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Credit Sesame: A New (Free) Tool To Shape Up Your Credit

May 23, 2011 By

I don't want to annoy you with too many posts about new products, but trust me that this one is cool. And it's free! (Disclaimer: Money Under 30 is a part of Credit Sesame's affiliate program, meaning the site earns a small commission for … [Read more...]

What is a Credit Score? The Complete Guide to Understanding “Your Number”

January 25, 2011 By

I don't know about you, but I really, really, really wish we didn't have to be slaves to our credit scores. Although it's possible to live without regards for the modern American credit scoring system, it's not easy. For most of us, we're going to … [Read more...]

Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair

June 3, 2010 By

If you’ve had an overdue student loan, years of high credit card balances or even a foreclosure, you probably have a low credit score, which can cost you a bundle if you ever want new credit. With poor credit, you may simply not be able to get … [Read more...]

Credit Scores Scare Me

May 7, 2010 By

I just turned off the TV. Why? There was an ad on about a furry, man-eating, house-soiling credit score run amuck. This is the stuff of nightmares. Most of us reading here bought what our parents and teachers sold to us all through … [Read more...]

Paying Off an Auto Loan Is Bad For Your Credit Score!?

April 7, 2010 By

Dave Ramsey tells people that FICO scores aren’t credit scores; they’re “I love debt” scores. Case in point: Last week, I paid off my auto loan. This week, my FICO score dropped 60 points. Sixty! There have been no other changes to my credit … [Read more...]

Beware Free Credit Score Ads

April 5, 2010 By

Have you already noticed that all the annoying TV ads for FreeCreditReport.com are now for FreeCreditScore.com? That’s because as of April 2, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) now requires companies claiming to offer free credit reports to … [Read more...]

Eight Steps to Achieve Credit Nirvana

October 13, 2009 By

Tired of worrying about your credit, and being punished for having a low credit score? The eight steps listed below will lead you to financial freedom. Some are easier than others, but by following even some of them your credit score will rise. … [Read more...]

How to Check Your Own FICO Score

September 3, 2009 By

A reader working to qualify for a mortgage writes: "I have checked my credit with the three bureaus, and they seem to have all my info up to date and everything looks good. My problem is that on the free credit reports I received (via … [Read more...]

Don’t Stress About Your Credit Score!

May 8, 2009 By

I frequently write about ways you can improve your credit score, so this post may appear hypocritical. But I'm seeing so many people obsess about their FICO score and other credit scores these days and, quite frankly, I don't think it's healthy. … [Read more...]

Credit Karma: A Truly Free Credit Score

June 27, 2008 By

Want to know how your credit score stacks up? Check out Credit Karma, a site that lets you check and track your credit score for free without subscribing to anything...REALLY. No, it's not a scam. You'll have to create an account and provide your … [Read more...]