It's that time of the year again ... And that means the Holidays are here! Decorations, holiday songs, family gatherings, eggnog, parties ... And Shopping! Like the majority of Americans, you've probably found yourself ... or will find yourself ... doing one or both of the following during the Holiday Shopping Season:
Standing at a register in a store paying for a holiday purchase Making a holiday purchase online And inevitably, you'll find yourself being asked at the time of check-out ... or at some later date via an email or text ... if … (11 comments)
A large number of credit card companies now offer an opportunity to their customers to see their credit scores. Consumers receive "previews" of their credit scores via their credit card's monthly statements. Opportunities to view or receive credit scores are available elsewhere too. Credit Bureaus, credit monitoring sights, when applying for car loans ... all afford these opportunities to consumers. These credit scores can serve as a measurement or "ruler" of sorts. When you know your credit score:
You know how well you've paid bills and obligations How much of your credit availability you've utilized (debt owed) You're alerted to possible … (42 comments)
But for Millennial-age hopeful home buyers, credit-related issues are of particular interest and importance these days. I'll add they may be a bit frustrating too ... It's been very well-documented: The job market and financial problems have dogged Millennials. As a result, many have poor credit. Or have avoided accumulating debt entirely. They pay cash for every purchase or bill they have. Each credit issue presents its own challenge. Decidedly so when … (49 comments)
credit cards: Prepare Your Credit & Finances for the Upcoming Holidays Now!
- 07/28/14 07:46 AM
Prepare Your Credit & Finances for the Upcoming Holidays Now! I know. I know. The Holidays are still months away. And I've touched-upon this topic before ... But I think it's important ... and increasingly, people are planning for the Holidays and beginning to shop for the Holidays earlier and earlier in the year. So I'm thinking NOW ... even though it's warm out ... is the perfect time to make plans regarding your budget, credit/credit cards, and finances for this year's Holiday celebrations and expenditures. Anticipating and planning … (15 comments)
credit cards: Credit Card Security Breaches: How to Find if YOU Have Been Effected. How to Protect Yourself Moving Forward
- 02/06/14 05:01 AM
Credit Card Security Breaches: How to Find if YOU Have Been Effected. How to Protect Yourself Moving Forward The recent breach in security at multiple well-known retail stores has Credit Card holders more than a little nervous and concerned. Rightly so ... These breaches have led to a number of my clients (those currently in the Mortgage Process and past clients as well) to inquire ...
"How do I check to see if I'm a victim of these security breaches?" "What should I be doing about my account?" Unfortunately, there isn't one definitive … (9 comments)
credit cards: Heading to College? Protect Your Finances Now .. and for the Future
- 02/04/14 12:22 AM
Heading to College? Protect Your Finances Now .. and for the Future It happens fairly frequently ... While reading through a potential Mortgage Applicant's Credit Report, I'll discover that many of their reported debts and Credit Cards were first established while they were in college. And now years later, they're still trying to pay off those debts. Yes, it's true. The Credit Card Act (signed into law May 22nd of '09) is supposed to be addressing some of these issues by removing Credit Card companies ... and the temptations they offer to college students … (29 comments)
If you've watched much TV over the past few weeks, you've probably caught a commercial or two heralding the approaching holiday retail shopping season. Holiday decorations to put you in a holiday shopping mood have begun to pop up in stores too. Yep ... the "push" for your holiday shopping dollars has officially begun and we haven't even seen Halloween yet . And … (14 comments)
credit cards: Ho! Ho! Ho! Don't "SAVE" or "BARGAIN" Yourself Right Out of Buying Your New Home
- 12/03/12 02:37 AM
Ho! Ho! Ho! Don't "SAVE" or "BARGAIN" Yourself Right Out of Buying Your New Home I've written on this topic before, but the Holiday season has rolled around once again ... and I think the topic so very important, that I'm revisiting it. Admittedly, a CBS "Money-Watch" article I saw just this morning triggered my action too ... It's Holiday Shopping Time! And that means "bargains" are everywhere and consumers are often buying Holiday gifts on credit. It's natural (and smart) to look for "bargains", no doubt about that. But what about those … (75 comments)
credit cards: Making Mountains Out of Molehills ... Part 1
- 01/06/11 03:15 PM
As a Mortgage Banker at Chicago Bancorp, I obviously have a chance to view many credit reports and are a part of many financial and credit-related conversations. Add the fact that I'm also an IL Certified Financial Planner ... and the number of financial-related conversations I have becomes pretty staggering. Needless to say, I have an opportunity to see first-hand just how decisions regarding the act of saving or paying bills, both small and large, impact the financial and credit standings of my clients. Because of the recent tax cut/decisions made by Congress, what many Americans will reap on their paychecks will change in 2011. Now , … (12 comments)
You're out doing your holiday shopping. It's 11:45 pm .. and you're in that store because they have exactly what you want and have been looking for ... at an unbelievable price, but only if purchased during the hours of 10 pm to midnight.
Plus, in your hand you have an additional coupon that you found at an online site. The coupon will give you a whopping and additional 10% off your purchase! It's your turn up at the register and you're feeling like a California goldminer about to hit the motherlode. … (97 comments)
For more information on the Credit Card Act follow this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_CARD_Act_of_2009 To contact Gene Mundt regarding a Credit 101 talk with your classrooms or organization, please go to: http://genemundt.com/Contact-Me.html
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