6 Tips for Boosting Your Credit Score in 2016

Your credit score affects your financial life in many ways. Car insurance premiums and your interest rate on home and auto loans are determined, in part, by your credit report, and plenty of employers actually check it when deciding whether or not to hire a candidate for employment. With that in mind, it's in your best interest to not only know your credit score, but to improve it.

Here are six tips for improving your credit score for a fresh financial start in 2016.

1. Pay Your Monthly Bills on Time
Paying monthly bills is a necessary chore that has a definite effect on your credit score. According to the FICO scoring model, your payments account for as much as 35 percent of your total score. Create reminders for due dates or establish a calendar for yourself to ensure you get everything paid on time.

2. Reduce Your Debts
Got credit card debt? Start paying it off now. Part of your credit score is based on the amount of available credit you have, known as your credit utilization ratio. So if you're carrying high balances, you'll want to lower them as soon as possible. Create a personal budget with a goal of reducing your spending so that it's lower than your income. Then, use any monthly surplus for your credit card debts until they're gone for good.

3. Limit Credit Inquiries
Looking for a new apartment? What about a mortgage? In either situation, try and group your applications together as much as possible. Applications for new lines of credit will generate a "hard pull" on your credit, and having too many of them in a short period of time can lower your score. However, credit reporting agencies usually consider a group of applications within a short period of time as one pull, as long as they're in the same category.

Similarly, limit yourself to opening up no more than one or two credit cards per year, which also generate hard pulls. Even if you get a ton of offers in the mail for stellar sign-up bonuses, they're likely to be offset by the damage to your credit. FICO reports that new credit and credit inquiries account for 10 percent of your total score.

4. Don't Cancel Old Cards
Have a card you don't use anymore? Don't close it. This can negatively affect your score as it lowers your amount of available credit. Instead, use it about once per month and don't forget to pay the bills in full, and on time.

5. Request Credit Limit Increase
If you only have one card and you're constantly approaching your spending limit, call the bank and ask for an increase in your credit line. This will raise the amount of available credit, which will eventually improve your score.

6. Take Care of Late Payments Before They Hit Your Score
If you do happen to miss a payment, contact the card issuer immediately. If you have good history built up, the company may agree to not report your late payment. Even if you can't avoid a late-payment fee, be sure to get your account up to date as soon as possible so you can limit the damage.
Your credit score is yours to own. It reflects your financial history and helps lenders predict how you will manage your finances in the future. Due to the lingering effects of credit, you don't want to waste any time to improve your credit.

8 Credit Card Tips That Will Last a Lifetime!!!

8 Credit Card Tips That Will Last a Lifetime!!!

Credit card tips can change with the wind — or as you enter different stages in life. If you’re young and trying to build credit, start with a low credit limit. If you travel a lot, consider an airline or hotel credit card. If you have a lot of debt, it’s a good time to put those cards on ice. Great credit? Look into what rewards you might qualify for. All this advice can, at times, get a little overwhelming. Fortunately, there are certain credit card habits that will always apply. Here are 10 basic credit card tips that will last your lifetime.

1. Try to Pay Your Statement Balance in Full

Paying interest increases the cost of everything you purchase with your credit card, so you should try to avoid carrying a balance as often as possible. If you do have to carry a balance, try to keep it below at least 30% (ideally 10%) of your available credit limit. Doing so will help keep your credit score intact. You can come up with a payment plan to get rid of any existing credit card debt you have here.

2. Never Make a Late Payment

Late payments can result in costly fees, damaged credit and sky-high penalty annual percentage rates. Fortunately, there are many tools that you can use to make on-time payments including e-mail and text alerts or automatic payments that you can initiate with your issuer.

3. Carefully Examine Every Statement

Credit card users enjoy robust protections against fraudulent transactions, but you may have to report the activity to your issuer to take full advantage of them. Regularly reviewing your credit card statements can help you spot fraud as soon as it occurs. Calling your issuer immediately to dispute the charges and have the card replaced can help ensure you’re not on the hook for them.

4. It Never Hurts to Ask

If you have ever made a late payment by accident, then you’ve probably incurred a late fee. But if you take the time to ask for the fee to be removed, many card issuers will do so. You can also try asking for annual fees and foreign transaction fees to be waived, for your interest rate to be lowered or for your credit limit to be raised. (Keep in mind, the last two may result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which could ding your credit score.)

