Improve your credit score, manage debt, and understand how credit works. From credit card usage to debt consolidation and credit repair tips, this section gives you tools to strengthen your financial foundation and regain control of your money.
We are all aware that lenders routinely consider our credit report when we apply for credit. We would only expect them to. But do you realize that your credit report can be seen by others without you even being aware of it? According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), anyone with a “legitimate business … Read more
Your credit score is the three-digit number that lenders obtain from a credit bureau in an attempt to sum up your credit risk. Your credit score gives lenders a snapshot of your credit and debt situation and plays a big part in whether or not credit will be granted, as well as the terms and … Read more
It’s funny that many of us moved out of our parent’s home and proceeded to live our grown-up lives without ever learning much about financial responsibility and money management. I remember taking a semester in high school about budgeting, opening a bank account, and balancing a checkbook. We learned about it from a book, without … Read more
“We can erase bad credit!” “Create a new credit identity!” “Remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, bad loans from your credit file forever!” We all want to improve our credit. Whether we have excellent credit or shaky credit, getting a better credit rating will get us better loan and credit card terms than we already have available … Read more
Bankruptcy is a federal court process designed to help consumers repay their debts under the protection of the bankruptcy court, or possibly eliminate the debts altogether, depending on which type of bankruptcy is filed for. The court-ordered protection given by bankruptcy can give you a chance to start over financially. The calls from your creditors … Read more
You have a lot of debt. There may be high medical bills, loss of a job, divorce, or other unforeseen circumstances, which caused your bills to get the best of you. Your mortgage and car payment are a few months behind, and you’re lucky to be able to afford the minimum payments on your credit … Read more
Your credit score is the three digit number lenders look at to determine whether they will grant you credit, and at what price. This number tells lenders how well you’ve handled your past and current debts, and how well you’re likely to handle them in the future. Several credit-scoring systems are in use in America … Read more
Buying things on credit is the American way. Many consumers don’t even carry cash; it’s safer and more convenient to swipe a card than to pull out cash and wait for change. If you lose your card, just call the bank and have the card reissued with a new number, no worries about losing cash … Read more
Life is unpredictable. We might get into situations we hadn’t planned for. Job loss, medical emergencies, divorce, or just living beyond our means can get us into financial trouble. No matter what causes our bad credit, it can prevent us from getting that mortgage or auto loan that we really need. It takes time, money, … Read more
Credit = convenience We live in a consumer-driven society. We enjoy nice things like cars with more options and big houses. If we all had to work and save until we could pay cash for something, many of us would never be able to have those things. Being able to buy and use something now … Read more
