As part of your plan for learning how to build credit, you might wonder if you should start closing credit card accounts. After all, if you have more than five credit cards, you have more than the ideal number.
True, credit scoring systems are happiest if you have no more than five credit cards. But before you make that call to the credit card company, be aware that closing credit card accounts can have a major impact on your credit score. Keep in mind a few basics about owning credit cards.
Fifteen percent of your credit score is derived from the age of your credit accounts, with older credit accounts giving you a better score. This part of your credit score is based on the average age of your accounts. As a result, every time you terminate older accounts, you drive down the average age of your accounts considerably and risk decreasing your credit score.
You should also consider how closing credit card accounts will affect the portion of your credit score that considers your credit card limits and balances. Your “utilization rate” is the ratio of your credit card balance against your credit limit, expressed as a percentage. If you have $800 of debts on a credit card and your available line of credit is $2,000, your utilization rate is 40 percent. Since credit-scoring bureaus reward people who have utilization rates below 30 percent, you should try to always keep your utilization rate under that threshold.
Closing credit card accounts can impact your utilization rate in a couple of ways. First, if you decide to cancel a credit card and transfer the remaining debt to another card, you may cause the utilization rate on the second card to rise sharply, which will cause your credit score to drop. Even worse than transferring a balance is leaving a balance on your card after canceling the account. If you leave a $700 balance on the canceled card, your utilization rate will suffer dramatically since the limit on the card will be $0.
So what is the plan for dealing with a bunch of credit cards? Even FICO agrees that closing credit card accounts is a bad idea. Your best bet is to keep all of them active but pay them off every month. You can even find ways to live debt-free and keep your credit cards active. A steady history of payments will demonstrate to credit-scoring bureaus your ability to manage your accounts and will eventually improve your credit score. Pay special attention to the cards with the highest limits, oldest ages, and best interest rates. Be sure to keep these cards active, maintaining a utilization rate below 30 percent.
A final note: Retail credit cards (those associated with a specific store, such as Bloomingdales) are an exception to the “keep-them-open” rule. Keeping a balance on these cards may be difficult since you probably do not need to buy something from these stores each month. Letting a retail account go inactive may not be the ideal choice, but it should not be a cause for alarm unless it causes your credit score to drop, in which case you might be able to reactivate the card with a simple phone call.
Author: Philip Tirone
For People Who Want to Raise Their Credit Score… and PRONTO, by 720 Credit Score
This is one of the tricks for raising credit scores that most people don’t know about …
It’s calling “authorized user.” If you become an authorized user on someone’s credit card, your credit score will increase as long as that credit card is in good standing.
In fact, I’ve seen people’s scores increase sixty points just by becoming authorized users.
The catch is that you must meet certain qualifications to become an authorized user: you must choose the right person and the right credit card. Read this article about becoming an authorized user to see how to qualify.
Sincerely,
Philip Tirone
P.S. If you have a bad credit score, and you have fewer than five credit cards, I strongly suggest that you become an authorized user!
P.P.S. I’ve been working on an exciting project for people who have been wronged by the credit bureaus. Keep your eyes peeled… I’ll be releasing it soon.
Bankruptcy Options, James Montgomery
Listen to this interview to learn some great information on what to do when you are considering bankruptcy.
The 7 Magic Words
In last week’s post, I told you about how I do odd things to get exposure to people who can inspire me and help me make important shifts in my life…
My point was this: If you want to change your financial circumstances, you could consider surrounding yourself with people who are going to help you get out of debt, fix your credit score, or increase your savings. By getting exposure to these people, you will naturally be exposed to ideas, habits, and activities that will help you change paths.
These people come in all shapes and sizes. You could decide to start having a weekly conversation with your sister- in-law, who is a master at budgeting and living on a shoestring. If you are a mortgage broker who just can’t make ends meet, you could find a mortgage broker who figured out how to make money in this economy.
Or you might want a mentor who can help you make other important shifts in your financial life or even in your career…
So if you are looking to meet with the Zig Ziglars, Ken Carters, and Rick Carusos of the world, I thought I’d pass along a strategy I use.
It’s called the 7 Magic Words, and I’ve used the strategy to get in front of all sorts of people…
So what are these seven magic words that will help you get exposure to the people you need to meet?
Here they are:
“What can I do to support you?”
These seven magic words open all sorts of doors.
Let’s say you are an employee at a large company. You want to have lunch with the head of the company, but he’s a busy man, and you are just one more face in the crowd.
Imagine what would happen if you sent your boss an email that said something like this …
Dear Steve:
What can I do to support you?
