To be able to establish credit, you need a steady work record and continued residence at the same address.

Here are some ways to responsibly choose and use a credit card. Read the fine print. If you receive an offer for a pre-approved credit card or if someone says they’ll help you get a credit card, find out the details first. You need to know what interest rate you will be paying and for

Let’s play a game. I’ll give you a word and you tell me what comes to mind. Ready? “Predator.” Did you think of a prehistoric animal with claws and stabbing teeth? Or, a stealthy cheetah prowling for gazelle in the grassy plains of the Serengeti? Perhaps a portly Siamese cat stalking a house sparrow? How

Here are a few tips on how to avoid becoming the victim of credit card fraud: Periodically review your credit reports. There are three main credit bureaus. Order your credit report from each of them at least once a year. Request copies of your credit report from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. You can also obtain

The details of our financial lives can be tricky, and without a clear road map it’s easy to feel lost. Changes in tax laws and the family structure offer potential complications in how we handle our money, so heed these tips as you make financial plans for the future. Invest. If you have extra money

Few things in an American consumer’s life are as critical to their financial environment as their credit score – yet relatively few of us understand how the scores work, how the credit agencies calculate the scores, or even what number constitutes a “good” score. Let’s examine the credit score system and shine some light onto

There are many types of loans out there. Some have such high interest rates and so many fees tacked on that they are undesirable. A Share Pledge loan, however, may be the answer. Normally issued at a much lower interest rate, a Share Pledge loan from a Credit Union is a loan that is issued

If you are planning on applying for a loan or a mortgage in the near future, you’ll want to make sure that your credit score is in tiptop shape. Here are five things you can do to improve your credit score immediately.  Pay Your Bills On Time, Every Time More than one-third of your credit

There is a classic Jack Benny line from one of his comedy skits that while walking down a street, a robber sticks a gun in Benny’s back and says, “Your money or your life?” As the miserly Benny pauses to ponder the question and formulate his answer, the impatient robber warns “Well?” Benny blurts, “I’m

Today, building and maintaining a good credit score is of vital importance. Businesses often take your credit rating into account when evaluating you for a loan, lease, and even employment; so it is useful to understand how credit works and what your credit rights are as a consumer. There are three major federal laws that