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Articles About Finance and Credit Score

Elizabeth — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:58:36 +0000

Bada-Bing! Cha-Ching!

Money, money, money. I’ve written about credit scores, shopping addictions, and real estate hassles. I’d like to say I’ve gotten a little more savvy with my plastic in the process; ideally my readers have too. Articles have been featured on Disney’s Family.com, SheKnows, PerkStreet, AOL, WalletPop, iVillage, and MintLife.

Protect Your Credit – Bada Bing!

Elizabeth — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:25:59 +0000

Does It Matter What a Gangster’s Credit Score Is?

No, it probably doesn’t matter what a gangster’s credit score is. They’re not exactly filling out paperwork when they need a loan for their yayo. But it is nice to know that the dialog from The Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas, and The Departed that I’ve memorized over the years has finally come in handy. The theme of this article is hysterical – but it makes a sometimes-icky subject highly readable. And no matter what your credit score is, don’t ever underestimate the other guy’s greed. (P.S. All referenced films come highly recommend.)

Featured on MintLife.com. Read the full article.

Content Writing for a Credit Education Site

Elizabeth — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:18:25 +0000

Financially Savvy Writing

I write a great number of feature articles about credit score, but I also write web content for credit score education expert Solomon Algazi. (And in case you’re wondering, my credit score is in fine shape, thankyouverymuch).

Here are some of the pages I wrote for the launch of his newest site:

Boring? Hardly. If you’re at all concerned about your financial future, this information is riveting.

Poor Credit Can Wreck Your Life

Elizabeth — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:00:48 +0000

The Crucial Three-Digit Number – Your Credit Score

Think your credit score only affects whether or not you get approved for that Ann Taylor Loft or Best Buy credit card? Think again – your credit score can screw with your business dealings, your job prospects, where you live, and even your kid’s education.

Some people think “I love you” are the three most important words in the English language. Believe it or not, there are also three very crucial little digits as well — your credit score. And depending on where your score falls, it can have an enormous impact on not only your life, but your family’s opportunities as well. It’s critical to understand that your credit score can affect everything from your employment prospects to your child’s education.

According to Kurt Houghton, president of Safe Harbor Investment Advisors LLC, which specializes in conservative investments and retirement planning, there are five things you can kiss goodbye if you have a poor credit score.

Featured on AOL’s WalletPop. Read the full article.

Have You Had Your Credit Pimped?

Elizabeth — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:46:17 +0000

Pimp Your Credit Score

The three consumers featured in this article were fortunate enough to get their credit “pimped” by financial experts. The pros point out the wise moves, the wonky ones, and give much-needed advice to the folk who are mucking up that three-digit number.

Flaunting your fashion sense means knowing which trends to follow, which trends to avoid, and when to lay down your plastic. Same with flaunting your financial sense. Credit scores play an integral part in securing a mortgage, getting a car loan — even getting hired. So it’s crucial to keep your “look” pulled together and, sometimes, admit that you could use a hand from the pros to pimp your credit score properly.

WalletPop is giving three consumers some tips from financial advisors and credit experts to help them pimp their own credit scores. Because no matter your spending style, doors start opening if you look good … on paper.

Featured on AOL’s WalletPop. Read the full article.

Renting with Bad Credit

Elizabeth — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Renting Made Easy

Four things a renter should never do. Five things a renter should do. If you want to love where you live, pay attention.

From bad credit to bankruptcy, if you’re a renter with financial troubles, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey of Rent.com’s property managers, 81 percent have seen a decline in the creditworthiness or credit score of prospective renters. Even so, “given the current economic climate, some property managers are willing to bend the rules and make concessions to keep their units occupied,” says Peggy Abkemeier, president of Rent.com. In fact, the survey shows that 43 percent of landlords have relaxed their credit policy standards to fill vacancies.

When you have good intentions, there are ways to prove yourself a worthy and dependable renter — even if your credit record shows otherwise.

Featured on AOL Real Estate. Read the full article.

Twisting Your ARM

Elizabeth — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:12:38 +0000

Know Your Mortgage Options

Rather than giving your arm a little twist, having an adjustable-rate mortgage that resets before you’re prepared for it can feel like a punch in the gut, nose, teeth, and groin. This article explores how to avoid being upside down in your mortgage.

When you purchased your home, it may have seemed like an adjustable-rate mortgage, commonly referred to as an ARM, was your saving grace. It was the one option that enabled someone in your modest financial situation to actually become a homeowner. By enabling you to pay small mortgage payments in the early years of home ownership, that ARM also bought you some time to get to where you wanted to be financially so you could sell your home and move up the real estate ladder.

But the market tanked, your home’s value continues to drop, and suddenly, the day of reckoning has arrived — your ARM is coming due. This wasn’t the paradise scenario you had envisioned for yourself. In this flat-line real estate market, the options for wiggling out of your ARM and into a desirable refinance option are limited. But whether your credit is stellar or terrible, experts say you do have options.