The COVID-19 pandemic shook the economy in ways that had never been seen before. To help, the US government sent stimulus payments to Americans. A lot of people want to know if the stimulus package in 2021 was an advance payment. Let’s find out. Overview of COVID-19 Stimulus Packages To cushion the economic blow of … Read more
Getting a mortgage can seem like a maze of paperwork and requirements. One key document that gives mortgage lenders insights into your financial fitness is your tax returns. But how many years of tax returns do they need to review? Let’s break down exactly how far back mortgage lenders dig into your taxes. Why Lenders … Read more
Credit ratings act as tools to help manage your finances. They give an idea of how responsible you are with money and can affect your chances of getting a loan with a good interest rate. One of these ratings is the R7 credit rating – it shows that a borrower has entered into a special … Read more
The allure of the shiny metal card is hard to beat — and so is 5x points on airline purchases when you’re a frequent flyer. But new things and experiences have made the $695 annual fee for the AmEx Platinum card hard to justify, especially since there are other cards that are easier to use … Read more
If your credit score is 683, you are right in the middle. At the end of 2021, Experian said that the average American consumer had a FICO Score of 714. A score between 670 and 739 is usually thought to be good. Most lenders consider an 683 credit score to be an average credit score … Read more
An influx of unexpected money opens the door to exciting possibilities, but whats the smartest way to use that extra cash? Whether it’s a tax refund, inheritance, a well-deserved bonus, or just a buildup in your checking account, it can feel tempting to indulge in a splurge. But before you book that Michelin-starred meal or … Read more
“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. The advice in this article is offered by the team independent of any bank or credit card … Read more
Credit scoring systems comb and analyze credit reports to evaluate how you manage credit. Their main concerns are your payment history, the amount of debt you have, how you use available credit, the length of your credit history, the types of credit you have, and any new credit you get. Credit scoring systems such as … Read more
When you first get a credit card, your credit line (also called a credit limit) may not be as high as youd like. You might be able to ask for a higher credit limit after a while of having the new credit card. It can be helpful to have a credit card with a high … Read more
With most credit scores, any damage from a high credit card utilization goes away when credit bureaus have up-to-date information on your new, lower balances. When you report a new, lower balance to the credit bureaus, a high credit card balance usually stops hurting your credit score. The main way to reduce your credit card … Read more