Perhaps the most common question about credit is, "What makes up my FICO Score?"
That may not surprise you since you're reading this article to answer that very question. But what may...
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Apr 18, 2012 | 56% of Americans Don't Have a Personal Budget
It's April, which means Financial Literacy Month is here once again! And as usual, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) recently released the much-anticipated results of its 2012 Consumer Financial... -
Apr 09, 2012 | There's No Such Thing as Too Much Available Credit
It's a common credit-scoring myth that too much available credit will damage your FICO scores. For example, let's say you have ten credit cards and over $150,000 in available credit, yet you only spend about $1,000 per... -
Mar 05, 2012 | Don't Blow Your Tax Refund
It's easy to think of tax refunds as a free windfall of money that you can blow however you please. In truth, a tax refund isn't free money at all. It's actually money that should've been in your bank account all along, but you chose to lend it to the government... -
Feb 15, 2012 | Prepaid Debit Cards Don't Report to Major Credit Bureaus
Many prepaid debit cards advertise that they report payment history to credit reporting agencies. While this isn't exactly untrue, don't be fooled by the marketing speak! Here's the catch. They may... -
Feb 08, 2012 | Always Keep a Backup Credit Card Handy
One credit card may seem like more than enough to manage your personal expenses, but the fact is it's just not a good idea to limit yourself to one card. Why is that? Well, what if your credit issuer decides to cut your credit limit in half? You... -
Jan 23, 2012 | Foreclosure and Your Federal Tax Bill
When a lender forecloses on a home, it can choose to either forgive any remaining debt or pursue the homeowner for a deficiency judgment. If the lender chooses to forgive the debt, which is often the case, it will send a form 1099-C to the... -
Jan 17, 2012 | Student Credit Cards: Don't Get Denied Due to Insufficient Income
College students under the age of 21 have found it increasingly difficult to get approved for student credit cards on their own. This is primarily due to new federal laws that require young adults under 21 to... -
Jan 01, 2011 | Trash Those Balance Transfer Checks
Have you been getting a lot of balance transfer credit card checks in the mail recently? If so, you're not alone! As the holiday season quickly approaches, credit issuers know there are a lot of consumers in need of some extra financial help... -
Dec 19, 2011 | Use Your Flexible Spending Accounts by 12/31
FSAs (Flexible Spending Accounts) often allow you to set aside up to $5,000 pretax for medical expenses. While this can be a great way to help reduce medical costs throughout out the year, most companies also require that you use those... -
Dec 12, 2011 | Always Pay in Local Currency When Shopping Overseas
If you're traveling out of the country for the holidays, here's a quick tip to help make the most of every dollar you spend abroad. No matter where you're traveling, always pay in the local currency when using your credit...
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