Credit card companies and lending institutions are tightening their approval standards, making it harder for people with low credit scores to get new lines of credit. Everyone should know their credit score, which is the number used by many companies such as credit card companies, utility companies, lenders, and landlords, to assess a borrower’s ability to pay.

Credit scores are based on data credit bureaus have about an individual’s financial history. The three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union along with Fair Isaac and Company ((FICO), a financial analysis group developed the scoring standards. An individual’s credit information is referred to as a “FICO” score.

FICO scores range from 375 to 850 points, with higher scores indicating better credit. Most people score between 600 and 700. Ratings above 700 are very good. However, scores of 800 or above get better interest rates and higher credit limits. If your score is below 600 lenders may charge you higher interest rates, or may deny your application for a loan or credit.

A FICO score is based on information drawn from your credit report. Factors used to determine the score include:

Payment History – Late payments, bankruptcy, or record of accounts turned over to collection agencies.

Outstanding Debt – The amount of debt you owe, to credit cards and loans which is your credit to debt ratio. Credit to debt ratio is the amount you owe in relation to the amount of credit you have available.

Credit History – The length of time you have had your accounts increases your FICO score the longer you have had them open.

Types of Credit in Use – The number of accounts, credit cards, mortgages, loans, etc. all have an affect on your score. Having a mix of types of credit is best.

Minimal Credit – Having a minimal credit history without a lot of accounts may cause your score to drop by a few points.

Credit Inquiries – An inquiry from a lender typically means a consumer is taking on additional debt, which can lead to additional credit risk in the eyes of a lender and a slightly lower FICO score for the consumer.

Credit Utilization Rate – Credit utilization rate (or debt to credit ratio) is how much you owe as a percentage of your total credit line. For example, if you credit card’s credit limit is $10,000 and you owe $2,500 — your credit utilization rate is 25%. Paying down your credit card debt will improve your credit utilization rate.

HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR CREDIT SCORE

Avoid being a victim of credit repair scams. Many firms use illegal practices, while others charge exorbitant fees for things you can do on your own. To obtain your credit score, you should contact all three credit bureaus:

Equifax Information Services, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374; 800-865-1111; www.equifax.com

Experian, P. O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013, 888-397-3742, www.experian.com

Trans Union, P. O. Box 34012, Fullerton, CA 92834, 800-916-8800, www.transunion.com

Blogging is a great free way to help build your internet business and make money at home online. Consider delivering quality content that makes blog readers want to come back, or subscribe to get the latest information posted to your blog via RSS. Without readers who value your content, there’s no sense trying to make money at home online with your blog.

A blog can be anything you want it to be – A journal entry, a diary of your travels, opinions you want to share, or articles that you or others write. There are good blogs and bad blogs, and one thing is certain – If you don’t offer content that people are hungry for, then you won’t get the traffic, or the sales.

After you focus on quality content, you can start to think about how to make money at home online with your blog. Most people start out by adding Google Adsense ads to their blog.

By simply signing up for a Google Adsense account, and making a few selections, Google will do all the work for you by choosing ads related to your website’s niche that will rotate on your blog. Whenever someone visits your site and clicks on the ads, you get paid!

Naturally your blog has to be popular and visited often, and your Google ads have to be in the correct position and style for you to make any significant money from Google Adsense.

Another way to make money at home online with your blog is to add banners to your blog posts. You can use any banners that promote your products or services, or products and services you are affiliated with through affiliate programs you may be a part of. If a reader likes what you wrote, they will be more inclined to click on the banners at the end.

As you can see, the trick to making money at home online with your blog is to get people to read, click, and buy. Not as simple as it may seem! That’s why another great method of monetizing your blog is to embed links within your blog text that point to the products and services, or other people’s products and services that you are promoting.

The advantage of using text links within your blog posts is that people are reading along anyway, and may be more inclined to click the links within the post, rather than at the end when you’ve possibly lost their attention span. A few cleverly placed links within the text will give the reader the opportunity to click even before they’ve finished reading the article.

What most bloggers do is add links and banners to their blogs that are related to their own programs. While this can be effective, many people aren’t aware that you can make money at home online with your blog by seeking out advertisers who will pay you to post their banners and text links on your site and blog.

This can really add to the income streams you already have in place, so it is worth considering. Advertisers will often find your site or blog by doing a search, and will contact you if they want to pay you to show their ads related to your site’s content.

