Daisy’s Story: Dreaming of a Purple House with Chickens
Meet Daisy, a part-time lecturer and breastfeeding peer counselor, living in San Francisco with her 5-year old daughter. What do you do for a living? I currently have two jobs and might pick up a third. I lecture a weekly class at San Francisco State University and I also have a part-time job as a…
Read MoreShould I Rent or Buy a Home?
Renting versus owning – how to determine which is right for you Choosing whether to own or rent a home is a big decision. The “right” answer for you will be deeply personal, based on a few key considerations that we will explore below. 1. Examine your personal values A good place to start is…
Read MoreFixing Credit to Buy a Home: Credit repair tips and guide
My husband and I want to buy a house for first-time buyers. How can we fix our credit? Submitted by Ferlenzia M. Owning a home is a dream that many people have. To make that dream a reality, most people get a mortgage loan. To qualify for that type of loan, you need steady income,…
Read MoreHow do I find my credit score?
How do I find out my credit score? Who wants to know it, and what factors influence its change? Submitted by anonymous. A credit score is a representation of how someone managed their debts. It is meant to help creditors understand our financial responsibility. Payments on our loans and balances on our credit cards are…
Read MoreWhy isn’t my credit score improving?
I’ve been paying my bills every month on time and nothing changes on Credit Karma. I feel like I’m stalking the app. What should I do? Submitted by Michelle S. Congrats on paying your bills on time! Can we just celebrate that for a moment? What Impacts Your Credit Score Paying your bills will not…
Read More6 Steps for When Your Credit Is Denied
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…
Read MoreWhy Do Different Companies Show Different Credit Scores?
Why do different companies show different credit scores? Credit Karma showed my score 70 points higher than the banks! Submitted by StillLearning. Ah, the mysteries of credit scores. Let’s get the nuts and bolts down, then we can talk about the best approach to getting the information you need. There are several credit reporting companies…
Read MoreWhat 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…
Read More