March; In Like A Lion Out Like A... BEAR! - 03/31/08 01:42 PM
Today is the last day in March and the old adage that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb needs to be re-written.
We were warned by the groundhog that there would be 6 more weeks of winter, this is an expected occurrence in Idaho. I live in Idaho Falls and we are not in a mountainous area so the snowfall this winter was above average however. These pictures were taken 2 days after our furry friend saw his shadow.
The start of March brought more snow showers and cold weather. That is usually expected. By mid march things warm up enough … (5 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 56, Credit Reapair & Your Emotions - 03/27/08 12:19 PM
Credit Repair and Your Emotions
It is a subject that few people discuss, but more and more therapists are talking about it - the key link between our emotions and our money.  We may think that money is all about our rational selves, but in fact our emotions are often very much invested in our pocket books. 
If we want to repair our credit, we have to deal with the emotional as well as the numerical side of money.  There are a few tips that financial experts now believe can help you harness your emotions in a way that can actually help … (2 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 55, Debt to Pay More Debt? - 03/27/08 12:16 PM
Tip #93: Do not use one debt to repay another
This results in accumulating interest and so increasingly un-payable bills.  If you use one credit card to pay off another, for example, you are paying interest on interest, and paying off the new credit card bill will be more difficult. 
This method will also mean that you will always be looking for new credit and new debt to pay off your increasing debts.  It makes more sense to get a second job or arrange for a new payment schedule. 
Paying off your debts with another debt may help you in the short … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 54, AVOID Payday Loans - 03/27/08 11:26 AM
Tip #91: Use loan calculators to estimate your finances and keep your credit rating in good shape
Online loan calculators are a useful tool that can help you determine how much of an interest rate you should pay, how much in monthly payments you can afford, and how much your loan will cost you in interest over the long term. 
Online loan calculators are free to use and can help you figure out how to make your debts more affordable.  There are online loan calculators for auto loans, home loans, and personal loans.  If you are going to be getting a new … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 53, Minimal Payments? - 03/27/08 11:24 AM
Tip #89: Pay down your debts by making larger than minimal payments
If you only pay down the minimum amount on each of your loans, it will take you a long, long time to pay down your loans.  This is because most lenders only require that you pay down slightly more than the interest amount on your debt each month.  Even a debt of a few hundred dollars could take several years to repay this way. 
Paying down your debts by putting down more than the minimum required monthly payment can help you pay down your debts faster and so can boost … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 52, Consolidate Debt - 03/25/08 04:11 PM
Dealing with Debt
Debt is a major factor in your credit score.  If you have too much of it (or none at all) or if you have trouble repaying your debts on time, your credit score will plummet.  Keeping your debts reasonable and paid, on the other hand, will do more than almost anything else to improve your credit score.  Here are a few tips that can ensure that your debts actually help you boost your credit score:
       
Tip #88: Consolidate your loans to make repaying them easier
Having lots of loans and debt is one of the biggest reasons leading to poor … (2 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 51, Learn about Money - 03/25/08 04:10 PM
Tip #86: Make learning about money a priority
As a student, whether you attend information sessions at the financial aid office, read about money in books, or meet with your bank's financial officers, learning how to manage your money is an important part of school life. 
For many students, their time away from home is one of the first times they are responsible for finances - including bills.  Learning to handle this responsibility well early on in life ensures that you will enjoy a good credit standing your whole life. Learning about money will also help you prevent costly credit mistakes.
Tip … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 50, More College Financial Tips - 03/25/08 04:08 PM
Tip #84: Save money by taking advantage of student discounts or student life
One of the advantages of student life is that it is inexpensive.  Student housing or rooms rented with roommates create inexpensive living, on-campus facilities offer great services at discount rates, and many businesses offer student-only deals.
Try to take advantage of these offers to make your student money stretch further so that you have take out the smallest student loans possible.  Look around to find the best student-deal offers, ranging from travel deals to free tax filing services, available from your campus and from surrounding businesses.
Make use of … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 49, Student loans - never default! - 03/25/08 04:06 PM
Tip #83: (Almost) never default on a student loan
Many students think that defaulting on a student loan after graduation is a smart way to get rid of a debt.  After all, they no longer need the money for school and in fact need the money for settling into a job and new home.  However, defaulting on a student loan is a terrible mistake in almost all cases, because it affects your credit rating very negatively.  If you have student loans, it is important that you start repaying them on schedule and that you repay them on time.  Doing so will actually … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 48, Budget & Paying for Education - 03/25/08 03:56 PM
Tip #81: If you are a student (and especially a student with student loans), budget carefully
Student loans need to be paid back and are more and more often for large amounts.  Taking out the smallest loans you can and sticking to a budget can help establish good credit habits that can help ensure that you have a good credit score when you leave university.  Plus, since student loans are for a limited amount, you can easily budget because you will know exactly how much money you will make each month and how much money you will be spending on student housing, … (2 comments)