I want to be a superstar employee— someone who is with this company for many years; someone who becomes an integral part of the team. So what can I do to contribute more to the company?
Can I take you to lunch and find out more about you and your ideas for the company?
I know you are busy, and that your time is important. This week, I have $25 in disposable income. I know it isn’t a lot, and it certainly won’t compensate you for your time, but I’d be happy to donate it to a charity of your choice if you could spare an hour for a lunch meeting. And if you don’t have time for lunch, maybe we could grab coffee and talk for 15 minutes.
Sincerely,
Jason
If you promised to give your last $25 to your boss’s charity, do you think he or she would take notice of you? And do you think he or she would be willing to consider you for a raise or promotion when a spot opened up? I know I would!
Of course, if you are up to your neck in debt, you might not want to donate $25 to charity. No problem—let your boss know that you’ll donate five hours to a charity of his or her choice! Or do something—anything—to let your boss know that you are driven and want to move your life forward.
As always, let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below!
– Philip Tirone
How to Build Credit Fast
People regularly ask me for tips on how to build credit fast. Among the usual—paying down credit card limits and becoming authorized users—I tell spouses to leverage each other’s credit scores.
For a variety of reasons, you might need to learn how to build credit fast. Maybe you are applying for a loan and want to secure lower interest rates. Perhaps you are a candidate for a job at a company that runs a credit check before hiring new employees. (After all, 60 percent of companies run a credit check at least some of the time.)
If you have a balance that exceeds 30 percent of the limit on a credit card, you can transfer a portion or the entire balance to your spouse’s credit card.
This is among my favorite tips for how to build credit fast because it makes a huge difference. With the credit scoring systems calculating outstanding debt as 30 percent of your credit score, your score will quickly increase if you lower your outstanding debt. You can then walk into the loan application or job interview with low personal debt and a higher-than-usual credit score.
Though you might lower your spouse’s credit score, you can quickly “buy back” the debt using your credit cards once you secure the loan or job. Of course, you will need to repay the favor if your spouse ever needs tricks for how to build credit fast!
60 Minutes Exposes The Truth About The Bureaus, by 720 Credit Score
Did you see the horrifying 60-Minutes special on how you have been a victim of the credit-scoring bureaus? Even if you want to build a 720 credit score, the bureaus are standing in your way!
I say that the 60-Minutes report was horrifying because it revealed just how corrupt the system is. People like you are being taken advantage of by the credit-scoring bureaus, who have no interest at all in helping you build a 720 credit score.
In fact, the credit-scoring bureaus are negligent when it comes to protecting people’s rights.
When I founded 720 Credit Score dot com, I wanted to help people fight the system. I’ve exposed a lot of the rules of credit scoring so that people can build a 720 credit score, despite the secrecy of the credit-scoring bureaus.
And over the past few months, I’ve been working with attorneys on another way to fight the system …
A system that practically reaches into your pockets and steals your hard-earned money by imposing artificially high interest rates…
I’ve been working with attorneys because it has come to my attention that you might be able to sue the credit-scoring bureaus.
The credit-scoring bureaus are required by law to make a reasonable attempt to protect your credit file. But guess what?
Their attempts are pathetic. The lower your credit score, the more money made by the credit-scoring bureaus’ clients (banks and credit card companies)! So there is a good chance that the credit-scoring bureaus have artificially lowered your credit score due to their negligence.
Please keep your eyes peeled because in the coming weeks, I’m going to show you how to fight back…
If you want to watch the 60 Minutes episode, click here
How to Get a Loan – A Bank Insider’s Shocking SpyCam Confession
Do you think it is fair that the very same banks who are being propped up by your taxpayer dollars – the banks who got big bailouts – are unwilling or unable to tell you how to get a loan by increasing your credit score?
I don’t, which is why I went into a major bank with a SpyCam to see whether the banks are training their bankers to tell you how to improve your credit score and qualify for a loan.
And guess what? After the government unilaterally decided to give the banks a loan using your money, the banks won’t tell you how to improve your credit score so you can qualify for a loan.
The government forced us to give them a loan, and now they won’t tell us how to get a loan. Does that seem fair?
They should tell us:
- How to build credit so that you can qualify for one of their loans.
- How your credit cards impact your credit score (a factor I call the “credit card score.”)
- All the facts about bankruptcy and foreclosure, and how you can bounce back from these financial crises.
