I have extensive experience in fixing credit scores, first hand. I have gone from a 490 to 700 fico score and then back down to 490 --due to employment reasons. Here is a list of ways to get your score up fast!
1. Have someone add you as an Authorized User on an account that has a payment history (preferably at least 4 years of history)
2. Dispute all addresses except the one you currently live at.
3. After you have completed disputing the addresses, you can now move on to disputing judgements, bankruptcies, and collections. They use your prior addresses as a way to confirm your credit issues so if the addresses don't show up, they have nothing to prove.
4. Automate all credit cards and installments payments so your payments are on time from here on out.
5. Pay all your balances off on your credit cards monthly and preferably before the next statement is issued. The balance they report at the credit bureau is the balance as of your statement so pay earlier than the due date.
6. Keep all your old accounts open and charge a maximum of $10 a month on it so it shows a good payment history.
7. Check your free credit report at creditkarma.com as a progress of your score.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
10 ways to cut costs
1. Save money on groceries by letting your pantry go as empty as you can go. If that means you only eat rice and beans a couple nights, you will save so much money. Yes, it's extreme but the reality is, your body will thank you and so will your bank account.
2. Cancel cable and use just netflix and hulu.
3. Save on internet connection by tethering your cell phone (T-Mobile lets you do this) instead of going through your bundle.
4. Use Gas Buddy app to find the cheapest and closest possible gas. (you won't have to drive far to get cheaper gas!)
5. Make a grocery list and have meatless Monday's. Just to make sure you don't forget, use this printable list and use a paper protector over it and use a dry erase marker to check off what you need so you won't have to waste paper weekly.
6. Eat Leftovers!
7. Grow your own Veggies.
8. Shop auto insurance every 6 or 12 months. (Don't forget to check health insurance rates)
9. Buy in bulk and in store brands.
10. Shop cell phone plans.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
How to be RICH!
In order to get rich you must either make a bunch of money or save a bunch of money and invest it.
In order to get rich via making more money you must:
1. Be the CEO of a company you start or work your way up to.
2. Be born into money.
3. Work two jobs saving all the income from one of them and invest it.
In order to save a bunch of money you must:
1. Start with the journal.
2. If your spending too much in groceries try to save by just saving $10 a week and increase it weekly until you are on a roll. If your spending is in dining out, make more meals at home and become a great cook. You don't have to make expensive meals for yourself or your family, pancakes are cheap and surprisingly enjoyable night after night. More on saving in categories later...
3. Look at your hard bills. Can you cut cable? Lower your cell service? Live in a cheaper house? Turn off lights or sign up for budget billing through your electric company? Can you get out of your gym membership? Can you find a cheaper car?
4. Find a second job. There are tons of ways to make extra money, selling your stuff on craigslist or ebay. You could start a blog and make money on it with advertising, you can elance for someone, you can become a virtual assistant, you can do survey's online or through your city, you can also sign up to be a mystery shopper. You can start babysitting or do small jobs for people in your town.
What do you think is a good way to save money?
In order to get rich via making more money you must:
1. Be the CEO of a company you start or work your way up to.
2. Be born into money.
3. Work two jobs saving all the income from one of them and invest it.
In order to save a bunch of money you must:
1. Start with the journal.
2. If your spending too much in groceries try to save by just saving $10 a week and increase it weekly until you are on a roll. If your spending is in dining out, make more meals at home and become a great cook. You don't have to make expensive meals for yourself or your family, pancakes are cheap and surprisingly enjoyable night after night. More on saving in categories later...
3. Look at your hard bills. Can you cut cable? Lower your cell service? Live in a cheaper house? Turn off lights or sign up for budget billing through your electric company? Can you get out of your gym membership? Can you find a cheaper car?
4. Find a second job. There are tons of ways to make extra money, selling your stuff on craigslist or ebay. You could start a blog and make money on it with advertising, you can elance for someone, you can become a virtual assistant, you can do survey's online or through your city, you can also sign up to be a mystery shopper. You can start babysitting or do small jobs for people in your town.
