My Credit Report Info

The recession has made consumers much more aware and vigilant about their household budgets – especially when it comes to potentially hazardous credit card spending – and it has also hit banks and other lenders hard. So while cardholders strive to hold on to their savings and avoid high credit card debt, late fees, and other related charges those companies that issue credit cards are trying to ensure that their customers do not get overextended on their payments. (more…)

We all want to pay the bare minimum in taxes when April rolls around, and those who want to take as many deductions as legally possible often start thinking ahead of ways to deduct additional business expenses. But not all of these tax deductions are necessarily a good idea, even if they can save you a few dollars each year. The reason why is that they may also create a situation that puts you at greater risk for intense scrutiny from the IRS – including a dreaded tax audit. (more…)

Unless you have a valid Last Will in place at the time of your death, even your loved ones may not have access to your estate – including money, property, and homes. That’s because the estates of those who die without a Will are supervised by the court system according to state law. Many times the state will claim almost everything for itself, leaving very little extra to be inherited by those to whom you may have wanted to leave your estate. (more…)

With consumers angry and legislators under pressure to do more to rein in the banking industry, officials in Washington have pledged to pass new tougher laws in the coming months regarding credit cards. (more…)

As soon as a brand new car is purchased and rolls off the dealer’s parking lot it loses a considerable amount of its retail value. That makes the purchase of a fine pre-owned automobile a great investment, but the trick to buying any used car is to avoid purchasing a vehicle that has hidden problems that will impede performance or cause costly and aggravating repairs. (more…)

Locating a good mortgage broker who is resourceful enough to shop your loan to several competitive and reputable lenders is often the best way to go when buying a home or doing a refinance. A mortgage broker may be able to negotiate for a better loan, advise you of options you would not otherwise know about, or help you locate an attractive mortgage from a lender you might not have discovered while doing your own search. (more…)

Many companies offer extended warranties on their products at the point of purchase. When you go to a large electronics store, for example, and buy a camera or CD player you will usually be offered an extended warranty at check-out. The warranty might cost $10-20, and the impulse of most consumers is to go ahead and buy it in case something goes wrong with their item. But according to consumer experts most of those warranties are not worth buying. (more…)

Just as homebuyers scurried to buy homes before the end of the year in order to qualify for a special $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit, Congress decided to extend it a little bit longer. The program has been very successful at encouraging sales, and many housing industry observers credit it with helping the housing market rebound. Now first-time buyers have until the last day of April, 2010 to get purchases under signed contract in order to enjoy the big tax perk. (more…)

Going overseas with plastic in your pocket is the safest and more secure way to travel. Carrying cash can turn into a disaster if your wallet is stolen or you accidentally forget and leave your purse in the back of a taxicab.
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Most people who rent a house, condo, or apartment have no idea that the financial credit of their landlord has a potentially dramatic and life-changing influence over their own situation.
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