Tag Archives: credit history

Closing Credit Accounts

Many years ago, I cleaned up my credit. I had paid off all my debts (minus our mortgage) and wanted to simplify my credit assortment. Back then, I had no awareness of credit scores. All I knew was I didn’t want to have so many accounts to keep track of. Today, the talk of the town is about improving credit scores. What I didn’t realize back then, was that closing off most of your credit accounts can actually hurt your score. Still, if you want to simplify, there are ways to do that and still maintain a decent credit report. … Continue reading →

Watch the Application

One factor that can hurt your credit score is too many credit history reviews. A credit report “review” is when a business checks your credit history. There are really two types of inquiries into your credit history. One is more of an overview, like when a credit company wants to pre-approve you. The other is a more significant inquiry; when a creditor is determining whether they will approve your actual application for a loan. Too many inquiries can erode your score. The worst kind of review is the “harder” one performed when you fill out an application. If you want … Continue reading →

Divorce and Credit

A divorce can affect your credit in many ways. Whether you are divorced, planning to get divorced, or want to protect yourself “just in case,” there a few things to consider. For some, if all the bills have been in one spouse’s name and not the other, you may find you don’t have a credit history. This can hurt one’s ability to get loans after a divorce. This is one reason why it is important to keep some credit accounts in each spouse’s name. It can protect your finances against a variety of ills… divorce, spousal death, disability, etc. Some … Continue reading →

Credit Scores and Life

Some people blow off the concept of credit history and credit scores because they don’t plan to use credit. Living without credit is possible. There are growing numbers of people in this society who have chosen this path. Certainly, debt has its demons. Starting a credit line can be a dangerous path. Still, no matter what your personal feelings are… society has begun to rely on credit scores to determine just how responsible you are in everything. This means, even if you never plan to take a loan or open a credit card, your credit history (or lack there of) … Continue reading →

Paid Off… Now What?

So, you have worked hard to pay off all that debt… congratulations! Unfortunately, it is still going to take some time to repair your history. The first step is certainly getting your debt in check. This will open all sorts of doors to financial flexibility in your budget. Not having that huge debt payment each month is almost like winning the lottery! Still, if you were having serious problems with debt before… it will take some time to rebuild your credit. The first step is to get some sort of installment loan or credit card, depending on your needs. A … Continue reading →

Building Credit

Many young people falsely believe they have to either apply for a loan or carry a credit card balance to build a credit history. The myth is in thinking you must be paying interest to create credit. If you are just beginning in the credit world and want to generate a great score from the start, follow these simple steps. The easiest way to start your credit history is through a credit card. Find one with no annual fees and the lowest interest rate available to you. If you are really early in developing credit, you probably won’t get a … Continue reading →