Improve Your Credit Score Under the New FICO Scoring
April 25, 2009
Improving your credit score before banks check your credit report is an important step towards getting a good rate when applying for a loan, taking out a mortgage, or opening a credit card.
New FICO Score
Fair Isaac, the company that created the FICO score, has been working on a new version of its landmark credit scoring [...]
Credit Reports & Credit Scores – Choosing the Best One for You
April 23, 2009
If you’ve ever applied for a loan, credit card, or mortgage, you know your credit score plays a major role in your approval. Having a good credit score is the key factor in buying a car or a house, or obtaining a credit card with a lower interest rate and better terms than those who [...]
American Express Blue Cash Rewards – 5% Cash Back Plus Free Credit Report
September 24, 2008
Blue cash from American Express is our pick for best cash back credit card. The reason we use the amex blue cash card for the majority of our purchases is the 5% cash back it offers at gas stations, supermarkets, and drug stores.
5% Cash Back
While there is an annual spending amount you have to [...]
Secured Credit Cards & Secured Loans Can Help Build Your Credit History
August 24, 2008
Secured credit cards and secured loans are an alternative to signing up for a regular credit card in order to build your credit history. I recently received the email below from a reader who is a recent college graduate and is looking to build up her credit history so she can buy a home in the [...]
Equifax ID Patrol Review – A Good Choice to Monitor Your Credit Reports and Protect Your Identity?
August 9, 2008
Equifax’s ID Patrol, a new identity theft protection and credit monitoring service, launched recently and I used a promotion code to sign up for a free trial. I’m a big fan of credit monitoring services, as you could probably tell from my True Credit review, especially if they offer identity theft protection as part of [...]
True Credit Review – How I Use the Credit Score & Credit Report Monitoring Service
July 19, 2008
What is True Credit?
True Credit is a credit monitoring service that allows you to check your reports and scores from all three credit bureaus each month.
Do you really need to monitor your credit reports?
Well, depending on who you ask this service is either a valuable lifeline or a total and complete waste of money.
Let me [...]
Identity Theft Protection – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
June 6, 2008
Identity theft in the form of stolen account information is often paid for with the time you spend contacting banks and merchants to cancel fraudulent transactions. Unfortunately there are higher financial implications for a more sinister type of identity theft that involves not just a few transactions but entire fraudulent accounts opened in your name.
Fraudulent [...]
Best Credit Cards for New College Graduates & Young Professionals
May 14, 2008
The best credit card for you will likely change along with your financial circumstances. As you graduate from college and get a job, you’ll want to do a review of your finances and your current credit cards to make sure you’re taking advantage of the benefits your new salary might bring.
Many people unfortunately rely heavily on credit [...]
How to Get a Free Credit Report
January 22, 2008
If you are interested in purchasing a home, buying a car, or getting a loan for any reason, your lender is going to ask you for the information necessary to get a credit report. Depending on the results of the report, you will be able to obtain a loan or be rejected. So, if [...]
