From the category archives:

Personal Debt

Fixing Your Credit?

July 10, 2010

I’ve talked before about whether or not you should hire an “expert” to help improve your credit.  While you’ve probably heard loads of ads and commercials about fixing your credit, there’s no easy answer or magic bullet. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) have [...]

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Credit Cards: Keep Your Eyes Peeled

June 21, 2010

I tend to put all of my expenses on credit cards.  It’s a good way to build miles and points, and that’s how I have the opportunity to jaunt off on weekends away with my friends on occasion. One thing I’ve learned from charging so much is that it’s really essential to be diligent in [...]

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Get Your Annual (Free) Credit Report!

June 11, 2010

Have you checked your credit report lately?  Did you know that you can request free copies of credit reports from each of the three credit reporting bureaus annually? It’s important to review your credit reports, not only for fraudulent activity, but also for common, honest errors that can occur. There are loads of companies offering [...]

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Two Spouses, Two Different Credit Reports?

May 18, 2010

If you are married, you probably already know that you and your spouse have different credit reports. Even when you are married, you will still have your very own credit report separate from your spouse’s. That means you should make sure that you have credit in your name. It should be a card IN YOUR [...]

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Should You Have a Credit Card?

May 17, 2010

Last week, someone asked me if it’s important to have a credit card to maintain a good credit rating. I thought this was a great question to tackle in a post. In order to maintain a good credit history, you actually have to HAVE a credit history. You need to show potential creditors that you [...]

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Improving Your Credit: Hiring an Expert?

May 14, 2010

The other day, I had a question posed to me about credit repair – is it necessary to hire a credit repair firm to repair credit? The answer? Absolutely not. There are loads of alternatives, and the most important thing is not to ignore your problems, but to face them. First, figure out what the [...]

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Opting Out of Annoying Credit Card Offers

April 28, 2010

Do you gets lots of those pre-approved credit card and insurance offers?  Receiving those offers can be tempting, but it can also make identity theft a lot easier for thieves.  If you don’t want those offers filling up your mailbox, there’s a way out!  Visit www.optoutprescreen.com to opt-out of firm offers for five years (online), [...]

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Refinancing? Act Now!

April 15, 2010

Are you thinking about refinancing your home, or perhaps getting a loan for another purpose? While I don’t advocate adding additional debt to your liabilities, refinancing an existing loan cam be a great way to save money. If you are considering it, don’t hesitate! Interest rates are headed up, according tothis article from CNN , [...]

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Refinancing – Does it Make Sense

January 19, 2010

My husband and I are going through the refinancing process and it can certainly be complicated.  Here are a few things to remember and consider when you decide to refinance. What is your current interest rate? – if you refinance, it’s best for your new rate to be lower than the existing rate.  There are [...]

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Annual Fee Credit Cards… Worth the Cost?

January 11, 2010

One of the questions I frequently here is whether or not it’s worth having a premium credit card with an annual fee.  While many finance professionals advise against paying an annual fee for a card, I think it’s important to weigh the costs with the benefits. Before getting a card with a fee, you should [...]

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