Many people work hard to maintain good credit and a healthy financial profile. The credit report is like a report card for your finances and it, combined with your credit score, controls almost everything that you do financially. It can determine whether you can secure a mortgage, buy a car, or get a credit account. … Continue reading How Long Do Negative Items Stay on Your Credit Report? →
When it comes to financial debt, the media has given plenty of focus to credit card debt, student loan debt, and even mortgage debt during the 2007 housing crisis. Medical debt, however, has been largely overlooked, even though it has been a leading reason for personal bankruptcy and affects approximately 2 million Americans annually. It’s … Continue reading Does Medical Debt Affect Your Credit? →
Bad credit impacts people across the country, but there’s no reason why it has to be a permanent situation. While there are a number of factors contributing to your credit score, one of the most important is the level of debt you owe. However, simply reducing your overall debt might not have the greatest impact. … Continue reading What Is Credit Utilization Ratio? →
There are a number of instances where you might be asked to co-sign a loan. For example, your son or daughter may come to you and ask if you can co-sign a loan with them to get a new car. Perhaps they just graduated from college and have no credit history of their own. But … Continue reading Does Co-Signing a Loan Affect Your Credit? →
Getting a divorce or legally separating is unpleasant to begin with. The last thing you want to hear is how it can affect your credit. But it’s something you should understand, especially if you have recently initiated or concluded divorce or separation proceedings. The good news about divorce and credit scores is that divorce doesn’t … Continue reading How Does Divorce or Legal Separation Affect Your Credit? →