How can I get a loan for a cheap used car?

Dirty red Toyota hatchback with supplies on top overlooks mountains in the distance

Hello, Saundra! How do I go about finding and choosing a certain type of loan (if one exists) that would enable me to quickly buy a cheap used car (around a couple thousand) that I could be able to pay back (with no job/income) with only the money I have saved from last semester’s student…

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6 Steps for When Your Credit Is Denied

Black and white photo of a street crossing sign with the stop hand signal in red

First, let’s start with the facts. There’s a widespread fallacy that a score determines whether or not you get credit. The truth is that lenders use a variety of factors to make credit decisions. These factors include your FICO scores, but also take into account your income, your employment history, and your credit history. This…

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Are there any legit organizations that help with credit repair?

Are there any legit organizations that help with credit repair?? I’m fearful of paying my money to a company that’s not accredited. Submitted by anonymous. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) is my trusted source for this topic because they offer tips on selecting a reputable organization as well as some important questions to ask.…

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How to Rebound from a Credit Slip

Credit slips can happen to anyone – and although you may panic when you see that number go in the wrong direction, sometimes even the best financial decisions may bring about a credit slip. So dust yourself off and congratulate yourself on being proactive in checking your credit score and taking actions to help it…

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What Is a Credit Score?

Your credit score is a number that is calculated by a company and sold to creditors to let them know how you have managed credit in the past. This is how your credit risk is determined (how likely you are to pay your debts on time). FICO (Fair Issac Corporation) is the most commonly used score…

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What Is a Credit Report?

Your credit report is a summary of all of your reported financial history. Keep a close eye on this to make sure that it is accurate because it determines your credit score. Checking your credit report is a first step to achieving some of your financial goals. It’s a good idea to check your credit…

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Four Myths about Personal Finance

There are a lot of financial myths out there that simply aren’t true! Making good financial decisions starts with having the correct information you need to make those decisions. I’m going to go through four common myths about personal finance to get to the bottom of those misconceptions. 1. “Paying rent is throwing away money.”…

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