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building credit

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

March 27, 2019 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: 5 freebies with your student loans. Also in the news: How to stem ‘subscription creep’, how baby steps can get your credit life rolling, and everything Apple isn’t telling you about its new credit card.

5 Freebies With Your Student Loans
Loyalty discounts and academic assistance.

How to Stem ‘Subscription Creep’
Stop paying for that movie subscription you never use.

Baby Steps Can Get Your Credit Life Rolling
One tiny step at a time.

Here’s Everything Apple Isn’t Telling You About Its New Credit Card
Reading the fine print.



Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: building credit, freebies, Student Loans, subscription creep, tips

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

May 24, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: 6 ways to build your credit in less than an hour. Also in the news: Investing in international stocks, why you should invest in the stock market even if it scares you, and where to find the best Memorial Day sales.

6 Ways to Build Your Credit in Less Than an Hour
60 minutes to better credit.

Investing in International Stocks: A Road Map
Diving into the international market.

Invest in the Stock Market, Even if It Scares You
Take a deep breath.

Where to Find the Best Memorial Day Sales
Find the best savings.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: building credit, Credit, international stocks, Investing, Memorial Day sales, stock market, tips

Q&A: Building an emergency fund beats out building credit

February 12, 2018 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I am trying to raise my credit scores, which are very low. I have one negative mark on my account from a paid collection and I just got my first secured credit card. I have a bit of extra money right now and I’m wondering what’s the best way to use it to raise my scores. Should I get another secured credit card from a different issuer, get a secured 12-month loan through my financial institution or something else?

Answer: People rebuilding their credit often overlook the importance of an emergency fund. Having even a small amount of savings can keep a financial setback, such as a decrease in income or an unexpected expense, from causing you to miss a payment and undoing all your efforts to boost your scores. You can start with just a few hundred dollars and slowly build the fund over time.

Adding an installment loan can assist with building credit as well, but a secured loan may not be the best option if money is tight. The cash you deposit with the lender as collateral for the loan won’t be available again until you pay off the loan. Consider instead a credit-builder loan, in which the money you borrow is placed in a savings account or certificate of deposit to be claimed when you’ve finished making the monthly payments, typically after one year. That means you can keep the cash you already have for emergencies. Credit-builder loans are available from some credit unions and Self Lender, an online company.

You’ll want to make sure both the credit card issuer and the installment loan lender are reporting your payments to the three credit bureaus. If your accounts don’t show up on your credit reports, they’re not helping to build your scores.

In addition to making payments on time, you’ll want to avoid using too much of the available credit on the card. There’s no bright line for how much to charge, but typically 30% or less is good, 20% or less is better and 10% or less is best. Use the card lightly but regularly and pay it off in full every month because there’s no advantage to carrying a balance.

Filed Under: Credit & Debt, Credit Scoring, Q&A Tagged With: building credit, Credit Score, emergency funds, q&a

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

August 24, 2017 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: 5 back-to-college lessons on building credit. Also in the news: Focus on just one thing in order to retire early, 4 salary negotiation tactics that actually work, and what you need to know before switching to a cheaper phone plan.

5 Back-to-College Lessons on Building Credit
Preparing for a solid future.

To Retire Early, Focus on Just One Thing
Save like mad.

4 Salary Negotiation Tactics That Really Worked
How to get what you’re worth.

What You Need to Know Before Switching to a Cheaper Phone Plan
There will be changes.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: building credit, cell phone plans, college, early retirement, salary negotiation tactics, Savings

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

April 25, 2017 By Liz Weston

Credit report with score on a desk
Today’s top story: How your selfie could affect your life insurance. Also in the news: How to build credit in exactly 250 words, why you need to get to work on building your unemployment fund, and why the credit scoring system is about to get less awful.

How Your Selfie Could Affect Your Life Insurance
That brunch selfie could raise your life insurance rates.

How to Build Credit in (Exactly) 250 Words
Short, sweet, and effective.

Get to Work on Building Your Unemployment Fund
Don’t waste anymore time.

The Credit Scoring System Is About to Get Less Awful
Big changes are coming this fall.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: building credit, Credit, credit scoring, life insurance, unemployment fund

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

November 16, 2016 By Liz Weston

babytrollToday’s top story: Why your newborn doesn’t need to be on your credit card account. Also in the news: Why paying more tax today could be your best AMT strategy, common retirement mistakes seen by financial planners, and how credit card minimum payments are meant to keep you in debt forever.

No, Your Newborn Doesn’t Need to Be on Your Credit Card Account
No need to build credit that early.

Paying More Tax Today May Be Your Best AMT Strategy
Understanding how AMT works.

Seven Common Retirement Mistakes Seen by Financial Planners
And how to avoid them.

Credit card minimums: Perfectly calibrated to keep you in debt
A cycle of perpetual debt.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: alternative minimum tax, building credit, Credit, Credit Cards, minimum payments, Retirement, Taxes

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