Yes, these methods are guaranteed to improve your credit score rating. There are no gimmicks, no shortcuts, just tried and tested means that work. And they don’t cost you a thing! Continue reading “5 Flawless Ways to Improve your Credit Score Rating”
When I meet with people who are dealing with building credit for the first time or rebuilding/repairing their credit after some financial misadventures, we often talk about the components of their credit score and how they can make an impact on that score. Fairly often, someone will say “I have heard…” and then tell me something they’ve heard about credit scores. After hearing the same “I have heard” items or myths repeatedly, I thought it might be a great time to address a few of them so that you can start the new year with a few facts instead of myths. Continue reading “Credit Score Myths That Drive Me Crazy”
One of the things that I believe is that one of the best ways to learn how to do something well is to learn from someone who is already doing that thing very well. It’s a long established tradition. When we want to improve our golf game, we get lessons from a pro. When we want to make progress in our fitness levels, we can work with a personal trainer. When we want to create a new dinner, we can turn on the Food Network and, after salivating because of the absolutely amazing way that some of the dishes are prepared, find a new dish to put on your dinner table. This concept can be translated directly into the financial world and recently it has. This article from FICO talks about the habits of those with credit scores over 785, which places them in the top 25% of all credit scores. Continue reading “What We Can Learn From the Top 25% of Credit Scorers”
My son is frustrated and I think probably a bit mad at me (but he didn’t come out and say that). He just graduated from college and found out he has a credit score of 587. That is a terrible score but then again, as I told him, he is a terrible credit risk. Why should he have a good score? He just graduated, moved to a new city and got his first paycheck. What bank would take a chance on him? Continue reading “Help Your Child Establish Credit Early”
What is the day after Black Friday called? I have no idea if it actually has a name, but after reading news stories and seeing things all over the internet and on Twitter, I have a few suggestions. “Retail hangover Saturday?” “How much did I spend yesterday” day? “Look at all my new store credit cards” day? I saw a lot of stories, blogs and tweets about people spending money and opening up new credit cards in order to get an extra 10% or 20% off of their purchases. Many of them plan to close the cards immediately upon getting their first bill. But is that a wise move? It might be, but let’s look at the options you have for recently opened credit cards, and how your credit score might be impacted. Continue reading “The Day After Black Friday”
If you have read more than two of my blogs, you probably already know that while I take your financial lives pretty seriously, I don’t take myself seriously. At all. So, in the spirit of having a little bit of fun with this (it’s summer after all), and answering some REAL questions that I’ve been asked over the last few years, here’s a little “unconventional financial education” Q&A session: Continue reading “An Unconventional Q&A Session with a Financial Planner”