When you post their banners and text ads on your site or blog, you may get paid per sale, or paid per lead. Some advertisers may pay by the month.

If you find that advertisers are not coming to you, then you can go to them! One way to reach advertisers and let them know you’re willing to show their stuff is to make a blog post that says you’re looking for advertisers. You could also add a new web page to your site for advertisers letting them know what you have to offer and how much you will charge.

If you consider both quality content, the obvious ways of advertising with your own program links and banners, and then extending your reach to other advertisers willing to pay you, then you have a great chance of making money at home online with your blog!

Blogs are a great way to share reviews, ideas and opinions, but also, they are a viable way to earn a nice income. Actually, making money by blogging is something just about anyone can do. Making money with a blog is totally dependent on your audience and the attractiveness of your advertisements. Blogs are simple to set up, and relatively easy to update.

If you are ready to start earning money online and you have a tiny budget, blogging is an awesome way to go. You can join affiliate programs and advertise on your blog. The only cost involved in setting up your blog is your time.

Even though there are many factors involved in earning money with your blog, there are a few vital steps to consider when setting up, maintaining and promoting your blog if you are serious about achieving success.

Blogs need to have a proper layout in order for your adsense ads to be “clickable” by visitors. Selecting an ad’s location, size and color is vital and is something you will need to test and tweak to determine which formats produce the most clicks. It’s amazing how a single minute change can produce monumental results.

There are also several other ways to make money with your blog than with adsense alone. You could promote affiliate products and implement contextual advertising with companies.

Blogs need lots of daily visitors in order to earn money. There are more ways to generate traffic for your blog than ever before. This is due to the emergence of Web 2.0 sites like YouTube and social bookmarking sites. Many of these sites are a great source for one-way links to your blog. Getting hundreds of quality links is a must if you expect significant traffic to your blog. There are also many SEO tools on the market now such as directory and article submitters that will assist you get hundreds of links to your blog quickly and save lots of time.

Blogs will need to be updated frequently. You should not expect return visitors if your blog is not a source of fresh information. You can implement RSS feeds to provide your blog with relative information; however you will need to write entries as well at least once or twice per week. This will make your blog appealing to the search engines and also help brand you as an expert in your field.

Blogging is an incredible way to share your thoughts and ideas online, but it can be a tremendous money-making tool. Making money with blogs is fairly simple if you know what to do and if you’re willing to invest the time and effort needed in order to make it profitable.

Now is the time to plan your financial future. There are several ways in life to get money such as work for it, inherit it or to invest the money you earn during your working years wisely, so that when you no longer want to or are able to work your money will work for you. Bear in mind, building financial security is not an overnight process. If invested in time to let it grow, your earnings will take care of you well and those you leave behind.

What are your fears about investing? Do you have the fear of not having enough money to invest to prepare for your future? Face your fears and take action NOW. Don’t let your mindset derail you from attaining financial stability during your retirement years.

Tips for investing

Establish a budget to track finances and keep a record of your income and how much you spend. A budget allows you to understand where your money goes, ensure you don’t spend more than you make, determine how much you spend on monthly bills and find uses for your money that can be saved for investing.

Develop a strategy to reduce revolving debt by paying more than the monthly minimum to lower the principal or unpaid balance on a loan. Spend wisely and control your urge to spend. When you do buy something search for deals or use coupons that provide discounts.

Once you’ve established your budget, reduced your expenses and found money to save, where do you put the money you saved?

Use the money you saved to put in a savings account, invest in a 401(k) retirement plan at work, invest in an individual retirement account (IRA), invest in stocks, bonds or mutual funds or use it pay off debt. When you invest, you put the money you saved to work making more money and increasing your wealth. An investment is the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, dividends, income, or appreciation in value. You increase your wealth from income earned from your investments.

Educated yourself, research and learn about the best investments for you based on your financial goals. Do your research and gather as much information as you can. Seek advice from reputable financial planners. Read newspapers, magazines and other publications. Attend financial seminars and workshops, identify credible information sources on the internet. Join an investment club.

For the beginner investor, I hope you found these tips helpful in your quest to start saving, budgeting and investing today.

WATCH THIS VIDEO – featuring Jim Cockrum author of best selling eBay Guide, “The Silent Sales Machine.” He is known as one of the most trusted and respected eBay experts in the world. Jim’s book illustrates proven techniques on how to use eBay to promote your products and develop multiple streams of income.