5. Read Your Terms and Conditions

It’s important to thoroughly read the terms and conditions associated with any credit card you are using or are thinking of applying for. You’ll want to know, for instance, what fees will be imposed and when, if an APR change may go into effect and what your rewards programs entails. You should also check your privacy agreement and whether your card is subject to an arbitration clause.

6. Keep Track of Your Credit

The most important way to ensure that your credit card spending habits are in line is to regularly check your credit. Some credit card issuers now offer free monthly FICO credit scores on your statement. You can also request free copies of your credit reports each year from CreditcheckTotal.com and view your credit scores for free each month on Credit.com.

7. Regularly Re-evaluate Your Credit Cards

The only constant in the credit card industry is change, so it’s important to regularly take a look at the credit cards that are in your wallet. Then, examine the market to see if there are newer products available that will better meet your needs — which may have changed since the last time you comparison-shopped for cards.

8. Avoid Cash Withdrawals

Nearly all credit cards impose cash advance fees and very high cash advance APRs, so you should avoid using your credit card for cash at all costs. Remember, it’s always better to use your ATM card when you need cash.

Top 10 Tips for Improving Your Credit in 2016

1. Be sure to pull your free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus at least once a year. Review them to ensure there is no inaccurate information, and report it immediately if you find any.
2. Make sure to always pay your bills on time. Being 30 days late on just one mortgage payment can lower your score by as much as 100 points!
3. Everyone should have at least one credit card open. Having access to that revolving credit and using it responsibly counts for 30 percent of your total FICO score. Just remember, only purchase things that you have cash on hand to pay for, and pay off the entire balance in full every month.
4. If you’re shopping around for a mortgage, loan or anything else that involves a credit check, make sure to do it in a close time span. Multiple inquiries hurt your score, but inquiries that are grouped close together count as just one. Your FICO score will ignore multiple inquires made within 30 days of scoring, while the newest lending software gives you 45 days. However, older software gives you just a 14 day window to shop around.
5. Don’t close out old credit accounts or credit cards. Debt that has been paid in full is good for your report. Plus, the length of time you’ve had credit open helps your score: the age of every account is averaged together, and the older your credit history, the better. In fact, age accounts for 15 percent of your score.
6. Use less than 10 percent of your credit card limit at any given time. Using it sparingly will help to increase your credit score.
7. Negotiate with creditors and collection agencies if you are having difficulty paying off any of your current debts. Be proactive and determine if there are payment plans available that are more realistic for your current financial situation.
8. Eliminate any small balances that remain on your credit accounts, the number of credit cards with balances on them affects your credit score, the fewer you have with a balance, the better
9. Pay your credit card bill in full before the statement goes out. Most credit card companies report to the credit card bureaus at the same time statements go out, so lowering your credit utilization ratio by paying off your cards in advance will impact your score in a positive way.
10. Convert outstanding credit card debt to personal loans if you don’t have the means to pay it down quickly. Credit card debt is more damaging to your credit score, and it can have a higher interest rate, making it harder to pay down.

10 Tips to Live Credit Smart

Your credit report acts as your financial references when you apply for new credit. Whether you’re trying to build credit for the first time or want to re-build your credit standing, the only way to build a strong credit history is to use credit wisely. Following are 10 tried and true tips to Live Credit Smart:

1. Get a copy of your credit report.

Your personal credit report is an easy-to-read record of your credit accounts and total indebtedness. It is a good idea to review your credit report at least once a year and when you’re getting ready to make a major purchase. You can request a copy of your report directly from Experian. You also should consider reviewing your reports from the other national credit reporting companies.

2. Know your credit score.

A credit score translates the information in your credit report into a number reflecting the risk of doing business with you. While there are many different types of credit scoring models, a higher score generally represents lower risk. To check your risk, request a credit score when you order your credit report. You will receive an explanation of what the score means and what from your credit report is most affecting it.

3. Provide complete, accurate and consistent identification on your credit applications.

This helps set up your credit history correctly from the beginning, ensures that your new accounts will be matched to the correct report and minimizes the chance that your credit file will be incomplete.

4. Set up a budget and live within it.

Credit should not be used to live beyond your means. By setting a budget and living within it, you will avoid using credit to overextend yourself.

5. Have some credit, but not too much.

A credit history shows creditors how you manage your debts. Having no credit history can make it difficult to qualify for new credit because creditors have no information to help them make a lending decision. You only need a few active accounts reported to the credit reporting companies to demonstrate smart credit management.

6. Pay your bills on time.

Late payments, called delinquencies, negatively impact your credit scores and affect your ability to get credit, since they indicate a stronger likelihood that you will make late payments again or will be unable to pay your debts in the future. If you fall behind on your payments, contact your lenders, which may work with you to set up a different payment schedule or interest rate.

