7 Steps to Prepping Your Credit for Buying a Home
As the housing market heats up and more consumers consider buying a home, it’s important to consider the role that your credit score plays in your ability to secure a mortgage. Conventional mortgage lenders will typically want a FICO score of at least 720, or in some cases 740, but those with a score above 580 may […]
Financial Abuse Against the Elderly, Protecting Aging Parents From Financial Fraud
Financial abuse against the elderly is real and costly. Some estimates put the total loss at $37 billion each year. While many abuses are instigated by strangers who prey on society’s most vulnerable, many losses are caused by people the victims trust. Here’s what you need to know to protect aging parents from financial fraud.
5 Essential Habits of Consumers with Excellent Credit Scores
An excellent credit score opens the door to the best financing offers on the market. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of them? Read on to learn the five essential habits of consumers with excellent credit scores.
What is a Credit Privacy Number?
If you’re wondering what a Credit Privacy Number (CPN) is, and whether or not it can legally be used to escape a bad credit history, read on. John Ulzheimer, credit expert for Credit Sesame, explains what you need to know about CPNs as well as a word of warning if you’re thinking about using one.
Tax Identity Theft: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Tax Refund
For identity thieves, tax time is harvest time. It’s like the holiday season for retailers, and where many thieves make the bulk of their yearly earnings. Here’s a look at just how big of a problem tax identity theft is, why it’s growing, and what you need to know to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
Top 10 Reasons Your Auto Insurance Premiums Are So Darn High
When I lived on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, it seemed that every morning I’d see another car with the window smashed, the interior ransacked and the stereo gone. After I relocated to sunny San Diego, CA to enjoy a slower-paced, beachy lifestyle, I expected certain costs of living to go down. Surprisingly, my auto […]
What’s the Best Way to Get Out of Credit Card Debt?
By now it should go without saying that being in credit card debt is like plugging a siphon into your bank account. In fact, credit card debt is likely the most expensive debt you’ll ever carry with an industry average 15 percent interest rate. So, what is the best way to get out of credit […]
The Anthem Data Breach — It’s That Bad, and Worse
Phew! When January passed without a single mega data breach, I thought the storm had passed, big bad breaches were a thing of the past and I’d have to find something else to talk about. But I lost the bet by less than a week. I said there would be a Target-size data breach before […]
Getting a Mortgage After Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy happens when a debtor does not have the means with which to fulfill all of his (or her) financial obligations. Filing for bankruptcy doesn’t necessarily reflect on the person’s moral compass or integrity. In some situations, particularly where there is negative cash flow (more money going out than coming in), declaring bankruptcy may be […]
7 Easy Ways to Save Money on Airfare
To keep airfare from eating up the majority of your travel budget on your next vacation, try one (or several) of these quick and easy tips.
Top Three Reasons You May Have Been Denied That Mortgage
Here are the top three reasons why you may have been denied a mortgage, and what you need to know in order to improve your chances on your next mortgage application.
Is Your Credit Card Interest Tax-Deductible?
With tax-time right around the corner, many of us are looking for ways to reduce our liability to Uncle Sam. For consumers who carry a balance, credit card interest can be a significant expense throughout the year. Is credit card interest a line item we can use to lower our taxable income? Yes and no. […]
Research Report: The State of America’s Credit Health
In this exclusive research from Credit Sesame, we share an in-depth report about the state of America’s credit and the health of American consumers. We give our analysis and trends on which ZIP codes have the best credit scores, how homeowners and renters compare, and how “maxed out” consumers are when it comes to credit […]
Should I Close an Inactive Credit Card Account?
Some credit card accounts lie dormant, and many responsible credit card owners are inclined to close those inactive accounts. Should you? It depends. Before you close an inactive credit card, there are a few important factors you should know. First, it’s important to understand the effect closing an account has on your credit score. You […]
Simple Strategies for Building Your Retirement Savings
The IRS recently announced an increase in the annual contribution limit for 401(k), 403(b), most 457, and Thift Savings plans. Previously, you could only set aside $17,500 in your retirement account, but starting in 2015, that amount jumps to $18,000. If you can’t put that much in savings, don’t beat yourself up. You can still […]
