Credit card debt in America continues to rise; the Federal Reserve released numbers for August 2017 showing over $13 billion in outstanding credit card debt. Why has credit card debt become such a problem? According to a 2017 study from creditcards.com, which surveyed credit card holders in the United States, “many carry debt for years; those with more income [are] … [Read more...]
How One Woman Raised Her Credit Score from 578 to 774
A couple of years ago, Sandra was getting ready to apply for an auto loan in the hopes of buying a more reliable vehicle than her old one. With a friend’s urging, Sandra checked her credit score for the first time in her life. She knew she had always been relatively responsible with money, although she had run into some problems paying bills on time in the past. She only has … [Read more...]
What is a Secured Credit Card?
If you’ve done any research on credit cards, you might have come across the terms "unsecured card" and "secured credit card" while exploring your credit options. A secured credit card is a handy financial tool that allows consumers to build credit, develop positive financial habits, and improve their credit scores with responsible use. What is a secured credit card and how … [Read more...]
A Roadmap to Repairing Your Credit
A good credit score isn't required for survival, but it can make certain life events easier, whether you're buying your first home, purchasing a car or renting an apartment. If your credit score has suffered over the years, you don't have to resign yourself to living without credit or pay a hefty sum of money to a credit-repair agency that may or may not help the situation. … [Read more...]
3 Easy Ways to Build Your Credit Score with a Secured Credit Card
So, what can good credit do for you? Having good credit can make it a lot easier to do things that you never guessed would require a credit check – like land a job or find a place to live. If you use the tips below, you could build the credit you need to help you get the loan you were looking for and probably at a much more reasonable rate than if you had bad credit or no … [Read more...]