As soon as you become eligible for a free credit report, you can spread your requests for these freebies out over the year. Instead of ordering all three at once, order one per quarter. For example:
January - Equifax
May - Experian
TransUnion - September
This will help you monitor your reports for signs of identity theft or fraud year round.
Phone Numbers:
Equifax - 800-685-1111
Experian - 888-397-3742
TransUnion - 800-888-4213
You can also order your Annual credit reports online and print them out immediately.