.

If you are taking a trip anywhere - anywhere outside your state or country - don't tell anyone about it.

Friends, neighbours, employees - they all like to talk about you when you are not there. Especially if you have just mentioned that you are flying to Switzerland or Austria.

If there ever is an enquiry from the tax man into your affairs - and you should always assume that there will be - your friends, neighbours and employees will certainly remember that holiday you took - or the trips to the Caribbean that you suddenly started making - even if they are asked months or years later. You'd be surprised how long an envious memory lasts.

So, if you are going to be travelling to do some business that you would rather not be talked about - like attending the seminars in the next phase of this programme - tell people that you are going of for a few days’ break somewhere that you know well.

Say you're going to take in a couple of shows. On the way out or back, stop over one night near the airport and go to see a show - that way you have something to talk about on your return. In other words, don't tell anybody about sensitive travel plans - but do tell them something. Otherwise, they'll make up something that could be worse than the truth.

Step 15 - Avoid giving your Social Security or National Insurance Number to anyone.

You should never give your social security or national insurance number to anybody. Not unless you are required by law to do so.

If it is legal to do so, always give a different number out - or operate with your alternative ID as described earlier. Comply with the law - but if someone insists on having your social security number for some other purpose, and you know that you are not required to give it to them - just make one up.

Be aware that many institutions - especially banks - are now utilising a Social security Verification Software Programme, which is available to them free on the internet. The more you give out your real number, the higher profile you become, and the name of this game is being as unnoticeable as possible.