LaToya Irby is a full-time freelance writer and a graduate of the University of Alabama. She primarily writes about personal finance, freelancing, and other self-employment topics.
In the past few years, big banks have become so unattractive that many consumers switched to local banks and credit unions. Not everyone who dislikes their bank was willing to go through the trouble of… Steps to Switching Banks
Dealing with identity theft can be a headache. One of the ways you can deter fraud is to add a fraud alert to your credit report. When businesses check your credit report they see the… Place a Fraud Alert On Your Credit Report
Capital One recently got in trouble with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for deceptively marketing add-on services like payment protection and credit monitoring services. Consumers complained that Capital One representatives made it seem as though… Optional vs. Required Credit Card Fees
It takes years of good financial behavior to build a good credit score, but all your hard work can be ruined in just a few months. One or two slightly negative actions, like a maxed… How a Credit Score Gets Ruined
One of the best pieces of financial advice is to budget your money. Budgeting is the foundation of financial health and the key to accomplishing most, if not all, of your financial goals. Unfortunately, when… Overcome Budget Frustrations
Credit cards have sort of a bad reputation, which isn’t completely the fault of the credit card itself. Often, people get themselves into credit card trouble by mishandling them. Nevertheless, that bad reputation has many… Swearing Off Credit Cards May Be a Bad Thing
As you apply and are approved for newer credit cards with higher credit limits, attractive rewards, and better interest rates, you might forget about the cards you were using years ago. Because these old credit… Don’t Neglect Old Credit Cards
Retailers may start charging a fee to consumers who use their credit cards. For years, merchants have paid a processing fee for credit card purchases. It’s one of the reasons that many smaller retailers don’t… A New Credit Card Fee May Be on the Way
It’s a basic fact of life that you’ll have to do things you don’t want to do. Wake up early when you really want to sleep in. Postpone vacation because you have other financial priorities.… 4 Reasons to Pay Bills Even When You Don’t Want To
Traditional credit reports and scores don’t typically take into account all the bills that you pay on time like clockwork each month – like your rent and utilities. In some ways, it’s unfair that you… FICO and CoreLogic’s New Mortgage Score Could Help You Qualify