Credit score

How to Make Your Own Pre-Paid Debit Card – And Suze Orman’s Approved Card

There’s been a bit of a ruckus with the release Suze Orman’s pre-paid debit card — the Approved Card.

Her card joins other celebrity cards such as the Rush Card and the Kardashian Card.

The problem, many claim, is that pre-paid debit cards come with fees to use them. With Suze’s card, people are claiming that she is just profiting from her audience.

I’d like to show you an alternative to pre-paid debit cards. In fact, I’m going to show you how to make your own pre-paid debit card!

First though, let’s go over what a pre-paid debit card is.

What is a Pre-Paid Debit Card?

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Get Your Credit Score…For Free

Written by Glen Craig

You know you need to have a great credit score. But how can you get your credit score for free?

Having a good credit score will open all sorts of financial doors for you. It’s fairly well-known that your credit score means a lot when you are applying for loans. If you want to get approved for a loan, you need a good score. If you want the best interest rates, you need a great score.

Having a good credit score will save you a ton in interest charges.

You can save hundreds, or even thousands, over the life of your loan. Whether you are applying for a mortgage, an auto loan, or a credit card, good credit is essential if you want to be approved on the best terms.

You should also realize that your credit score can be used for other purposes as well.
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The Three Best Financial Moves You Can Make for Your Child

Written by Melissa 8 Comments

My grandmother was a young bride during the Great Depression, and some of the frugality she practiced during that time never left her. When I was young, I routinely saw her washing aluminum foil and plastic bags for reuse.

She and my grandfather lived in a trailer park during retirement to minimize their monthly expenses, and when my grandpa died at 88 and later my grandma at 90, they still had a enough money left to give a small inheritance to their nine children.

That type of sacrifice and money management is seen less often nowadays.

In fact, we routinely hear about college students who graduate with thousands of dollars in both student loan and credit card debt and struggle to find a job and pay their bills.

Yet, as a parent, there are three important things you can do for your teen to put them on the financial track that will lead to a life of prosperity.

Three Best Financial Moves You Can Make for Your Child

How to Fix an Error on Your Credit Report

Written by Melissa 5 Comments

According to CBS News, approximately 80% of credit reports contain errors. These errors range from minor, such as a misspelling of your name, to an error on your address, to serious such as the same mortgage appearing twice on the report or a loan showing that it is still open when it in fact has been paid off. These latter examples can be enough to deny you future credit, especially if your debt to income ratio is perceived to be too high thanks to the error. I myself found an error on my credit report — a student loan I paid off over 12 years ago still shows as being current.

How do these errors occur? Some may be simple typographical errors, while others occur when a loan is sold to another institution. Regardless of how the errors occur, it is important that you find them and correct them so that your credit report reflects your true credit history. Continue Reading

Are Banks Ratcheting Up Their Profiling Efforts?

Written by Miranda 6 Comments

You know that your consumer profile is used by financial services providers to make a number of decisions about you. Before I could get satellite TV service, I had to submit to a credit check. Employers increasingly want a peek at your credit report, and insurers often use your credit as one of the criteria in determining your premiums. But your credit history isn’t the only thing that others are interested in. Consumer behavior — and how to protect against risks — is becoming a major concern of many financial services companies. Which is why banks are increasing their efforts to learn more about you.Continue Reading

Should a Prospective Employer Be Able to Check Your Credit Score?

Written by Miranda 25 Comments

One of the issues that has received a lot of attention lately is that of employers checking the credit of job applicants. Supposedly, an employer can only look at your credit report — and only a version that is meant for employers to see. Employers are supposed to get your permission before checking your credit report, and they are expected to stay away from your credit score. (There are some anecdotes involving employers who check credit scores, but credit bureaus claim they don’t knowingly give scores out to employers.) Many people are upset that employers are asking to see your credit report, while others contend that it is a necessity for some jobs. What happens if employers start checking credit scores?Continue Reading

Credit Sesame Review – Free Credit Score and Monitor Loans and Debts

Written by Glen Craig 1 Comment

There are no shortages of businesses that want to help you manage your debt.

Debt is something we all want to have less of and there are certainly a lot of companies out there that make a variety of claims when it comes to helping you out.

Credit Sesame is another company that makes numerous claims but this company truly is the real deal.

In addition, Credit Sesame doesn’t just focus on band aid solutions; they take a holistic look at your financial situation and make suggestions that are long-term, not quick fixes. See more below in this Credit Sesame review.Continue Reading

Should You Cancel That Credit Card?

Written by Miranda 8 Comments

Ever since the financial crisis in 2008, and the resultant recession, there has been a renewed interest in canceling credit cards and getting out of debt. Additionally, the upswing in fees from many credit card issuers has prompted some to want to cancel credit cards in order to avoid those fees. Many card issuers are instituting annual fees, leading even the most responsible and conscientious card users to feel the costs of credit card spending.

However, just because it’s tempting to cancel your credit card, doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea. Before you cancel your card, consider the effect that a cancellation could have on your credit score.Continue Reading

Credit Karma Review – Get Your Credit Score and More

Written by Melissa 8 Comments

If you take advantage of AnnualCreditReport.com you can pull your credit report once a year from each of the three credit bureaus for free.

Your credit report is important to see what accounts you have open, to check the status of your accounts, and to make sure there are no mistakes on your reports.

But your credit report is different from your credit score.

For the most part, you have to pay to get the score that lenders use to determine your creditworthiness. If you intend to pull your score frequently, perhaps because you are in the market for a house and would like the highest possible credit score to get the best interest rate on your home loan, then give Credit Karma a look, where you can get a credit score and track your score over time with no fees or obligations.

Let’s take a look at what it’s all about in this Credit Karma review.

How To Prosper With Peer to Peer Lending – A review of Prosper.com

Written by Glen Craig 10 Comments

Prosper.com is a personal loan and investing site with over one million members and over two hundred fifteen million dollars in personal loans funded since 2006. Using a unique person to person lending model, prosper.com connects borrowers and lenders and allows them to establish a mutually beneficial financial relationship. Prosper offers borrowers rates as low as 5.9% and lender returns as high as 10.1% (this varies, of course based on your borrowing and lending situation).