http://www.financealley.com en-us editorial@financealley.com If you are already underwater with debt, it is likely that your credit score has taken a hit for the worse. When you fall behind on current credit obligations the lenders will report these defaults to the credit bureaus. When people fall way behind on the... http://www.financealley.com/article_741950_19.html 08th January 2009 Let's say you are what most people would consider a good person. You help out in the community, volunteer to help others and even show up on the front row for church every Sunday. You recently applied for a home loan and to your surprise were denied. How ... http://www.financealley.com/article_737709_19.html 05th January 2009 Most of us are familiar with the alleged creature purportedly inhabiting Loch Ness in Scotland. "Nessie" was brought to the world's attention back in 1933 however the scientific community regards the Loch Ness Monster as a modern day myth. In fact you are... http://www.financealley.com/article_737631_19.html 05th January 2009 Most people don't know their credit score. Mine's a 780. What does that mean? It means I get the best terms on loans, rarely do I have to put up a deposit for utilities and I'm bombarded with special financing offers from just about everybody. I even get ... http://www.financealley.com/article_733131_19.html 02nd January 2009 These are frightening times for people trying to build or preserve their retirement accounts. The stock market has produced daily swings large enough to churn just about everyone's stomach. This landscape makes it easy to commit big mistakes and investmen... http://www.financealley.com/article_727543_19.html 19th December 2008 Paying down your debt is a great way to stay on track financially and boost your credit scores. Which accounts should you pay down first? Where do you put your extra money each month to make the most difference? Here are a few ideas that we think make the... http://www.financealley.com/article_727375_19.html 19th December 2008 Considering the years you spent in school and the number of courses you were required to take, isn't it strange that money management and credit issues were probably never mentioned? Even accounting classes teach kids how to add up the numbers and how ... http://www.financealley.com/article_725850_19.html 17th December 2008 As a mortgage broker I can tell you that the past several years have been bludgeoned with careless and inappropriate lending. It's no surprise to me that large well known banks are suffering huge losses as a result of bad mortgages turning sour. Whatever ... http://www.financealley.com/article_721886_19.html 15th December 2008 If your credit scores have fallen recently it could be the result of events over which you had no control - like being "downsized" or becoming ill and unable to work. It could mean that you've been living on credit card advances in order to keep going. ... http://www.financealley.com/article_704893_19.html 02nd December 2008 Reading credit reports can be very confusing. A credit report is divided into four sections: Identifying information, credit history, public records and inquiries. Identifying information: Well, just that—information to identify you. Here's where you... http://www.financealley.com/article_691981_19.html 23rd November 2008 You know that your credit scores are based on your money management history - and if you're working hard to rebuild your rating, it can be very frustrating to see the same old negative information showing up on your credit report. Unfortunately, there'... http://www.financealley.com/article_691963_19.html 23rd November 2008 When you think of your reputation you think of things like honesty, sense of humor, generosity, punctuality, your love life, and the way you treat other people. They're all personal habits, and so is the way you handle money. The difference is, whil... http://www.financealley.com/article_691429_19.html 22nd November 2008 You may not know that you are a victim until you are denied a loan, credit card or anything else the requires a credit report. Suddenly you discover someone has opened accounts in your name and of course not paid them. What could you have done? BUY ... http://www.financealley.com/article_688942_19.html 18th November 2008 Strangers - all kinds of strangers - are regularly looking at your credit scores, accessing your history, and forming pictures of your life. All they need is your social security number - and that isn't hard to get any more. Who are these people, and w... http://www.financealley.com/article_688926_19.html 18th November 2008 Gone are the days of sub-prime mortgages, stated-income, and zero down loans and loans for folks with no credit scores. Gone also are the creative financing options that allowed sellers to carry back a note for part of your down payment. Maybe they'll ... http://www.financealley.com/article_688705_19.html 18th November 2008 Getting a better credits score report, sure; that sounds easy. If you had extra money you wouldn't have those debts, right? But stop and think about it. If you really want a secure financial future, it's in your best interest to cut spending and get th... http://www.financealley.com/article_688680_19.html 18th November 2008 A credit score is an indicator of how likely you are to default on a loan or credit card. Your credit score is determined by a combination of the following: 1. Payment History. Do you pay your bills on time? Are there recent late payments? How many... http://www.financealley.com/article_677570_19.html 30th October 2008 All good education begins at home, and that definitely includes education in money management. If your kids learn well, they'll reach adulthood with the ability to buy a home and begin building financial equity throughout their lives. You may have to help... http://www.financealley.com/article_672047_19.html 21st October 2008 Starting out in life with a good credit score will open doors for you that you can't even imagine. You'll get better jobs, live in better places, drive better cars, and best of all - the things you want will cost you far less than your "poor credit" frien... http://www.financealley.com/article_670562_19.html 21st October 2008 You know what they say about computers: "Garbage in, garbage out." And all too often with data entry, garbage goes in. If you do any typing yourself, you know how easy it is to make a mistake. Even when the document you're writing means a great deal to... http://www.financealley.com/article_669916_19.html 21st October 2008 Identity theft and identity fraud are the fastest growing crime in the world. Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that invo... http://www.financealley.com/article_667449_19.html 16th October 2008 If your credit score is good, you'll know it. Pre-approved credit offers will be stuffed in your mailbox every day, and banks will likely bend over backwards to offer you the lowest rates on all types of loans. However, if your credit score is low or non-... http://www.financealley.com/article_666818_19.html 15th October 2008 Marriage is about much more than love and romance. It's about a life partnership, and that partnership includes money. So before you set the date, check your credit scores. If you're dreaming of setting up housekeeping in that cottage with the white pi... http://www.financealley.com/article_666200_19.html 15th October 2008 Realtors and lenders are almost as bad as computer tech people at tossing out words and phrases you don't understand. The funny part is, sometimes even they don't know what those words really mean. FICO is one of them. It's not really a word, but the i... http://www.financealley.com/article_660287_19.html 08th October 2008