When to Close an Account
One of my goals for this year, that I have partly accomplished, is raising my credit score. I need to get my score above 740, at minimum, so that when I apply for a mortgage loan, I’ll be able to get the best rate. I still need to raise my score about 40 points (this is an average as all 3 credit bureaus are reporting slightly different scores). One thing I’ve learned about improving my credit score, is keeping my debt to credit ratio low. Since I’ve paid off all of my...
Read MoreShould everyone buy a house?
As I browse the business sections of MSN.com, so many articles are written to encourage prospective buyers to take the plunge and buy a house. Headlines read like a “going out of business” sale, “Mortgage rates at rock bottom, buy now” is the theme. But just because mortgage rates are the lowest they’ve been in years, and home prices are much more reasonable than three years ago, does that mean everyone should go out and buy a house? I’m playing devil’s...
Read MoreMy Next Step
I’m realizing that my goal to purchase a house with in the next year is still many months away. I started out with a 3-step plan: pay down debt, raise my credit score, save for a down payment. My first two goals are going swimmingly; I’ve paid off close to $8,000 in debt and am working towards paying off my line of credit and my car loan. I used a debt repayment calculator and found that at the rate I’m going, I should have both paid off in under two years. That’s great...
Read MoreThe Quick and the Crappy
My trips to Arizona always leave me questioning life style choices. I think it’s because central Arizona, to me, is a conundrum: It’s a beautiful state in the winter, and a horrid place in the summer. The newly paved roads make driving pleasant, yet the endless mini-marts and beige-colored housing developments make for a boring and repetitive landscape. Which brings me to the topic of endless housing developments. With each visit, usually twice a year, I notice a new community...
Read MoreRent Vs. Buy; the Guilt, the Guilt…
Just the other day, Get Rich Slowly wrote a terrific post about renting versus buying property. I’ve been meaning to write my own post about this, especially since purchasing property has been on my mind now for over a year. It is also one of my goals I hope to accomplish by the end of this year or the middle of next year. However, I’m still not ready to take the plunge for a few reasons: Down payment: I don’t have the down payment saved up. I’d like to have at least...
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.