7. Have a mixture of credit types.

A mix of accounts can show that you know how to manage all types of credit. It is good to have a history of repaying an installment loan, such as a car or student loan, but a revolving account, such as a credit card, demonstrates more clearly that you can responsibly manage credit because you have to control how much you charge and pay each month.

8. Keep credit card balances low.

High outstanding debt can affect your credit scores because it results in a high utilization rate, or balance-to-limit ratio, making you appear to be an increased credit risk. Keeping your balances low compared with credit limits shows that you aren’t tempted to charge more than you can pay and can handle larger amounts of available credit.

9. Use caution when closing accounts.

Closing an account isn’t always a good thing because it can result in an increase to your utilization rate. However, if you want to eliminate a few cards with high interest rates or fees – and you have ample credit available to you – the impact on your credit score should be relatively minor.

10. Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed.

Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Recent inquiries indicate you may have taken on new debt that isn’t yet shown on your credit report, and many inquiries in a short time might suggest you are trying to live on borrowed money.

Steps to Lowering Debt and Saving More Money for Your Retirement

The start of a new year is a good opportunity to embark on strategies to lower your debt,increase your savings and maximize your retirement portfolio even if you were not among the fortunate ones to receive a raise or bonus.

Ramping up the balance in your 401(k) or IRA while reducing your credit card debt and increasing your rainy day fund for emergencies can be achieved by paying fewer fees and taxes and devising a plan.

“Whatever your goals are for 2016 or beyond, you need a plan to get there,” said Jamie Hopkins, a retirement professor at the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pa. “This could start with a short term plan for the year and develop into a long-term plan for retirement.”

How to Decrease Debt

Lower and eliminate your debt, especially your credit cards by always paying on time and more than the minimum, said Andrew Housser, co-CEO of Freedom Financial Network, a San Mateo, Calif.-based debt resolution company.

“The first and best rule is to never charge more in any given month than you can repay that month,” he said. “Even adding just $10 to your payment or rounding payments up to the next $10 or $100 increment will make a huge difference.”

Spending less money means taking a harsh look at your budget and financial plan so you can “spot areas that you are overspending,” said Hopkins. Set aside a certain amount of money for savings with each paycheck you receive and saving at least 10% of your income is recommended.

“Another great way to spot areas you overspend is to look at your free year-end review that is offered by most credit card companies and banks,” he said. “This can show you where you spend your money during the year and help you reduce some of those expenses this coming year.”

Ways to Increase Savings

Reduce the amount of your health insurance premiums by quitting smoking since in many states, companies charge smokers more, said Nate Purpura, vice president of consumer affairs at eHealth.com, an online health insurance exchange based in Mountain View, Calif.

In 2015, smokers paid an average monthly health insurance premium of $311 while non-smokers paid only $272, according to eHealth’s data. If you can beat smoking this year, you may qualify for lower premiums next year.

Opening a flexible spending account, or FSA, gives you the opportunity to pay for medical, dependent care or transportation costs with pre-tax dollars set aside with every paycheck, said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate, the North Palm Beach, Fla. based financial content company.

Lower your taxable income by contributing to a health savings account known as an HSA, which you can open as long as your deductible is at least $1,300. Since HSAs mirror IRA accounts, you can save money by paying fewer taxes while also saving for medical expenses such as copays, deductibles or dental care, said Nate Purpura, vice president of consumer affairs at eHealth.com, an online health insurance exchange based in Mountain View, Calif. Any money you don’t spend will rollover like an IRA and can be another vehicle to increase your retirement savings.

“You can deposit money into your HSA until April 15, 2016 for the 2015 tax year,” he said.

Some estimates predict that the average taxpayer will overpay their federal income taxby $1,000 this year, which is “money being held without earning any interest,” said Bruce McClary, spokesperson for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a Washington, D.C-based non-profit organization.

“If you have too much money being withheld from your paycheck for taxes, take time to adjust your withholding,” he said. “You will want to match the total amount withheld to the amount you will expect to pay when taxes are filed.”

