The purpose of an alarm is simple. It serves to tell you and others around you of a problem. In most cases the alarm is simply the first step to further actions that are needed. Credit monitoring is no different, it’s your first line of defense to manage your credit score and react to unusual…
Posts Categorized: Credit and Debt
This one number makes all the difference to identity thieves… your social security number. When you apply for a job, the application asks for your social security number. When you apply for a bank account, they want your social security number. When you file a tax return, apply for a loan, get medical treatment, apply…
As 2018 ends and 2019 begins, the housing market in the US is being affected by rising interest rates. It will be important for home buyers to consider the current state of the market when shopping for a home. Interest rates have gone up several times in the last 12 months, and are higher than…
Last week, Washington Post reported that Marriott International disclosed a massive data breach in which hackers had access to the reservation systems of many of its hotel chains for the past four years, a breach that exposed the private details of up to 500 million people. This data breach – one of the largest in…
The use of credit scores goes back to the 1950’s, but it became prevalent during the 1980’s as a way for lenders to quickly and easily evaluate a potential borrower’s creditworthiness. Today credit scoring is used by lenders, insurers, landlords, employers, utility companies, and even judges, to evaluate your credit behavior. There are many types…
The Importance Of Checking Your Credit Score On A Regular Basis You can check your credit report for free once per year at www.annualcreditreport.com, and we urge everyone to do so. But checking your report isn’t the same as checking your score, and that leaves some questions. Should you check your credit score? How often?…
We urge everyone to check their credit reports regularly. Anyone can get a free credit report annually from annualcreditreport.com, from each of the three credit bureaus. That means three times per year you can check one of your credit reports at no cost. But some people need to check their credit more frequently. For them,…
We want everyone to learn how to read a credit report, and to get in the habit of checking their own credit regularly. You can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once per year by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. But when is the right time to check? Here are 3…
When it comes to boosting your credit score, there are a lot of myths floating around. It’s important to be skeptical and proceed with caution because your financial health is at stake. If you are influenced by the wrong myths about credit cards, you can actually suffer from poorer credit, because you might be avoiding things…
When people are trying to build credit, typically they will use a credit card to establish that they are a good credit risk. They might start with secured cards, or become co-signers on the accounts of other users with good credit. However, getting a credit card can become a life-long commitment, getting you into debt…
In an ideal world, you’d begin your homeownership journey debt free (with a 3-month emergency fund saved, to boot). In the real world, however, debt is a reality, whether it be some credit card debt, a car loan, or outstanding student loans, all of which could add up to a sizable amount. Therefore, eliminating it…
Baby steps can make a big goal look much more achievable. A $5 daily savings goal is a small commitment that can have a big impact over time. Following this practice for a year adds up to $1,825 to fund your emergency savings account, put a down payment on a car, or treat yourself to…