Free credit report and score Dayton

For several years I’ve enjoyed the game (yes, I know it’s a game) of getting credit card rewards bonuses for free credit report and score Dayton signing up for new credit cards.  Despite what many think, I personally think free credit report and score Dayton there is actually a financial value in doing so.  At the very least, it’s a fun hobby.  Over the last four years, our family has enjoyed around 25 free hotel nights from signing up for seven rewards credit cards. Most recently, I signed up for a credit card that will give me 75,000 bonus American Airlines AAdvantage points.  That’s more than enough for a free trip from North America to Europe. I never considered my credit score because I’ve always free credit report and score Dayton heard Dave Ramsey say it doesn’t matter.

I was recently reading an article about how applying for credit cards impacts your credit score.  In the article, the author suggested you not try and get new credit cards within two years of buying a home (assuming you plan to free credit report and score Dayton borrow money).  I wondered what I was really doing to my credit by signing up for 1-3 credit cards each year.  I decided the only way to know was to check and monitor my credit score. There is a possibility that within 2-3 years we may get a home mortgage, and I thought that no credit card bonus would be worth free credit report and score Dayton jeopardizing my ability to get the best available rate on a home mortgage. search free credit report

By ignoring my credit score I thought that I free credit report and score Dayton may be financially penalizing myself. I tend to think of credit scores like I do college professors.  Every teacher graded free credit report and score Dayton according to certain preferences.  When I wrote a term paper, I’d write according free credit report and score Dayton to that grading standard (even if I didn’t like it).  I feel the same way about my credit score.  Since so many companies use a credit free credit report and score Dayton score as a type of grade or standard, I figure I may as well do what they ask to maintain a free credit report and score Dayton good credit score. Your credit score is a popular way to measure your level of responsibility.  As such, people will decide how to professionally interact with you based on your credit score.  They could be a landlord, a cell phone free credit report and score Dayton company, or an auto insurance company.  By monitoring your credit report you can repair any credit report errors. free credit report federal The statement, “your credit score doesn’t matter” is only true assuming you fully (without exception) operate free credit report and score Dayton without debt.  In addition, you will need to be willing to pay more for certain items and deal with some additional hassle.

How can a poor credit free credit report and score Dayton score be more expensive? You will find that some auto insurance companies determine your rates based on your credit report.free credit report and score Dayton   Sure, one could boycott any such companies, but if they have the lowest rate, you do need to realize that you free credit report and score Dayton are paying more because you’re ignoring your credit score.

How can a poor credit free credit report and score Dayton score be more hassle? You will free credit report and score Dayton need to find companies or individuals within the company who are willing to manually review your application.  That does add an extra level of hassle.

It’s free.  At creditkarma.com you can get a good idea of your credit score for free. A funny thing (actually, it’s free credit report and score Dayton quite sad) happens to some people when they check their credit score.  They start doing financially dumb things so they can try to increase their credit score. Others obsess over their credit score assuming free credit report and score Dayton that a credit score is like a free credit report and score Dayton personal finance grade.  They think, “If I’ve got a good credit score, then free credit report and score Dayton I must be doing well financially.” But, that is not true. get a free credit report without a credit card In many cases, free credit report and score Dayton I think there is little danger in paying attention to your credit score and making wise decisions when it first helps improve your financial situation and your credit score.  Have you checked your credit report and score recently? Are there other reasons to either pay attention to or ignore your credit score? Craig is a fulltime missionary in Papua New Guinea who writes Money Help For Christians and Help free credit report and score Dayton Me Travel Cheap, a frugal family travel blog.