by Adam | Mar 8, 2016 | Credit Repair
Did you recently buy a new video game? Did you post a negative political sentiment on social media? Do you have a particularly outspoken friend on Facebook who posts anti-government sentiments? If you live in China and answered “yes” to any or all of the above statements, your credit would’ve been dinged several times. It’s true. China has implemented a new Citizen Score system influenced not just by financial decisions, but lifestyle decisions as well. Using big data obtained from the government and big internet companies, an individual’s Citizen Score is calculated using an algorithm to determine even the most casual of relationships between lifestyle choices and using that data to present or take away opportunities. The scores range from 350-950, with rewards given to those with higher scores. For example, a citizen’s score of 650 would allow the citizen to purchase a car without a down payment. The higher the score, the greater the rewards. Some jobs even require a high citizen’s score. Is Big Brother Watching You? If this sounds like something straight out of a George Orwell book, you’re not too far off. This level of control the Chinese government is trying to establish may seem far-fetched, especially for those in the U.S. However, with the increasing reports of privacy invasion and financial turmoil in the USA, it might not be too long before the credit system in the United States is revamped to include more “comprehensive” criteria in order to better screen loan applicants or those requesting credit. Of course this is all speculation and would represent a huge invasion of privacy. We don’t have...
by Adam | Mar 1, 2016 | Credit Repair
The beginning of every year can be a stressful time for those who are not comfortable with filing their taxes, or who know they owe a significant amount in taxes. Unfortunately, there are criminals who take advantage of this stress and fear by exploiting individuals during tax season to con them into sending them money or personal information. To protect yourself, your credit, and your identity this tax season educate yourself in tactics scammers use and learn how to protect yourself in the event that you are targeted. Common Tax Scam Tactics Scammers will make unsolicited phone calls impersonating an IRS agent demanding that you make a payment. You will know this phone call is fake and not from the IRS if: The caller demands you pay immediately, especially if you haven’t received a bill or any other correspondence in the mail You are not offered a chance to appeal the amount they request They only accept specific payment methods, such as a wire transfer or prepaid debit card You are threatened with arrest, deportation, or losing your license You are asked to provide your debit or credit card numbers over the phone The IRS will never do any of the above things, so even if the caller-ID says “Internal Revenue Service” or something related, be leery of the caller and their intentions. You may also get fraudulent emails claiming to be the IRS demanding payment, so it’s important that you are vigilant about protecting your personal information and know how to react if you are victimized. If you receive a call from a suspected scammer Almost a million people...
by Adam | Mar 1, 2016 | Credit Repair
While you may be working hard to repair your credit, there are people out there working hard to thwart your efforts by stealing your information. And even though security measures are always being improved to protect you against scammers, they are always trying to find ways around the walls. To keep yourself and your money safe, stay in the know about the current scams so you can take measures to protect yourself. Here are three common ones you may not know about. 1. Fraudulent EMV Card Information Requests If you haven’t heard, in 2016 all credit and debit cards are being replaced with cards that have an EMV chip, which adds an extra layer of security to your card. The new cards are slowly being sent out to replace your current cards. Ironically, scammers are taking advantage of the slow-paced release of the new EMV credit cards. They are sending out emails posing as credit card companies notifying individuals that their new credit card is ready, but they must verify their personal information before it is sent. To avoid being a victim of this scam, know that your credit card company and financial institution will never use email as its first method of contact to verify your information. If you are unsure of whether an email from your financial institution or credit card company is legitimate, call the number on the back of your card to find out. 2. Mobile Wallet Thieves With the new chip-embedded cards preventing the unauthorized use of your card in a physical setting, scammers are taking advantage of the widespread adoption of mobile wallets...
by Adam | Feb 23, 2016 | Credit Repair
Committing to a budget can be difficult as you adopt new habits of tracking and balancing to ensure you stay in control of your money. But at the end of the day, adding and subtracting numbers in a spreadsheet doesn’t give you much accountability for your spending habits. This is where the envelope system can become valuable. The envelope system basically consists of using envelopes and cash to divvy out your spending. Each envelope contains an allotted sum of cash assigned to a specific expense. Once the cash is used up, then you’re prevented from spending more money on that specific expense. Essentially, the envelope system helps you from overspending in certain areas, and it can be a useful tool for tracking and sticking to your family budget. Here are some tips for adopting the envelope system. Determine your actual expenses Use your previous months’ bank statement to paint an accurate picture of how much you spend in each area, like groceries, gas, eating out, etc. Using your total discretionary income, subtract each expense from the total monthly income to make sure you’re living within your means. Be Disciplined Once the cash is in the envelope, that’s it. You don’t’ get any other money for groceries, gas, etc. If you notice you’re running low on gas and out of cash, but still have a week until the next paycheck, find someone to carpool with or take the bus. Over time you’ll learn to consolidate trips to the store or accumulate fuel points to save on gas without going over budget. Obviously, unavoidable expenses may cause you to spend more money than is contained in a specific envelope. However,...
by Adam | Feb 16, 2016 | Credit Repair
If you’ve found yourself in a tight place as a result of mismanaged money, you may also find yourself racked with guilt. Hindsight is 20/20, and it can be too easy to beat ourselves up over the poor, irreversible choices we’ve made. But guilt and shame are heavy burdens that can prevent us from moving forward. Here are some ways you can overcome those feelings and get your life back on track. Pinpoint the source First, find out why you feel this way. If you evaluate your situation and can identify the source of your worries, you can then make a plan to fix it. Maybe it’s your spending habits when you go on vacation, maybe it’s being too generous with gifts for others, or maybe it’s the desire to have the newest, shiniest cars and gadgets. Whatever it is, own up to it. You can’t face and fix something if you keep hiding from it. Evaluate your source of worth Guilt and shame make us feel little and vulnerable. It’s easy to associate our character with our behavior, but it’s important to realize your credit score doesn’t measure your worth as a person. Your credit card balance doesn’t tell of your kindness. Make a list of your attributes that are unaffected by your current financial situation and build yourself up. You are a good person regardless of your spending habits. Empower yourself to take control, because you are not your debt. Take action Once you’ve identified the source of your woes and have built up the confidence to get over it, then get going! Nothing will change unless...
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