Your credit score goes up when you show that you’re financially trustworthy. One day you pay off a loan and notice that your score drops. Shouldn’t your credit score have jumped up, instead? To understand what’s happening, take a look at how credit scores are calculated: Credit Reports and Scores The three credit reporting agencies,

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

You know a credit score is important when you apply for a loan or credit card – but do you know exactly what it is and how it can affect your chances in getting the financing you want? Creditors use a credit scoring system to help determine whether to give you credit, and how much

So you’ve located an error on your credit report that’s costing you a few precious points on your credit score. It could be that the credit reporting agency confused you with a Jane Doe of the same name or a creditor failed to record a settled account. Regardless of how it got there, there’s a mistake that

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

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

The automobile is an essential part of American life. Even high school students, the ink barely wet on their drivers’ licenses, often expect to have a car at their disposal. Most of us would have a hard time getting to work, doing our shopping and leading our daily lives without a car. The problem is

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

If you fall into a typical income bracket, then most likely you have a limited amount of money to spend. Budgeting can be a challenge, and unanticipated expenses can regularly come up, tacking onto rent, car payments, and other financial obligations most people have. What you have left of your income for spending can be

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