Knowledge Center
10/05/2023
Credit reports are an integral part of our financial system, yet many of us are seriously misinformed about how credit reports work. We'll help you understand what your credit report is and why it’s important.
09/29/2023
If a good credit score is a priority for you, a derogatory mark is the last thing you want to see on your credit report. Unfortunately, a derogatory mark could spell trouble for your credit score.
09/25/2023
Credit scores impact our lives in more ways than you might think, yet, unfortunately, they are complex and can be difficult to understand. In this article, we’ll clear up what credit scores are, why they matter, how to build credit, and how to improve your credit score.
09/21/2023
While credit cards are convenient, the reality is there are sometimes plenty of fees attached. If you want to learn more about credit card fees and how to avoid them, you are in the right place.
09/16/2023
Bad credit is something we all fear, but what is actually considered poor credit and how could it affect you? In addition to explaining what bad credit is and why you need to avoid it, we'll also provide some strategies in this article to help you fix bad credit.
09/14/2023
Secured credit and unsecured credit are types of credit that are very different in terms of risk to consumers and lenders.
09/10/2023
Inquiries are often blamed for people's bad credit, but we're not so sure that's the case. Read this article to learn what hard inquiries and soft inquiries are and the truth about how inquiries affect your credit score.
09/08/2023
If you have bad credit or no credit at all, you’ll likely have a hard time getting a loan. Fortunately, there are some ways to start building credit even when you haven’t used credit before.
09/07/2023
“How do tradelines work?” is a question we hear all the time from people who are new to the tradeline industry. We’ll break down what tradelines are, how tradelines work, and how they can affect your credit.
08/30/2023
The FICO Resilience Index is a new type of credit score designed to help lenders better evaluate credit risk in today’s shaky economy. Should you be worried about your Resilience Index rating?
08/25/2023
Saving money is a cornerstone skill for building a stable financial future. Without saving, it’s impossible to build a strong financial foundation. But reaching savings goals is often easier said than done.
08/18/2023
Whether you have bad credit or no credit, a secured credit card might be the solution you need to improve your credit. While a secured credit card isn’t the right choice for everyone, it is a worthwhile option for some trying to build their credit.
08/10/2023
If you are shopping for a car loan with bad credit, you have a challenge ahead of you. We’ll take a close look at the ins and outs of getting a car loan with bad credit and show you what you can do to improve your approval odds.
08/03/2023
It’s all too likely that you may have errors on your credit report. Read this article to learn about common types of errors on credit reports and how to fix them.
08/02/2023
Primary tradelines are usually the goal of anyone trying to build credit. However, buying a “primary tradeline” may involve actions that are questionable at best and possibly illegal at worst, and it may not even help as much as you may hope.
07/31/2023
Opening a credit card is a very serious financial decision. As with all financial decisions, it’s not a good idea to fly into this situation blindly. Instead, it’s helpful to weigh out the options to determine whether or not a credit card is truly the right fit for your wallet.
07/27/2023
A credit score is a three-digit number that reflects your creditworthiness, which can greatly impact your life. In this article, learn the best strategies to build up your credit score.
07/21/2023
Everyone loves a financial windfall. Unclaimed property in the form of a cash payment might give your financial situation a boost. Not everyone will uncover unclaimed property, but the potential to reclaim funds you are owed makes it worth taking a look around.
07/16/2023
You’ve likely heard that having a good credit score is important. But why does this three-digit number matter so much? It can impact your finances in many ways.
07/14/2023
It’s often a challenge to stay on top of household finances. Whether you are managing money by yourself or with a partner, life tends to get in the way of financial decision-making. If you have trouble setting aside time for financial planning, a money date might be the perfect solution.
07/02/2023
While most people know they have credit scores, they may not understand why these numbers matter or how they are determined. Learn how different credit score ranges can impact your life and tips to help you improve your credit score.
06/30/2023
Economic inequality is the unequal distribution of wealth, income, and opportunity between different groups in society. It affects social structures deeply because it leaves some communities more vulnerable to poverty and harm than others.
06/25/2023
Collections can damage your credit score for a long time, so it's important to understand them. This helpful guide explains what collections are, how they affect your credit, how collection agencies try to re-age debt, how to get collections removed from your credit report, and more.
06/22/2023
What is the difference between your overall credit utilization ratio and individual credit utilization ratios and why does it matter to your credit?
06/21/2023
It’s not uncommon to switch jobs, especially in the wake of the “Great Resignation.” For many, a lengthy job search can yield a worthwhile job opportunity. But finding a new job is just the beginning.
06/16/2023
26 million consumers in America have no credit record whatsoever. On top of that, there are an additional 19 million consumers who do have credit files, but they do not contain sufficient credit information to be scored by a widely available credit scoring model.
06/14/2023
How many times have you read a blog or heard some financial “guru” opining as to the mystical “right” number of credit cards to have in your wallet? Is the right number one, or two, or three? And what are the criteria for considering what is the right number versus the wrong number?
06/07/2023
Most of the time when I’m asked about credit scores the line of questioning is commonly about how to improve scores. It’s equally often, and equally enjoyable, when I receive questions from people about how many points certain things from your credit reports are worth to their credit scores.
05/31/2023
People who are serious about improving their credit often wonder what it takes to get the highest possible credit score. For the FICO 8 credit scoring model, the perfect credit score is 850.
05/25/2023
Emotional spending is one personal finance issue that many struggle with. According to a NerdWallet survey, 49% of Americans said emotions have caused them to spend more than they can reasonably afford. With almost half of Americans struggling with emotional overspending, you aren’t alone if you are facing this issue.
