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What Consumers Don’t Know about Free Credit Score Companies

November 2, 2021 Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert If you’re trying to actively monitor your credit, paying for a copy of your credit score can be a frustrating expense. In this situation, companies offering a free copy of your credit score probably seem like a godsend. But while these services can show you a free credit score, it might not …

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Credit and Couples

February 9, 2021Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s natural to start thinking about all the factors that go into a successful relationship – trust, commitment, passion and a compatible approach to managing your credit.OK, that last one might be a stretch.But while talking about your credit score might seem decidedly unromantic, financial compatibility is a very real factor …

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Do you need good credit in retirement?

September 15, 2020Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert When most people think about financial planning, retirement is the logical finish line. You work hard, live within your means and save enough money to live out your days in peace and comfort.But you don’t stop managing your finances after you retire – and that includes your credit. While your days of applying for …

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What Makes Up Your Credit Scores? Part 3: Length of Credit History

March 7, 2019 Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert You know your credit scores are important. They can make or break your applications for loans and credit cards. When you’re approved for financing, your scores can impact how much you’ll pay and the terms you are offered. Of course, you can know that your credit scores matter without understanding how they …

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What Makes Up Your Credit Scores? Part 2: Amounts Owed

February 21, 2019 Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert   Many people think that paying your financial obligations on time is all it takes to earn great credit scores. The truth, however, is that credit scoring is more complicated than that. Believe it or not, the majority of the points in your credit scores don’t have anything to do with how …

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What Makes Up Your Credit Scores? Part 1: Payment History

February 7, 2019 Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert Your credit scores are an important component of your financial wellbeing. Without solid credit scores, life can be a lot more difficult (not to mention more expensive) than it needs to be. The good news is that if you learn what influences your credit scores, you’ll be better equipped to improve them. …

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How a Good Credit Score Can Improve Your Life

March 21, 2018 Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert There is no sugar-coating the fact that life can become a lot more complicated whenever you are faced with credit problems. Sure, you can get by with bad credit and low credit scores, but living like that can be expensive, not to mention stressful. On the other hand, when you work hard …

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Buying a Home With Less Than Perfect Credit

October 16, 2017 Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert Is your goal to purchase a home in the near future? If so, there is a checklist of qualification standards you are going to need to meet before a lender will approve your mortgage application. Among other requirements, this checklist includes proof of steady employment and income, acceptable debt-to-income ratios (can you …

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Getting Your Credit in Shape to Buy a Home

June 8, 2017 Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert Dreaming about buying the perfect home? If so, then you may have already picked out your favorite neighborhoods and floor plans. You might have imagined exactly how you will decorate each room in your new home or you may have plans for a beautiful outdoor retreat in your back yard. However, if …