Have you inspected your credit record in the last year? Do you know your credit score? If you did not know the answer to these questions, it is time to look into your credit history.
Life or debt 2010 : a new path to financial freedom
by Stacy W. Johnson.
New York : Pocket Books, 2010.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU NEVER HAD TO PAY OFF ANOTHER DEBT AGAIN? NO CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS! NO MORTGAGE PAYMENTS! NO AUTO LOAN PAYMENTS!If your answer is "free" or "secure" or even "happy," then this step-by-step guide to eliminating debt forever is the book for you. Stacy W. Johnson, the creator of the personal finance news series Money Talks, has already helped millions of people get out of debt, achieve financial freedom, and earn from wise investments. Now, just by reading this down-to-earth book filled with no-nonsense facts, you too can share the secrets of an amazing program that will allow you to regain control and win you financial freedom for the rest of your life.Practical worksheets (each with detailed examples) will help you figure out the real numbers you need to know: How much do you really earn? How much do you really owe? How do you create a personalized DEBT DESTROYER?And finally, when you are free of debt forever, learn the ultimate tool that will transform the rest of your life...how to convert your Debt Destroyer into a Money Machine that will keep you solvent and happy even after you retire.
Master your debt : slash your monthly payments and become debt free
Jordan E. Goodman with Bill Westrom.
Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2010.
Strategies and tools to live debt freeThe world of borrowing and debt management has changed dramatically, leaving people confused about how best to secure their financial future. This book is the only guide with detailed advice to help you become debt free or master the debt you have, based on the latest laws and new government programs and policies implemented under the Obama administration.Is the information and advice on debt management different than in years past? Definitely. In this savvy, engaging guide, bestselling financial expert Jordan Goodman will tell you how to Win the mortgage game: avoid foreclosure, obtain the best refi, and modify your mortgage even if it is "under water" Clean up your credit report and dramatically boost your credit score Negotiate new terms and payments for burdensome medical bills, student loans, and credit cards Protect yourself from the devastation of identity theft Master the new credit card rules, and avoid the rate and fee traps Learn a revolutionary strategy that will help you become mortgage free in 5 to 7 years, change the way you pay all your bills, and save hundreds of thousands of dollarsMaster Your Debt recommends many pioneering strategies as it lays out an innovative plan for achieving the elusive goal of financial success. The book is filled with helpful web sites, toll free numbers, associations and government agencies, and vetted companies and services to help you implement this advice. In today's volatile economy, getting out of debt is the key to surviving and thriving, and author Jordan Goodman provides you with the strategies and tools to live debt free.
Cram down : renegotiating mortgages, car loans, student loans, credit card debt and other obligations in the age of Wall Street bailouts.
Aberdeen, Wash. : Silver Lake Pub., c2009.
"Cramdown" explains how to renegotiate debts and lower payments on everything. It also offers an appendix containing sample letters, required forms, and other important information about becoming thrifty.
Pay it down! : debt-free on $10 a day
Jean Chatzky.
New York, N.Y. : Portfolio, 2009.
Six years ago, during more pleasant financial times, I wrote Pay it Down!, the Rx for getting out of debt. It helped hundreds of thousands of readers, as well as the million people who participated in the Debt Diet on The Oprah Winfrey Show (based largely on the information in the book). But as the economy twisted and turned, some of the rules of the road did too, and this year, I decided to update that go-to guide for paying off your debt. The fact is, whether you're trying to negotiate with your creditors, modify your mortgage, bring up your credit score or manage your student loans, you need different strategies than you needed a scant half-decade ago. And in this new version of Pay it Down! I give them to you in straightforward, easy-to-understand terms. Follow my plan, and in three years, you'll be credit-card free. In five years, you'll have a safety net, so you don't have to reach for a credit card when the furnace blows or the dog gets sick. And in ten years, you'll have a healthy nest egg for retirement. Even in these troubled times, you can pay down your debt with only $10 a day. You can find the money. I'll show you how.
The American Bar Association guide to credit and bankruptcy : everything you need to know about credit repair, staying or getting out of debt and personal bankruptcy
American Bar Association.
New York : Random House Reference, c2009
In these challenging financial times, the American Bar Association Guide to Credit and Bankruptcy, Second Edition, offers clear and essential information on how to build and protect your credit and wisely handle debt, and what to consider when bankruptcy seems like an option. Updated and revised to reflect current legal realities, this book will help you determine what you can do on your own-and when to reach out to a lawyer-when you are working to:
Lenders look at your credit history when you use your credit card, apply for a consumer loan, or purchase insurance. It is one way they decide if you are a good credit risk.
Credit bureaus, banks, and other lenders maintain a file that tracks all your credit transactions. This file, your credit record, includes:
- Personal information such as birth date, address, Social Security number, and age
- Your outstanding debt
- Past credit history
- Court judgments, liens and bankruptcy
In addition to personal information and past credit transactions, the credit record file includes your credit score. The higher your score (closer to 800 the better) the more likely you are to get favorable credit rates.
It is to your benefit to monitor your credit report, looking for inaccuracies or possible identify theft.
Missourians can get a free copy of this report once every twelve months from the three national credit-reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. There may be a charge to include your credit score.
|
Carefully review your credit report |
After receiving your credit report, review it closely looking for:
- Misspellings of personal information especially name and address
- More than one address in the report.
- Joint accounts that are unknown to you
- Names of companies pulling your credit report that are unknown to you.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (2003) makes it the consumer's responsibility to notify the credit bureaus of inaccuracies and to work with them and creditors to get corrections made.
Remember what your credit reports says about you can decide how much you pay for that next car, home, or education loan.
Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff
