Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert Most people think of a credit score as a concrete, unchangeable piece of data. The reality, however, is a bit more open to interpretation.While your score is determined with a reliable algorithm, the incidents on your credit report that are used to calculate that score are often open to dispute – and in some cases, …
FICO vs Vantage – Which score will my lender use?
Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert You’re probably aware that a high credit score is the single most important factor in securing a loan. But did you know that you have more than one credit score? FICO and VantageScore are the two main credit scoring models used by lenders. They each take a similar, but slightly different approach to calculating your …
Using Your Tax Refund to Improve Your Credit
Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert It’s easy to treat a tax refund like free money – and many people do. When a check for hundreds or even thousands of dollars show up in the mail, who wouldn’t feel like they’ve just won the lottery? But a tax refund is just that – a refund – and because that money was …
Credit and Couples
Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s natural to start thinking about all the factors that go into a successful relationship – trust, commitment, passion and a compatible approach to managing your credit.OK, that last one might be a stretch.But while talking about your credit score might seem decidedly unromantic, financial compatibility is a very real factor in the …
The Best New Year’s Resolutions to Improve your Credit!
Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert New Year’s resolutions have a bad track record. They tend to fail, not through lack of effort, but because they’re usually too broad and overly ambitious. It’s difficult to formulate a strategy for a vaguely defined goal, and it’s even more difficult to stay motivated when your goal is unrealistic. That’s why financial goals are perfect …
How Holiday Shopping Can Affect Your Credit
Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert As the 2020 Christmas shopping season begins in earnest, consumers are likely concerned about how holiday spending will affect their finances. This year has seen more economic turmoil than any year since the Great Recession of 2008 – particularly affecting those in lower income brackets – so it’s understandable if the average shopper has a little …
How to Maintain Good Credit if You’ve Been Laid Off
Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert 2020 has put a lot of people in financial positions they never imagined being in. Entire industries have dried up as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and even the most reliable jobs now carry the risk of being laid off or furloughed.Those who have never been in this situation might be worried about how it …
Do you need good credit in retirement?
Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert When most people think about financial planning, retirement is the logical finish line. You work hard, live within your means and save enough money to live out your days in peace and comfort.But you don’t stop managing your finances after you retire – and that includes your credit. While your days of applying for mortgages and …
Covid-19 and Credit
Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Credit is a game of trust. Lenders trust borrowers to pay their bills on time, and borrowers trust lenders to make good on the lines of credit they’ve extended. When times get tough, that trust is put to the test. As the economy continues to struggle due to fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, lenders are shifting …
What is Debt Consolidation?
Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert Dealing with multiple sources of debt is like juggling chainsaws. If you’re really good at it, you might be able to avoid getting hurt. If you’re really bad at it, you probably won’t get very far without incident. Either way, you’re one mistake away from disaster.So why not combine your debts into one, easily-manageable package?That’s the …