What do you think is a good way to save money?
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Part 1 : Spend less than you earn!
The title is easier said than done. How do you do that if you continually spend more than you earn?
1. Buy a journal.
2. On the first page, write in Huge Letters: MY MONEY=WHERE DID IT GO?
3. On the second page, I want you to write on the top line your hard bill expenses (only bills), amount, and due date, each page is it's own expense. Make sure you have the first bill to yourself you MUST have an emergency fund NO MATTER WHAT! So, save money each week even if it's $1.00.
4. Once your hard bills are all in the journal, right after that page, create a page called CASH-FLOW. This is a serious page so make it legible.
5. The next couple pages are for your discretionary spending.
6. The categories I use are: Groceries, Dining Out, Household, Personal Care, Kids Activities, Entertainment, Vacation, Medical Visits, Auto Maintenance, Gifts, Miscellaneous.
7. The most important task of this whole journal is to write down everything you spend. Take this with you everywhere. Write down in each category as you spend.
8. If you don't do step 7 above, you will get behind and get off track.
9. Every night before you go to sleep, total your spending in each of your expenses. If you don't total on a daily basis, you won't know until you've spent it all.
10. This step is NOT for everyone. If you are the kind of person who can't stop swiping your bank card and your boss doesn't direct deposit, then I want you to as soon as you get paid, take out your money for your savings. Stash that cash in a large envelope. (I realize this cash won't make you money but we are just starting to get in the habit of saving)
11. If you are not like the person I described above, then have your direct deposited paycheck transfer money for you - NOT in your bank account that is connected to your checking account. I suggest, ING savings account or something along those lines that earn some interest. The goal is to make it somewhat available but not too available. Be automated!
12. At the end of the month, you should have a clear picture of what your favorite thing is that you spend money on.
To be continued...
1. Buy a journal.
2. On the first page, write in Huge Letters: MY MONEY=WHERE DID IT GO?
3. On the second page, I want you to write on the top line your hard bill expenses (only bills), amount, and due date, each page is it's own expense. Make sure you have the first bill to yourself you MUST have an emergency fund NO MATTER WHAT! So, save money each week even if it's $1.00.
4. Once your hard bills are all in the journal, right after that page, create a page called CASH-FLOW. This is a serious page so make it legible.
On the top line, write the date of each paycheck you get for the whole month.
Then looking at your expenses on the previous pages write the bills that are due BEFORE your paycheck.
Total that amount up and see if you have any left over. If you do have something left over, proceed to step # 5.
If you don't have anything left. Don't spend any money.
Start selling anything you own so you can eat, get a second job, or come into some money, just pay your bills first but YOU come first...
5. The next couple pages are for your discretionary spending.
6. The categories I use are: Groceries, Dining Out, Household, Personal Care, Kids Activities, Entertainment, Vacation, Medical Visits, Auto Maintenance, Gifts, Miscellaneous.
7. The most important task of this whole journal is to write down everything you spend. Take this with you everywhere. Write down in each category as you spend.
8. If you don't do step 7 above, you will get behind and get off track.
9. Every night before you go to sleep, total your spending in each of your expenses. If you don't total on a daily basis, you won't know until you've spent it all.
10. This step is NOT for everyone. If you are the kind of person who can't stop swiping your bank card and your boss doesn't direct deposit, then I want you to as soon as you get paid, take out your money for your savings. Stash that cash in a large envelope. (I realize this cash won't make you money but we are just starting to get in the habit of saving)
11. If you are not like the person I described above, then have your direct deposited paycheck transfer money for you - NOT in your bank account that is connected to your checking account. I suggest, ING savings account or something along those lines that earn some interest. The goal is to make it somewhat available but not too available. Be automated!
12. At the end of the month, you should have a clear picture of what your favorite thing is that you spend money on.
To be continued...
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