Your credit score defines you financially. Establishing and maintaining good credit will make your life infinitely easier. To establish a good credit score you must make your payments on time and in full every month. You can also improve your credit score by minimizing your debt. Learn more here about your credit score and what it means for you.
I stopped paying my mortgage when my loan was sold. Now what?
This reader stopped paying his mortgage when his loan was sold. It’s been a few years since he made a mortgage payment and apparently has little contact with the lender. Q: My mortgage was sold to a loan processor in 2011. I got a welcome letter saying my payment was $635 when it really should [...]
Your Bankruptcy Recovery Plan
Having your bankruptcy recovery plan in place before filing will help you get back on track to rebuild your credit post-bankruptcy. This is how to get started. Q: My husband and I are going to file bankruptcy within the next 2 to 3 months on our personal accounts and our business. What is the best [...]
7 Quick and Easy Ways to Save More Money in 1 Hour
Everyone could use some money help, but it seems like there’s never enough time to get started. But what if you could save more money each month and learn how to budget in just one hour? In honor of Money Smart Week, I’ve compiled 7 quick and easy ways to save more money in just [...]
4 Scary Credit Stories You Can’t Afford to Believe
Everyone wants a great credit score, but it turns out there are some persistent scary credit stories going around that could turn this goal - and your finances - into a nightmare. According to a recent survey by Capital One on Americans’ credit confidence, plenty of respondents describe their credit history favorably, or at least [...]
5 Common Myths About Car Insurance
When buying car insurance, it’s important to understand the factors that can affect your premium rates and coverage. But how can you tell the difference between truth and fiction? A good place to start is by reading the following on the five common myths about auto insurance. Myth 1: It’s all black and white During [...]
How a Tax Lien Can Impact Your Credit Score
If you owe money to the IRS, the agency could file a tax lien against you. A tax lien is a legal claim to all of a taxpayer’s property for the amount that taxpayer owes the IRS. It establishes priority rights against other creditors that might also have liens against the taxpayer’s assets. In addition [...]
When Should You Refinance Your Mortgage?
With today’s low interest rates, many homeowners are refinancing their mortgages. In doing so, they will be not only paying less interest over the life of the mortgage but also lowering their monthly payments. Timing is everything when it comes to refinancing your mortgage. If you wait too long and interest rates climb, you could [...]
How Pulling Your Credit Report Impacts Your Credit Score, and Other Credit Score Facts
Accessing or “pulling” your credit report allows you to review your credit behavior. You can see what lenders are reporting about you while you monitor your payment history. Checking your credit report should be a regular part of your routine financial behavior, similarly to reviewing your bank statements or creating a budget. Some consumers are [...]
3 Tips to Get a Lower interest Rate
Want a lower interest rate, late payment fee forgiveness or a higher credit limit? Just ask for it. Nearly nine out of 10 credit cardholders who asked their credit card companies to waive a late payment fee were successful, and about two-thirds who asked for a lower interest rate were approved, according to CreditCards.com. “It’s [...]