What Is a Soft Credit Inquiry? Soft credit inquiries, otherwise known as soft pulls, are not generated by shopping for credit and do not affect your overall credit scores. For example, a lender sending you a preapproved credit offer without you applying is a soft credit inquiry. Checking your own credit score is also a...Read More

How Does Credit Card Inactivity Impact Your Credit Score? When trying to improve your credit score, you’ll have to be aware of many factors, including your payment history, the age of open accounts, utilization ratio, etc. It seems like a lot to keep track of, but it could be worth it in the long run...Read More

8 Ways Creating a Budget Will Improve Your Credit Score Budgeting sometimes gets a negative reputation as a practice reserved for people who mismanage their money when ironically not having a budget is more likely to jeopardize your finances — and worse, your credit score. Very few Americans, it seems, are good at keeping a...Read More

Summer is here and with the warm weather and the desire for backyard BBQ’s and playsets for the kids comes the desire for new home purchases. If you are starting to think about buying a new home, now is the time to make sure that your credit score is where you need it to be....Read More

With the power of the internet and the vast amount of previously unreachable information that it is now at our fingertips, Do It Yourself projects have become the latest rage. And of course, in many cases, why not? Why pay someone to do something that you can do yourself for free or at least at...Read More

The spectrum of credit scores can range from 300 to 850, making a credit score of 560 just under the median of 575. You’ll face some unique challenges at this number. But even a small bump in the right direction could change the way you’re perceived by lenders and financial institutions. If you’re currently looking...Read More

Taking the first steps after filing for bankruptcy can be scary. You’re not sure what the future of your finances will look like and you’re fearful that your credit score is beyond repair. While bankruptcy will negatively impact your credit score for a period of time, there are steps you can take to fix your...Read More

Do you know your credit score? In general, you should be checking your credit score at least once per year. Doing so helps you keep tabs on your finances and make improvements in your overall financial standing. Also, if you want to save more money this year, having a solid understanding of your financial health...Read More

A hard inquiry on your report is “when an individual applies for any type of credit, such as a mortgage, credit card or auto loan,” according to Investopedia. Having too many hard inquiries on your credit report lowers your credit score because it paints you as a risky borrower. A regular pattern of hard inquiries could reveal...Read More

When two people come together in marriage, it’s a beautiful thing. From buying a home together to starting a family together, marriage unites two lives, carving out a new path for the two people as a couple. But, you may be wondering, what happens to your credit when you get married? How is credit score...Read More