Credit Reports
So this isn’t really an entry on being frugal, but it is an important piece of financial advice nonetheless. Yesterday, I ordered my credit report online. It’s extremely important to do this at least once a year. Identity theft is a growing crime, and even without that, it’s important to have an idea where you stand in the eyes of creditors. It’s never good to be surprised when applying for a loan, new card, etc. Also, if there is something on your report that is incorrect, it’s important to know so you can dispute it. Most creditors are willing to decide on a dispute in your favor if you’ve been responsible overall. You can get a free annual credit report - if you order them more frequently, you have to pay a small fee. Since there are three credit reporting companies and you can get a free yearly report from each, you can space them out and order from one every 4 months. This way you have better control over your credit rather than checking only once a year. Also, you should never have to sign up for anything to get your free yearly report. We’ve all seen the commercials for Free Credit Report dot Com and similar sites. These programs aren’t free - they require you to sign up and pay for other programs. Annual Credit Report dot Com is the site you want to use. Here, you can get your free yearly reports from each company without signing up for anything. So, get on top of your credit and check your reports!