Foreclosure... not on my watch! How to help your clients - 03/25/08 02:37 PM
Dealing with a Seller in Foreclosure
Many of you Realtors and us lenders are dealing with people walking in the door that are in the pre-foreclosure process. The home owner is lost, confused, and looking for help. I came across this "home owner in foreclosure" script and hope it can help you help your clients. With this, you can help empower your clients with 7 options and allow them to decide how to reach a resolution.
These initial meeting questions should be used with someone during your first meeting... Start by weaving some or all of the following questions into your conversation:
Are you aware of the impending foreclosure?Do you … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 47, Student Credit Repair - 03/20/08 05:06 PM
Student Credit Repair
Students are increasingly worried about credit and credit scores - and for good reason.  Student debts are rising and the numbers of students who leave school with ruined credit scores is rising as well.  Many experts blame larger credit card debts and rising tuition costs (that lead to larger student loans). Despite the pressures of today's student life, though, it is possible to leave school with a good credit score and in fact to develop good financial habits that can lead to a lifetime of good credit ratings.  There are a few tips that can make the college years … (4 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 46, Go Online - 03/20/08 05:03 PM
Tip #79: Go online
There are a number of online resources that can help you find credit information and can help you with your credit repair project:
The FICO web site - www.myfico.com - contains lots of useful credit repair information and even allows you to order credit reports and scores. 
The credit bureaus (transunion.com, equifax.com and experian.com) allow you to order credit scores and credit reports online. 
Through the online sites you can also get information on reporting errors on your credit report.  Your bank likely offers online banking as well, which can make managing your accounts easier and simpler for you … (2 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 45, Bill Paying Tips - 03/20/08 04:59 PM
Tip #76: Pay your bills as soon as you get them
If you leave your bills until later, you may forget and end up being listed as a late payer.  Some companies may not report you to credit bureaus right away, but others report even one skipped or late payment, which can show up on your credit report and affect your credit rating.
Tip #77: Set aside a regular day, time, and place for paying bills
If you are too busy to pay your bills as they arrive, set aside one hour each week for paying your bills and ordering your finances.  Have the … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 44, Simplify Your Bills - 03/20/08 04:56 PM
Tip #74: Consider online banking or telephone banking to make bill payment easier
If you have trouble getting your payments in on time, consider online or telephone banking.  This simple system is now available from virtually every bank and can help you pay your bills in minutes - at any time of the day or night.  If you travel a lot, on line or telephone banking can be  a real life-saver as it will allow you to pay your bills no matter where you are.
Plus, you get instant confirmation of the paid bill and your payment is counted instantly.  You no longer … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 43, Credit Repair Made Easier - 03/20/08 04:54 PM
Make Credit Repair Easier on Yourself
Credit repair is no picnic.  It requires continual work and effort to get a good credit score and to improve a bad one.  In today's busy life, you stand a much better chance of getting a better credit score if you make it as easy on yourself as possible.  In many cases, people actually have low credit scores not because of carelessness or indifference, but because hectic lifestyles lead to oversights and missed credit payments.  There are several things you can do to make good credit almost automatic:
Tip #72: Don't let a bad credit score make … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 42, Know Your Score - 03/20/08 04:52 PM
Tip #70: Always know your credit score before speaking to lenders
Many people assume that having an excellent credit score is enough when applying for a loan.  It is not.  Some lenders are not terribly scrupulous about offering you the best rate - especially if they can gain by having you pay higher interest.  Some lenders will try to tell you that your credit score is lower than it is and that disqualifies you from a better rate.  Some may rely on your ignorance (or what they think of your ignorance) about your credit score to quote you a worse rate. 
Never … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 41, Loans & Your Credit - 03/20/08 04:50 PM
Loans and Your Credit Score
Loans affect your credit score more than almost any other item on your credit report.  The types of loans you have, how long you have had loans, the amounts you owe and your payment history on your loans has one of the biggest impacts on your credit score.  If you can control your loans, you can boost your credit score.  There are a few tips that can get you well on your way to painlessly managing your loans:
Tip #68: Refinance loans
If you got a poor deal on a loan - especially a major loan such as a … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 40, Automate Your Finances - 03/20/08 04:46 PM
Tip #67: Automate your finances
Thanks to automatic bank payments, you can have your bills taken out of your checking account each month or even charged to your credit card.  If you are the sort of person who gets dings on their credit report because you can never remember to pay your bills on time, this can be a very useful service. 
You can even set up your email service to send you automatic reminders of bills that are due soon so that you can pay them if they don't automatically come out. This sort of automation is one of the nicer … (3 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 39, Scores & Rates Matter! - 03/20/08 04:16 PM
Tip #65: Don't make the mistake of thinking that small differences in credit scores or loan interest rates won't make a big impact
A few points on a credit score can mean the difference between a lender offering you a prime rate reserved for the best credit risks and the worse interest rate offered to less than prime customers.  This may amount to only a few percentages in different loan rates, but this can make a huge impact, especially on a large purchase.  For example, a few percentage points on a long-term fixed-rate loan can mean the difference between tens of thousands … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 38, Set Goals! - 03/20/08 03:29 PM
Tip #63: Set short-term goals and do frequent credit self-checks in order to track your progress
Credit repair takes time and effort.  Some days, it will seem that you are getting no closer to a better credit score at all.  In order to keep track of your progress and in order to keep going forward, you need to set goals and keep track of what you are doing. 
For example, setting a goal such as "I will improve my credit score" is far too broad.  Set smaller goals, such as "I will talk to my bank about budgeting this week" or "I … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 37, Organize! - 03/13/08 03:52 PM
Develop an Organized Strategy to Repair Your Credit Score
Staying organized and on-track is very important when you are trying to boost your credit score, because there are so many details to follow up on and so many things to remember. A few basic organization tips can help make sure that you do not overlook anything that can cost you your good credit score:
Tip # 62: Stay financially organized
Keep all your financial records - including tax records - in one place.  Note the days you paid your bills on the bills themselves.  Note how much you owe and where you owe money.  … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 36, Talk to Lenders & Creditors - 03/13/08 03:50 PM
Tip #60: Talk to lenders and creditors
Many people are hesitant to keep an open line of communication with their lenders because they are embarrassed about their financial state or because they feel unsure about the position. Lenders can't read your mind, though.  They do not know that you can't make a payment this month but will be able to make a double payment next month because of a banking error. They simply see that you have failed to make a payment - this may indicate a temporary problem or a decision on your part to default on your loan.
Without your input, … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 35, Keep Records and Update Creditors - 03/13/08 03:48 PM
Tip #57: Avoid changing switching credit companies and credit accounts a lot
Credit companies will often offer you special introductory rates, generous free gifts or other incentives to switch companies.  However, you should resist the temptation unless you have a reasonable reason to switch. Establishing a good credit relationship with one company - having one credit card from your college days, for example - is a good way to show lenders that you are a steady sort of person who is likely to take money matters seriously.  That is exactly what lenders want to see. Switching accounts and lenders makes you appear … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 34, Follow Up & Stay Put! - 03/13/08 03:44 PM
Tip #54: Follow up on closed accounts
You closed a store card years ago - but is it still listed as an open account?  Bureaucratic mix-ups happen, often quite frequently.  If you want to keep your credit score good, you need to follow up on financial details. Whenever you close an account - whether it's a credit account, bank account, or utility company account, make sure that you get written confirmation that the account is closed and paid in full and then follow up a few months later with the company to confirm the closed account.  This simple precaution can save you … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 33, Think Like A Lender - 03/13/08 03:40 PM
Think Like a Lender
If you think like a lender, you can see which habits and traits you need to develop in order to be considered a good credit risk.  Thinking like a lender will help you understand how you must manage your money to be appealing to lenders.  There are few tips that can put you into the right mind set:
Tip #52: Know how money works
Reading books about money and understanding how your accounts and loans work can go a long way towards helping you keep your credit in good repair.  For example, if you know that some loans will charge … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 32, Protecting Your Assets - 03/13/08 03:25 PM
Tip #49: Get overdraft protection, insurance on your credit cards, or other services to keep your credit in good shape
Talk to your bank and lenders about services they offer to keep you safe. Overdraft protection, for example, is a basic service that often costs nothing or very little extra but which protects you in case you withdraw too much money from your bank account. With overdraft protection, you do not get a "ding" on your credit report or a charge for insufficient funds.  In most cases, you get a day or two to add more money to the account to cover the … (3 comments)