It has been almost one month to date since enrolling in John Thornhill’s Masterclass Program , and I am progressing, but not on schedule as outlined in the lessons.

Each week I encounter some difficulty with one of the lessons whereas I have to submit a ticket to the help desk asking for assistance.  Many of the situations I encountered were my fault due to oversight in viewing the lessons and anxiety in completing the tasks. The help desk staff  is exceptionally efficient in responding and thorough in advising me to resolve whatever situation I have encountered.

 To date, I have submitted approximately eleven tickets ranging from email registration, help desk log in assistance, email client configuration, setting up email client account, Week 2 Training Materials, John Thornhill Special Offer on D9 Hosting Page does not appear, Links at the top of my blog page, Paypal cancelled my subscription, Problem uploading themes, Bog Graphics not received, and Can’t log into Masterclass lessons.   Hopefully, I will tackle my anxiety in completing the lessons and get through one week without encountering any problems.

Paypal canceling my subscription without warning was due to me adding a new debit card to my Paypal account and removing  the old debit card due to a security issue with my bank.  Of course, Paypal should have applied the payment to the new card I added, but they didn’t.  Thank you Paula Brett from the support staff for advising me to add money to my Paypal account before the Masterclass subscription paynment is due.  This will avoid possible cancellation again if I try to pay the subscription with a new debit card through Paypal.

 I have been on hiatus for a few weeks waiting for my blog graphics to arrive.  I thought I couldn’t continue with the next lessons until I had received my blog graphics.  At the end of lesson 3, John states, “get your blog graphics ordered and have them added to your blog next week.”  I ordered my blog graphics on March 4, 2010 and still waiting for their arrival.  Once again, a ticket off to the help desk indicating I have not received my blog graphics and that I couldn’t move on with the lessons until I received them.  I was advised that over 100 Masterclass students have requested graphics and that the graphics’ designer is working through the orders.  But, I should continue with the lessons and once I get the graphics I should add them to the blog.  Not having the graphics at this time is not a major issue for me.  I just thought that I couldn’t proceed with the lessons until I had added the graphics to my blog.

 Today is Sunday, March 21, 2010, time to catch up!  Until next time…

 It was a pleasure indeed to spend Sunday evening praising and worshipping God for the blessing he has bestowed upon Reverend Haywood Bradley, Jr.

 On Sunday, March 14, 2010, the Installation Services were held for Reverend Haywood Bradley, Jr. at  Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries located in Baltimore, Maryland, in celebration of  his indoctrination as Pastor at New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 3300 Elmora Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland.

 Reverend Bradley is a co-worker who I have known for over 20 years.  Since I have known him, Reverend always spoke passionately about his love for God and the desire to minister to the God’s flock.  The calling to spread the word of the gospel resonated in his mind, body, and spirit.  His obedience, praise, worship, humbleness and desire to be one of God’s chosen to preach the gospel at his own church through the grace of God has come to pass.  This is the Day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad. 

 Reverend Haywood Bradley, Jr. is married and has two children and grandchildren.  He served as the Associate Minister at New Saint Mark Baptist Church where Dr. Bowyer G. Freeman is the Pastor.  He was the Superintendent of Sunday School.  He taught the adult Sunday school class, new member’s class and assisted the pastor in services and other ministerial functions.  He worked diligently in the community as founder and president of The Mount Olivet Community Association where he managed community projects and was responsible for the daily operations of community interests and the resolution of problems. 

 He held membership with the Randallstown Branch of the NAACP where he has served as vice president and the director of religious affairs.   In 1987, he received his honorary recognition and an award for being voted as one of the outstanding young men in America.   In May 2007, he graduated from the United Baptist College and Seminary where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Education.  He is currently enrolled in the Master’s of Divinity in Theology at the United Baptist College and Seminary. 

 Pastor Bradley was elected as Pastor of the New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church on December 16, 2009.  It is his earnest desire to serve God and proclaim to others the saving grace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have good credit.  If you are employed or when you become employed use the following steps as a roadmap to building your credit rating:

Open a checking and savings account. Establishing a checking account will present a pattern of consistency in depositing money into the account to pay expenses.  Ensure that your check writing habits do not fall into the category of writing bad checks.  This is negative act that will damage your credit history in the long term.  Establishing a savings account will reflect that you have the ability to manage and discipline your money to allocate a plan of action for emergencies, a rainy day or just to build your account for investment.  When applying for credit, applications from lenders often request a bank account number.

