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credit score

Debt

Ways To Improve Your Credit Without Credit Cards

Did you know that there are ways to improve your credit without the use of credit cards? Most people don’t realize this and because of that they put themselves at risk by getting multiple credit cards that they know they should not have. What you need to understand is that credit cards can often be a problem, not a solution, if they aren’t being used properly.

So, what is the best way to improve your credit without credit cards?

Get a secured loan.

Well, the best way to improve your credit without credit cards is to get a secured loan. What is a secured loan? A secured loan is one where you are backing the loan with some type of collateral. For example, a car loan would be secured, a home loan would be secured as well and a recreational vehicle loan would be secured too. The reason these are better is because you get a better rate and they don’t let you spend more on them once you have received them. Unlike credit cards, these types of loans are set, so you know exactly what you will be paying and when it will be paid off.

October 13, 2013

Debt

5 Ways For College Students To Improve Their Credit Scores

Most students haven’t thought twice (or even once) about their credit score, mainly because they’ve had no real reason to. But once you start applying for student loans or decide to rent an apartment, your credit rating is suddenly going to become important. Whether you have stellar credit, a spotty history, or no rating at all, it can have an impact on what you’re able to accomplish in terms of getting a line of credit or a lease. So here are just a few ways to improve or build your credit score.

Pay your bills. Even if you have no credit history to speak of, there are other ways for lenders to determine whether or not you’re worthy of receiving a line of credit. For example, they may look at bank accounts to see if you maintain a balance or suffer from frequent overdrafts (showing your money management skills). Or they might look at your history of bill payment. As a new student you may not have any history, but eventually you’ll pay for rent, utilities, and other monthly bills, and creditors can look at these in lieu of a credit score. You can also self-report payments with a company like PRBC (Payment Reporting Builds Credit) as a way to improve your appeal to lenders.

May 5, 2013

Debt

Dispelling Credit Myths: The Truth About Credit For Married Couples

While it is true that you will be sharing a name, a house, a bed, a kitchen, and probably the popcorn as you watch Friday night movies, it is not true that you and your spouse will be sharing a credit report. Neither is it true that marriage makes taxes higher. In fact, quite a few credit myths could affect how you handle your finances, especially when you get married. Here, we outline a few.

MYTH #1: Marriage makes you pay more taxes. While not everyone gets to pay less tax when they get married, not everyone has to pay more tax either. To make the picture more concrete, let’s take a look at the cold, hard facts from the Business Insider:

-Couples with disparate income enjoyed an average tax break of $1,300

-51% of married couples paid less in taxes jointly than they would have if they were single

-42% of married couples paid more taxes jointly

Thus, when it comes to taxes and marriage, your mileage may vary. Just hope that you’ll belong to the 51% of couples who paid LESS tax when they got married.

April 12, 2013

Debt

5 Reasons Why You Should Check Your Credit Report

Do you know what your credit score is? If you answered no, don’t feel bad. Most people couldn’t tell you with any kind of accuracy the number on their credit report, even though it has the potential to impact their lives in a major way. Suppose, for example, that you’ve finally managed to set aside a decent amount of money towards a down payment on a home. However, when you go to a bank seeking approval for a loan, you could discover that ancient black marks on your credit report related to massive credit card debt and a spotty payment history will set you back significantly. Even if you cleared up these issues a long time ago, a failure to check your credit report could mean that they’re still dragging down your rating, leaving you with fewer (and less appealing) options when it comes to taking a major loan. In short, there are plenty of reasons why you should check your credit report on an annual basis. Here are a few that should get you going.

Awareness. If you don’t know what your credit report says you can hardly expect to improve it. And if you want to make any major purchases in the future (a car, a home, a business, etc.) you need to have a top-tier score in order to get the stellar interest rates and other terms that you’re seeking. Your credit score can not only make or break your chances at loan approval, but also your ability to attain rates that you can actually afford to repay. So before you even think about looking for a loan, you should check out your credit report to see if you’ll even qualify.

February 19, 2013

Debt

5 Sure-Fire Ways To Improve Your Credit Rating

Millions of consumers have their credit ratings (also called credit scores) damaged during times of financial crisis. Many aren’t even aware of what behaviours can hurt their credit rating. A low credit score can make it difficult, if not impossible to secure a credit card or get a loan. But a low credit score doesn’t have to remain that way, in fact, it is quite easy to raise your credit score back up again. By making a few adjustments to your financial habits and taking a few tried and tested steps, you can have your credit score as good as new in no time. If your credit score is on the high side, you can improve it even more with these 5 sure-fire methods of raining a credit score.

First Find Out What Your Credit Score Is

To improve your credit score you need to know what it is. You can purchase your credit score from one or all of the three major credit reporting agencies – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Don’t get your credit score confused with your credit history. Your credit history is a report of your financial behavior over any given seven year period. It is the events in your credit history that are used to calculate your credit score.

January 17, 2013

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