NEW Young Professionals Network Group in Idaho Falls! - 03/11/08 11:19 PM
The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce has organized a group for 21 to 40 year old professionals. (They don't card at the door by the way).
This group is called the Greater Idaho Falls Young Professionals Network.
We meet on the last Thursday of each month at a local restaurant from 5:30 to 7:30 PMwhere we socialize and get to know other young professionals in the community. It provides an opportunity for networking at a free event where food and drinks are provided by monthly sponsors. Tentatively, we are looking at having a short  presentation at each event that will help … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 31, Boost Income & Prepare - 03/10/08 10:29 PM
Tip #47: Find more ways to income
While you are repairing your credit, you will want to channel as much money as you can into savings and debt repayment.  For this, having a second income or even just a few hundred dollars a month more can mean that you get your credit into shape faster. Having a secondary form of income can also keep your credit safe - if you lose your job, you can use the money you make from a secondary source to repay your bills until you find another form of employment. 
There are many ways to get more income:
You … (6 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 30, Track and Save! - 03/10/08 10:20 PM
Tip #44: Keep track of your money
Most people are surprised by how quickly their money seems to be spent.  This is because impulse spending and small-change spending really adds up.  Small-change spending is small spending we do without even thinking about it - buying a coffee or a newspaper we don't need. Impulse spending refers to simply buying things we don't use or need.  In both cases, we end up spending too much unnecessarily, and this is a problem in credit repair because you want to be channeling as much money as you can into savings and debt repayment so that you … (2 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 29, Spending VS. Saving - 03/10/08 10:15 PM
Tip #42: Get out of the spending habit
We are surrounded with advertisements that tell us to buy, buy, buy.  When we want to read a book, we buy it.  When we want to go somewhere, we take a cab or drive rather than walking. Stopping spending consciously can be hard, but heading to your local library, walking instead of taking a car, buying a used computer instead of a new one - all can help you spend less and save more. There are several ways you can save money and pay off your debts faster by spending less:
1) When you head out, … (2 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 28, Learn to Budget - 03/10/08 10:12 PM
General Good Financial Habits Build Good Credit Scores
Your credit score in some ways is meant to be a snapshot of your overall financial habits - especially your habits surrounding debts and other financial responsibilities.  Developing some good financial habits can help your credit score by putting you in a good financial position. Good financial habits will ensure that you don't get into too much debt and that you are able to meet your financial duties easily.  There are a few financial habits that are especially credit-friendly:
Tip #40: Learn to budget
One of the biggest reasons that people develop poor credit is overspending.  In … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 27, Get a Good Team - 03/10/08 10:08 PM
Tip #38: Get a good team on your side to help you with your credit score
A good team of professionals can help you get your credit score back in shape.  Your most important member of your team is yourself - you are the one with the financial agency and (with this ebook) the knowledge to become your own best advocate in credit repair.  Besides this, you may want to check with your local library for financial help books.  You may also want to include financial experts such as credit counselors or others to help you.  If you decide to seek a … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 26, Get Help - beware the scam - 03/10/08 10:04 PM
Tip # 37: It will be easier for financial experts to help you if you seek credit repair help sooner rather than later 
If you do decide to seek credit repair help from the experts, it makes sense to seek that help before your financial situation spirals too far out of control.  After all, credit repair experts can do little for you if your credit and financial situation is so bad that the only option left to you is bankruptcy.
Tip #38: Look out for credit repair scams
There are a number of credit repair scams out there.  These scams often promise to … (1 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 25, Credit Repair Help - 03/10/08 09:58 PM
Tip #35: Look out for credit repair companies.
Many companies out there advertise that they can help you with credit repair, but the quality of these services - not to mention what they offer - varies widely.  Some companies really can help you with credit repair while others are actually under investigation for suspect business practices.  If you decide to seek help from a credit repair company, be sure that the company is legitimate and offers you viable services. In general, you should be looking for non-profit credit counseling services rather than credit repair companies (some of which are really just lenders … (0 comments)