Apply for a credit card or gas card.  Once you secure a card, use your card for purchases and make sure you pay the amount due on time.   Pay your bill each month and if possible more than the minimum amount due. Never over extend yourself on the credit limit.  Six months to a year after you use your credit card you have begun to establish a credit history.  Next, purchase an item on installment such as furniture and pay your bill off early. Be consistent with payments. Consistency will show a pattern of discipline which reflects on your credit rating. In the long term, you will establish a good credit rating which can assist in purchasing a home, auto or personal loan.  Excellent credit can be a vital role in qualifying you for lower interest rates. 

In today’s society, credit scores are impacting insurance rates as well as employment opportunities.  When applying for credit or a personal loan, a key factor is that lending institutions and retailers view your credit history. A good credit history may warrant an employer’s decision to hire you or reject your application.  There are some insurance companies that determine your auto insurance rates based on your credit rating.  Not sure if this is a fair practice or if it happens in all states, but it does happen.

Building credit and maintaining a good credit history may take time, start small be consistent in paying your bills, and never over extend your self on your card limit.

Phishing (also called fake or spoof) emails appear to be sent by a legitimate person or company, but are not. Often claiming to be sent by well-known companies,  Phishing is when thieves pretend to represent legitimate companies, contact consumers and extract their credit card informationor secure information.  Online phisning schemes are prevalent on the internet worldwide.  The email looks like one from a trusted source, such as a bank or eBay.   The fraudulent email will come with the right wording and company logos and will indicate that there is a security violation with your account and require the customer to verify secured information.  The email often asks you to supply personal information, such as your credit card number, Social Security number or account password. Many times the email asks you to reply by clicking on a link in the email to go to a website that asks for this sensitive information. Once a hacker gets this information, your identity can be stolen, used to commit other crimes and place you in financial ruin.

No institution where your credentials are secured should be sending you email saying that they need your personal identifiers such as you, social security number, account number, PIN number or expiration date. Or they may use the story that the computer is down. Those companies already have that information.

Never respond to a suspicious email or click any links in the email
message.  Forward the email or call your bank or credit card institution that these perpetrators are trying to imitate.  Most of them have security teams that specifically investigate suspicious emails to track down these hackers.  Change your personal information, such as  password or pin numbers frequently to make it more difficulty for identity thieves to guess your secured information.

As an added measure, monitor your online accounts with frequency for any suspicious activities to keep your finances safe and prevent identity theft.

 Become educated about your legal rights and what your creditors can and can not do if you have an unpaid debt that will save you money in the long run.  If you are dealing with older debt, it is very important to know the Debt Collection Statue of Limitations in your state.  The Statue of Limitations is the amount of time that a creditor or debt collector has to seek a court enforced judgment against you on an unpaid debt.  Essentially once the Statue of Limitations time limit has expired, your creditors are unable to use the court system to force you to pay.

The Debt Collection Statue of Limitations is commonly confused with the time limit for which a derogatory entry can remain on your credit report.  These are two separate things and have nothing to do with one another. Typically a derogatory entry on your credit report, such as a charged off account can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years. The Statue of Limitations only has to do with the time in which a creditor has to file a lawsuit and attempt to collect an unpaid debt through the court system.  Knowing your state’s Statue of Limitations is important because many times debt collectors will attempt to collect debts from people that the Statue of Limitations has already expired. They do this because they know many consumers may still pay, not knowing that the debt collector no longer has any legal grounds to force you to pay.

When you are trying to calculate the Statue of Limitations of a specific account, it is important to take note that the actual amount of time is subject to interpretation.  For instance, you may believe that the Statue of Limitations clock begins when you are first delinquent on an account, (which is generally true) however a creditor may argue that the Statue of Limitations didn’t start until actual charge off.  If you make a payment at any time or agree to make a payment; that will reset the Statue of Limitations.  For example, if you make a payment to a debt collector on an account that was charged off 2 years ago.  When you make that payment, it will reset the Statue of Limitations to zero and start the clock it over again.

Don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of by the unscrupulous practices of  debt collectors.  View: http://www.debt-statute-of-limitations.com/state-debt-sol-rules.html for the Statue of Limitation rules for your state.