How do I get and keep a good credit score

There are no secrets to building a strong credit score, but following these guidelines should help:

• Pay your bills on time, every time. One way to make sure your payments are on time is to set up automatic payments, or set up electronic reminders. If you’ve missed payments, get current and stay current.
• Don’t get close to your credit limit. Credit scoring models look at how close you are to being “maxed out,” so try to keep your balances low in proportion to your overall credit limit. Experts advise keeping your use of credit at no more than 30 percent of your total credit limit.
  Note: You don’t need to revolve on credit cards to get a good score. Paying off the balance each month helps get you the best scores.
• A long credit history will help your score. Credit scores are based on experience over time. The more experience you have with getting credit and paying your bills on time, the more information there is to determine whether you are a good credit risk.
• Only apply for credit that you need. Credit scores look at your recent credit activity as an indicator of your need for credit. If you apply for a lot of credit over a short period of time, it may appear to lenders that your economic circumstances have changed negatively.

Tip: If you close some credit card accounts and put most or all of your credit card balances onto one card, it may hurt your credit score if this means that you are using a high percentage of your total credit limit.

Tip: Check your CREDIT CHECK TOTAL regularly and make sure the information in your credit reports is correct. Visit www.creditchecktotal.com to get a free copy of your credit report from the nationwide credit reporting companies. You can receive a free credit report from each of the big nationwide credit reporting companies once every 12 months.

How to Establish and Maintain Good Credit

Your credit history is a list of all the pieces of your financial life. It includes every credit card account you've opened and any other loans you've taken out. It also includes your debt repayment history.

Many factors can affect your credit score, including whether you've paid on time or late, been foreclosed upon or filed for bankruptcy. If a court has ordered you to repay a loan or your debt has been deemed un collectible-these, too, affect your score. All of this information stays on your credit history.

Lenders look at your credit history to assess your ability to pay back their money. If you are having money problems, you represent greater risk to a lender. The basic principle with credit is this: use credit wisely and spend within your means.

Establishing Credit

If you don't have credit (or much credit), the key is to start small. One credit card or small loan can get the ball rolling. But make sure your lender reports your on-time payments to one of the three credit bureaus- ExperianSM (experian.com), Equifax (equifax.com) or TransUnion® (transunion.com)-and preferably to all three. If your on-time payments don't get reported, you're accumulating debt but not building credit.

Only credit accounts that report your borrowing and repayment activity will count toward your credit history. Here are some tips to help you establish a credit good history:

• When establishing credit, pay off your charges in full at the end of the month. When you get a card, always pay off the balance in full when the statement arrives. Paying off your balance in full shows the card company that you're fiscally responsible. You're using credit as it was intended: as a short-term loan.
• Pay on time. One of the most important steps in building and maintaining a solid credit history is to pay all of your bills on time each month. By paying on time, you're showing the lender or creditor that you've got enough cash flow to cover your expenses. If you pay late and the creditor reports your late payment to the credit bureaus, it may damage your credit history, and lower your credit score.
• Keep your total charges well within your credit limit. If you want to boost your credit history and credit score, you'll want to keep your total monthly charges well within your credit limit. Why? In calculating your credit score, you'll take a hit if your balance is above that limit because it signals to creditors that you may be having financial difficulties and thus are a riskier borrower.
• Regularly read your credit report. One way to building a positive credit history is to make sure you know what information is being reported. Errors and negative information can damage your credit history and your credit score, so you'll want to regularly check your credit report to see what's there.
• Understand what debit cards can do for you. While they look like credit cards, debit cards actually function more like a checkbook. They provide direct access to the cash in your bank account. So you can pay for items and services with a debit card instead of writing a check. What debit cards don't do is help you build your credit history. That's because you're not using credit to buy these items—you're using something that's treated like cash. Because you're using a cash substitute instead of credit, your debit card activity isn't reported to the credit bureaus and won't help you establish good credit.
• Consider getting a secured credit card. A secured credit card is tied to an account. You deposit a certain amount of money into the account and then you can charge up to that amount. If you default on your payment, the bank can tap into the account to get repaid. After six to 12 months of on-time payments, you may feel you're ready to graduate to a regular credit card or a store card. However, resist the urge to open too many store card accounts to take advantage of discounts. Every time you open one, it results in a credit report inquiry, which may affect your score.
• Ask for a credit line increase. After you've had your first credit card for a while (six months to a year), call the issuer and ask to increase your credit limit. The idea is to raise the credit limit on the card, not your debt load. If you're carrying a balance, raising your limit will help keep your debt-to-credit-limit ratio low. That's an important factor when calculating a credit score.
• Focus on what you want. Your credit history becomes critical when it's time to make those big purchases, like a home or a car. At that point, a one percent difference in the interest on a loan will either cost you or save you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.
• By keeping your eye on the goal-establishing and maintaining a good credit history-you'll be able to borrow that money when you want it, at the most favorable terms and conditions being offered.