Obtaining Your Three Credit Scores
I’ve posted a few times about how I’ve improved my credit score from a measly 581 to a whopping 758 within a year (through Transunion). It took a lot of hard work, effort, and time. Through this process, I also realized I need to check my credit score annually and make sure it stays above the 720 mark, or in the very good range, in order to eventually obtain the lowest interest loan on a future mortgage (a goal of mine!) If you haven’t checked your score or report in a while,...
Read MoreYear-End Wrap-Up
With Christmas just a few days away, I’m finishing some last minute gift wrapping and planning my trip out of town. However, now is as good a time as any to see how I stand on this past year’s resolutions. At the beginning of this year, 2010, my goals were to: Keep paying off our line of credit: $8,400 more to go! Status: I’m half way there. We swapped out our crummy line of credit for a lower interest rate loan. I have $4,200 more to go. Whoo, hoo! Raise our credit scores...
Read MoreCredit Update…Excellent Dude!
One part of my 3-step plan is definitely on track; and I dare say complete! I’ve finally increased my credit score to a whopping 758 and that’s put me in the ‘Excellent’ category. Of course, I should probably slow down and back track a bit since this is really just my Transunion score. If I look back at the beginning of last year, my score was a pitiful 581. Yikes! I was not at all considered a good credit risk. Luckily, many of my negative items from yesteryear...
Read MoreWhat to Do if You’ve Been Declined a Secure Credit Card
A while ago, a mutual friend of ours admitted that he had ruined his credit and wanted to begin rebuilding it through obtaining a secure credit card. I advised him on opening up a secure credit card because most banks keep the amount of the credit line, for instance $500, in a savings account as collateral for extending credit to a person who is a less than credit worthy. A secure credit card is similar to a prepaid Visa gift card, but it’s reported to the credit bureaus as an actual...
Read MoreNational Debt Relief a Fraud?
Once a month I help out one of our clients with her personal finance issues, such as checking her credit card balances and calculating her residual income from her deceased ex-husband’s films. Unfortunately, she has always had others take care of her bills and finances and is purposefully clueless about finance charges and credit card debt. Hence, whenever credit card offers come in the mail, she has me look over them. The majority of the offers I shred immediately; there’s no...
Read More
Links I Love
usaa widget
- 529 College Savings Plan
Open a USAA 529 College Savings Plan and ensure your child's education has a happy ending!
- Saving for Retirement
Saving for retirement can be tough but USAA's retirement tools makes that process much easier - sign up today!
- USAA Savings Account
Take advantage of a USAA savings account where the more you save, the better your rate becomes.