So what exactly is credit? Credit lets us make a promise to pay in the future for something we really want, but can’t quite afford to pay for now. It’s a gateway from wanting to actually having. But how do you make credit work for you without it taking control of your life? Without a […]

We hear the word “credit” used all the time. Credit scores. Credit report. Good credit. Bad credit. Credit history. Credit card. All those credit bureaus. Credit line. And of course credit rating. But what do all those credit terms really mean? You are more likely to be judged worthy of taking on a loan or […]

A friend called to ask how much mortgage rates affect the decision to buy a home. His son Joe wants to buy a house but he’s worried about the ups and downs of mortgage rates. Currently up, but not all that long ago way down. Decisions like this don’t have one clear answer. Low rates […]

Your credit score affects more things than most people realize. We all know that for borrowers it has something to do with mortgage rates. Or whether or not we get a loan. But for lenders, your score measures your financial trustworthiness. It’s based on your current credit record and credit history. It also measures risk […]

This is about a real life debt success story. For me, real life stories help put a face to “how-to” advice. Plus, they help us feel more confidence that this seemingly undoable thing can actually be done — by us. And that includes finally getting a handle on debt! In this case, I want to […]