Lots of banks and lenders these days treat small business loans, especially start up loans for businesses, as high risk items. That makes them more difficult to obtain than in recent years. But that doesn’t mean you have to fail in your attempt. However it does mean that you have to prepare correctly. The first Read More… »
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» Teaching Money Management with Student Debit Cards
Well, my kid is off to college and I’m coping with it as best I can. I prepared for the event as thoroughly as possible but the wife and I find that we have an entirely new set of worries that crop up. One thing we’re not worried about though is how our daughter will Read More… »
» Eyes on Your Credit File
Most people at least understand the concept of the credit report. They may never have pulled one of their own but they’ve heard about them enough to grasp what they are and what they do. But many people are surprised to learn that their credit report isn’t exactly locked away in a vault somewhere, away Read More… »
» College Freedom and the Student Debit Card
Students have been known from time to time to go just a little out of control. That’s especially true when they get into college. Ah, that first taste of freedom; what a rush! And while out of control can be fun (sometimes) it can also have serious consequences. That’s especially true when you consider the Read More… »
» The Spousal Budget Plan
Do you try to handle all of your family paperwork alone? You know what I mean; do you pay the bills and deal with all the real and junk mail yourself? If you do, you’re probably doing about twice the work you could be doing if you just decided to do get your wife or Read More… »
» The Necessity of Monitoring Your Credit Report
Just about everybody knows they have a credit report somewhere. Surprisingly, many people have never taken the time to pull their report and take a good look at it. I say surprisingly because credit has become so much a part of the fabric of our daily lives that people lose a competitive edge if they Read More… »
» What are Credit Bureaus?
Have you ever wondered what a credit bureau is? It sounds pretty official doesn’t it? But contrary to the way it seems, a credit bureau is not a government or quasi-government agency. Rather, it’s a for-profit company that collects and then sells consumer credit information. There are three major credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Read More… »
» Protect Your Credit Score
In today’s world, credit is everywhere. It’s used by employers to screen job candidates; it’s used by property managers to screen tenants, and of course it’s used by everyone in the lending industry to make loan and lines of credit decisions. It’s almost risen to the level of a utility in our society because if Read More… »
» Bad Credit and Refinancing
Refinancing your mortgage is a lot of work. There’s a ton of paperwork to fill out. There’s a lot of “hurry up and wait” when it comes to dealing with all that paperwork too. But it’s even more work when your credit is less than sterling. To protect yourself, you should go out and get Read More… »
» Achieving a Top Notch Credit Score
If you’re wondering what passes for a “very good” credit score nowadays, it’s somewhere close to 718 on the FICO scale. If you have a score that high or higher, you have access to the very best rates and the very best terms lenders offer. You can save a bundle on a loan or some Read More… »