What’s worth more: $1M or 800 credit score?
Summary If you had to choose between $1 million dollars (after taxes!) or a credit score of 800, which would you choose? Which do you believe is worth more? What can $1M get you? A million dollars can buy a lot. Most anyone could use this to buy their dream home, dream car, and go […]
Money-saving hack: shop around for car insurance rates
Summary Keep on top of the auto insurance market every six months to make sure you are not overpaying and to help you save money You can generally switch auto insurance companies at any time if you give the proper notice You can now compare auto insurance rates through Credit Sesame Whether it’s a lizard […]
Our support for social justice
The past few days have been very tough for the United States—especially the Black Community—as the entire country has been grappling with the senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and others. As I listen, watch, and read about what is going on around us, I sympathize with the grief, anger and fear, […]
3 Ways to Grow Your Credit Without an Income
Summary You don’t need to make a lot of money or have a steady job to grow your credit These three steps are things you can do to help grow your credit, even without an income: Become an authorized user on a responsible family member’s credit card account Apply for a secured credit card or […]
Is Your Credit Score Affecting Your Health? You’re Not Alone
Summary: You’re not alone if you are experiencing mental or physical stress as a result of your credit health. The good news is that there are many resources out there that can help you deal with financial stress. Our guide on The Do’s and Don’ts of Budgeting During a Crisis can be a good place […]
If you live in these four states and filed for unemployment, your information could be exposed to identity theft.
Summary If you filed for unemployment in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, or Ohio, your personal information may have been exposed in a data leak You should check your bank accounts and credit report to see if there is any usual activity If so, immediate steps to take include filing reports with the FTC, police, and all […]
Did Great Lakes tank your credit score? Here’s how to fix it.
TL;DR Great Lakes violated the CARES Act by incorrectly reporting that many student loan borrowers had missed payments If your credit score dropped as a result, take these steps to fix it immediately: File a dispute with the credit bureaus File a dispute with Great Lakes To check your score and see what is impacting […]
Do you have enough credit cards? Here are 6 reasons to consider more
Credit cards. Some people love them and some people hate them. To some, these magical plastic rectangles can unlock limitless opportunities to the masters who respect their powers. However, these same magical pieces of plastic have also brought much doom and despair for owners as well. At the end of the day, credit cards play […]
4 Credit and Finance Checks To Do Before Your State Reopens
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented amounts of disruption for many people around the world. In 2020, a number of states in the US have issued shelter-in-place orders requiring people to stay at home and non-essential businesses to close physical storefronts in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. This has caused a […]
Loan Forbearance vs. Deferment – What’s the Difference?
If you lost your job due to COVID-19, you may be able to get a loan forbearance to help you financially during this unprecedented time. However, you may be concerned that a loan forbearance will affect your credit score. What is a loan forbearance? How is it different from a deferment? A loan forbearance generally […]
Do You Know Your Business Credit Card Can Affect Your Personal Credit Score?
Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. EDITORS NOTE: The U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ MasterCard®, U.S. Bank Business Select Rewards Card, Wells Fargo Business Elite Card®, Wells […]
If You Become Unemployed During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Make These 4 Moves
We’re all living in a tricky time, we’re worried about our health, our family’s health, and honestly everyone else’s health during this pandemic. As if that wasn’t enough, we have to simultaneously think about our finances and the future of our employment. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the US population is already facing the stark […]
Don’t Like Your Credit Score? Improve Your Score With These 4 Simple Tips
Let’s face it, your credit score can be like a bad haircut. One mistake can leave you feeling embarrassed and filled with regret for a period of time (maybe the world isn’t ready yet for your extra short homemade bangs or fashion forward mullet). You’ll do anything to avoid letting anyone know about it or […]
Have You Received Your Stimulus Payment? We Want to Know.
The federal government recently passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act to help businesses, families, and individuals stay financially afloat during this pandemic. Part of this Act requires the IRS to distribute stimulus payments to qualified individuals. Are you one of the millions of Americans who’s already received your stimulus payment […]
COVID-19 is causing you more debt? Then try these 5 tips to manage your finances during a pandemic
You probably don’t need us to tell you, but these are unusual times. Even if you or someone in your household hasn’t lost their job or been otherwise affected by the pandemic directly, many of us are thinking about ways COVID-19 is impacting our finances and ways to manage that. Whatever your situation, it’s never […]
