If you’re living in the US, your credit score is like your lifeline – something so essential; it determines whether or not you can have access to insurance, a new car or a house. And so, the importance of the credit score can never be understated. There are however ways in which consumers unknowingly harm their credit scores and end up receiving high interest rates, thanks to the counter-intuitive credit scoring system in the US. This article puts together a list of five things to be careful of if you want to maintain a good credit score. We do this by working our way backwards, by disintegrating FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) credit score components and looking at what affects them. more...

Debts are ruling the roost these days. I heard some people saying that if the conditions remain the same, U.S will be remembered as the debt man of the world. Almost half of the U.S population is severely affected by the current economic quagmire while the rest half is waiting for its turn to go bankrupt or foreclosed. more...

Banks are getting it rough this time. The economic mayhem coupled with the bank failures is tearing apart the very fabric of our banking system. Banks are revising procedures but not for the benefit of the customers. more...

Northeast is experiencing the heaviest blizzards in thirty years while cold wave has penetrated the west coast. Summers are also getting more hotter in the United States. This might be the outcome of global warming but Americans are most worried about the magnanimous heating and air conditioning bills these climatic changes entail. more...

Credit Reporting Agency, also known as Credit Bureau, is an institution which collects information about individual consumer credit from multiple sources for a variety of  reasons including credit worthiness, lender assessment, interest rate depending on the capacity to pay back the loan, among other things. more...

Have you or anyone that you know been a victim of credit card fraud? Nowadays, more and more people are being duped into credit card scams, that end up taking a lot of money from a person. Whether they are hidden fees, or downright stolen identity issues, credit card fraud has become very common. There are many laws against it, but the best way to be on the safe side is to be alert and careful when you make credit card transactions, or get a new credit card. A lot of fake "credit card" companies send their fliers and brochures and even emails to get hold of personal information of people in order to pull them into a scam. Sometimes people don't even realize that they their credit limit has been exceeded till its too late. So in order to be safe, and not be yet another victim of credit card fraud, do read along these tips that will help you. more...

Americans' infatuation with online shopping is growing day by day. The craze has transcended age boundaries and now everyone wants to steal some cheap deals over the Internet. This, of course, is made possible by the sustained popularity and boom in online business. Despite all these trends, the art of finding the best deals is still limited to a few people. more...

The dreaded date of April 15 has once again entered the life of Americans. The day when you have to submit your tax returns and -- as a result -- have to compromise some of your hard-earned money. Taxes are levied on citizens of almost all countries and it is a national duty and obligation to pay your taxes regularly and fully. more...

With today's recession and the global economic crisis hitting each and every one of us in some way or the other, it is always advisable to pay more attention to the state of our finances. Women usually, tend to be a bit laid-back about their finances, as most of them are already looked after  by their spouses or by their parents. And when the others are independent themselves, they still sometimes don't pay much attention to their money matters, living in the hope that things will be fine in the future. However, it is always good to have a nice little chunk of money saved up for those rainy days. With these little tips, that chunk could be well attainable, provided you follow these steps. more...

Everyone has to pay taxes and evading them can lead you in serious trouble. Americans have long understood this fact and do complete their IRS forms regularly. However, the tax rates vary state by state and region by region. It is possible that you have to pay half of the taxes than what you pay right now if you cross the state border. more...