Author Archives: Nicole K
Setting Smart Financial Goals: A Roadmap to Success
Managing your finances is a lot like planning a road trip. You should start both endeavors with a destination in mind, make sure your vehicle is in good working order, carefully plan your route, and have a clear vision of … Continue reading
What is Voluntary Vehicle Surrender and How Does it Impact Credit?
From loan payments to pricey gas and high insurance costs, the expenses of owning a car can really add up. When you find yourself in the unhappy situation of not being able to afford your car anymore, you can find … Continue reading
When to Share Your Child’s SSN and When Not to
New parents are often surprised to discover that they are required to complete an application for a Social Security Number for their newborn before they leave the hospital. Their astonishment likely grows when they take note of how often they’ll … Continue reading
Do Credit Rejections Affect your Score?
Rejection hurts, whether you’ve been shot down for a date, rebuffed by a 2-year-old who would rather play with her doll than you, or told “no” by a credit card company. Yes, rejection is psychologically jarring, but it always pays … Continue reading
What to Do if You’ve Been Caught up in a Data Breach
The numbers were shocking when they came out last year: since 2005, more than 500 million sensitive records have been breached, according to the Privacy Rights Clearing House. That’s half a billion records. And it’s been a year since we … Continue reading
Good News for Gift-Card Givers
Who came up with the idea of the gift card? The credit for the concept that has revolutionized holiday giving is often laid at the door of Blockbuster video. Given Americans’ affection for plastic – in the form of credit … Continue reading
What to Do if You Find Errors on Your Credit Report
We all make mistakes. Sometimes they’re embarrassing but harmless, like discovering your shirt is inside out or you’ve forgotten the name of your co-worker’s spouse. Some mistakes can be very harmful, like the ones you might find on your credit … Continue reading
Halloween Horrors: Common Disguises of Identity Thieves
Halloween is just around the corner. Have you picked out your costume yet? The anticipation of finding out what everyone will be wearing is one of the great treats of the holiday. There’s one Halloween trick you can be sure … Continue reading
The Cities with the Best and Worst Credit Scores
Every city has something unique to brag about, whether it’s a cultural icon such as Manhattan’s Broadway, an architectural wonder like St. Louis’ amazing arch, or a special place in history, such as Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. Just as the things … Continue reading
The 411 on Mortgage Modification and Your Credit Score
Defaulting on a mortgage is one of the worst things that can happen to your credit. If you’re struggling to make your monthly mortgage payment and protect your credit score at the same time, you’re probably willing to consider just … Continue reading