Boosting Your Credit Score: Part 24, Professional Help - 03/10/08 09:52 PM
Tip #33: Learn from your mistakes.
Everyone makes some credit mistakes sooner or later - it is very rare for someone to go through their entire lives without at least a few dings on their credit risk record.  Don't beat yourself up over your mistakes - even if they are large ones.  Instead, learn from your mistakes by analyzing them.  Think of your credit mistakes as clues which can help you in the future to avoid the same problems:
Do you develop credit problems because you overspend while shopping?  Are you so disorganized that you forget to pay bills? Are your bills … (0 comments)

Preventing Identity Theft: Safe Banking Tips - 03/07/08 11:19 AM
Identity theft ranks as a top fear among the general public. There is good reason:
The number of US adult victims of identity fraud in 2007 was 8.4 million. Total one year fraud amount of $49.3 billion in 2007. The mean fraud amount per fraud victim was $5,720 in 2007. The mean resolution time was at 25 hours per victim in 2007. Source: Privacy Rights.org These numbers are daunting but when compared to the previous 3 years they have declined. There is still more that needs to be done to irradicate identity theft.
Here are some safe banking tips that will help you in protecting … (6 comments)

Double tag! Had to MEME - 03/05/08 01:14 PM
Barb Hutchinson and also Mike Tullio selected me to do a meme. Thanks, to both of you, really - I mean that with all my heart. (It's really hard to convey sarcasm in writing but I am doing my best!)
 
1. I was born and raised in Mackay Idaho. It's basically on the other side of the mountain of Sun Valley. I love the mountains and being in the outdoors.

2. At the age of 4, I developed Leg Perthes Disease and had to wear a Scottish Rite Brace till I was 9. (It had a 14" bar between the … (7 comments)

Leap Year Bundle of Joy! - 03/03/08 09:37 AM
I am so excited to share with all of you the bundle of joy we received on Friday (leap year day). Our little Brooklyn was born in the evening and came in around 8lbs.
  
  Both mom & baby are happy and healthy. Who could ask for anything else!? How about a big sis that is beaming with pride and joy?
What a blessed time this is. … (19 comments)

 
Jeff_fullmer

Jeff Fullmer - Real Estate Investor/Financier

Idaho Falls, ID

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