credit

credit

New Credit Card Rules Shun Stay-at-home Moms

March 2nd, 2011 by Joshua Heckathorn

[caption id="attachment_2894" align="alignleft" width="231" caption=" "]stay at home moms[/caption]

I was raised by a full-time mom. She was incredible. In fact, my Dad used to always say that she deserved a salary much higher than his for all she accomplished around the home.

Of course, that doesn't mean he put her on payroll, but she always had what she needed to spend on food, the kids, and herself. His income was her income, and that worked for us, as it does for millions of other families.

Give the Gift of Good Credit This Valentine's Day

February 14th, 2011 by Joshua Heckathorn

[caption id="attachment_2706" align="alignnone" width="500" caption=" "]valentines day candyPhoto by HurricaneMaine[/caption]

You have amazing credit. Your Valentines's credit stinks.

It's a common occurrence these days, but did you know it's one that you can easily do something about?

Forget about the overpriced stuffed animals, waxy chocolate, and expensive dinners this Valentine's day, and give your partner something that will really change his/her future forever. Lend your excellent credit score! Here's how:

What Are Credit Card Hackers?

February 9th, 2011 by Elisabeth Chan

Hackers break into computers or computer networks for a variety of reasons. Some do it illegally for profit, some are paid to do it legally, and others simply do it for the challenge. Credit card hackers, however, do their dirty deed with only one thing in mind—stealing your credit card information to make money. Ever heard of Lush, the handmade cosmetic company that sells all sorts of interesting bath and shower products? Their UK website was recently hacked and may have exposed the credit card information of every customer that purchased a product online between October 2010 and January 2011.

Ask Creditnet: How Student Credit Cards Affect Credit Scores

December 22nd, 2010 by Joshua Heckathorn

 student credit cards Dear Creditnet: I have nine years of credit-history and while my credit is "good", it's not "excellent". I'm currently interested in applying for a top-notch rewards credit card, but my chances of getting approved seem to be much higher if I apply for the student version of the card. So my question is will a student credit card have the same effect as a regular credit card on my credit score? And what about rebuilding my credit-history? Will a student credit card help improve my credit just as much as any other credit card?

5 Money Management Myths

December 1st, 2010 by Elisabeth Chan

5 Money Management Myths
Money Management.

It can be the difference between living free from financial worries or scraping by from paycheck to paycheck. But there are several money management myths floating around that can act as roadblocks on your way to financial security.

Fear not, however, because we’re here to guide you through these myths and help establish a financial plan that’s right for you.

Why Good Credit is So Important

November 19th, 2010 by Elisabeth Chan

[caption id="attachment_2133" align="alignnone" width="414" caption=" "]credit history good credit scores[/caption]

You grow up learning that good credit is a near-necessity in life. But the older you get, the more people you meet with bad credit.

They are your friends.

They are your family members.

They are people you like and you respect and you look up to. And it's confusing when they seem to be getting by just fine, even with hefty debts and a bad credit score.

For some, dealing with bad credit is just a part of life. But they are missing out on a lot.

How to Protect Your Credit from Identity Theft

November 9th, 2010 by Joshua Heckathorn

Black Friday is just around the corner!  And whether that conjures up feelings of intense excitement or the urge to lose your lunch, the fact is you'll probably spend more time over the next few months than any other season wandering through crowded malls and surfing the web for the perfect gift. To an identity thief, this means one thing—extra opportunities to nab your credit card information and put a real damper on your holiday cheer! So be a smart shopper this year and take some additional precautions to protect yourself from identity theft and ensure your bank accounts, credit reports and credit scores stay safe and sound.

Ask Creditnet: Is My Credit Card Reporting Correctly?

September 30th, 2010 by Joshua Heckathorn

[caption id="attachment_1773" align="alignleft" width="300" caption=" "]Ask Creditnet: Credit Card Advice from Industry Experts[/caption]

Dear Creditnet: I'm a cosigner on my son's credit card. I know, that may have been a mistake in the first place.

Recently, I pulled my credit report and found out that the account was maxed out, closed in March of last year, and then reported late for six months before he started making payments again. The account status is currently listed as "Pays As Agreed."

Ask Creditnet: Must My Son Relinquish His Credit Card?

September 8th, 2010 by Joshua Heckathorn

 Dear Creditnet: My son has had his own credit card since his 18th birthday. He is a now a 20-year-old college student, has never carried a balance, and uses his credit sparingly. We taught him well. Under the new credit card laws, will he be required to relinquish his credit card because he will not be 21 until 2011? Answer: It's always nice to find a parent that actually understands the value in teaching their children how to responsibly manage credit from a young age. Unfortunately, parents like you are few and far between. Believe me, your son has an enormous head start on most of his college-age peers.

Mortgage or Credit Card: Which Would You Pay First?

August 13th, 2010 by Joshua Heckathorn

[caption id="attachment_1606" align="alignleft" width="300" caption=" "]Photo by Respres[/caption]

A recent TransUnion study found that the percentage of Americans behind on their mortgage but current on their credit cards increased nearly 55 percent between early 2008 and the third quarter of 2009.

And while the amount of consumers we're talking about is still relatively small (6.6%), I find the overall trend to be quite compelling. Clearly, consumers are beginning to think differently about the priority of their debts.

Pages