7 Ways to Live the Good Life on a Budget
Let’s face it, if you’re being honest, you really want more money. However, you don’t want it simply for the idea of having more actual dollars in your bank account, but to live a better more fulfilling life. Having access to money certainly allows this happen, but when you’re in the process of getting things going, it may feel like this “fulfilling life” is out of reach. The good news? No matter what your income situation is, you don’t need to skimp out on what life has to offer. If you’re looking for some fast and easy ways to start living the good life, read on…
Dine like royalty
Enroll in a cooking class or download some recipes online and improve the quality and presentation of the food you eat.
Vacation for free
Offer to housesit or house swap with a friend for a free stay somewhere different. This works really well when you have friends who live in different states.
Learn something new
Nothing makes you feel alive and like you’re on the right track quite like learning something new. Take advantage of all the opportunities to get a free online education.
Trade services
When times are tight, a lot of service-oriented businesses have to look at more creative ways to get their needs met. If you have a talent that a local service provider can benefit from, consider proposing a trade of services.
Enter local contests
You may not win, but chances are if you enter enough times, you’ll win something down the road. It may not seem like much, but a free dinner or a massage could come at just right time.
Get involved in your community
Laughter and fun are what’s really at the heart of living the good life. Local community organizations are a great way to find new opportunities for this. Consider getting involved in a local church or other organization for free events and socialization.
Look for deals
You may want to try that new fabulous restaurant everyone is talking about, but the meal may currently be out of your price range. Instead, look for coupons or special “deal” nights to help control costs. You may even want to go for lunch instead. Many local businesses offer special discounts to get more business during their non-peak hours. This can translate to big savings for you. You get the same experience at a fraction of the cost.
Share your money saving tips for others to benefit from below!
I sent it to the president…
Call me crazy, but I once sent a seven-day bowel cleansing formula to President Clinton. He looked unhealthy at the time, and I was a concerned citizen …
Another time, I convinced billionaire Rick Caruso to have coffee with me. I got Coach Ken Carter (of the 2005 film Coach Carter starring Samuel Jackson) to meet with my staff members and me. And when I was 23, I persuaded Zig Ziglar to have lunch with me.
I did all these things because I believe in getting exposure to big thinkers— people who can help me shape my future.
In one of my posts emails, I suggested that if you are struggling with debt or credit problems, you could “change your physical environment so that you are more likely to create the psychological shift necessary to fulfill your financial goals.”
I got several requests asking for more information about how to do this if you are deeply in debt, can’t get credit, or are having to start over from scratch.
So I thought I’d pass along an idea that has worked for me …
Get physical exposure to people you admire.
If you start talking to other people who have been in your circumstances, and who are now living a life you admire, you will get at least a few ideas for changing your circumstances. Plus,
you will build a supportive network of people who are on your side … who want you to achieve your goal.
I know that financial problems can be embarrassing, and you might not want to reach out to people for help. But you can save yourself from years of pain if you decide to reach out to a few strategic (and trustworthy) people who will give you ideas for changing your finances and your future.
So whom should you get exposure to? Basically, you need to find people who have “been there, and done that”—people who have successfully moved past obstacles to find success and financial stability. This might be your sister-in-law, a local businessperson, or a good friend.
Or, you might want to reach even farther outside of your social circle, especially if you are deeply in debt, unemployed, or starting from scratch.
You could start looking for people who can pull you up, a few mentors or advisors who can help you make radical shifts in your situation.
That’s what I did when I got Zig Ziglar to have lunch with me. And that’s what I did when I brought Coach Carter into my office.
So how did I do it?
Well, you’ll have to wait for my next post, but I’ll give you a hint …
I used Seven Magic Words.
Until then, post a comment below and let me know your ideas for getting physical exposure to people who can help you change your circumstances.
– Philip Tirone
Protecting Your Retirement and Savings Accounts, by 720 Credit Score
From time-to-time, I give tips that extend beyond the subject of how to build credit and how to have a 720 credit score. Here’s a hot tip from a friend of mine who is a bankruptcy attorney …
Never pay off your debt by using a retirement account, education savings account, Roth IRA, IRA, or 529 plan.
Too many people who are in a financial crisis liquidate these accounts, and then turn around and declare bankruptcy. But guess what? These plans, intended as long-term savings vehicles, are protected from bankruptcy, so you would be far better off declaring bankruptcy before tapping into this accounts.
That’s right: You can declare bankruptcy and still hold onto all the money in your retirement, education savings, Roth, IRA, and 529 plans.
Of course, if you are in debt, your bank is going to try to strong-arm you into withdrawing money from all of your accounts. When this happens, just remind them that under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, you are legally protected from paying any debt using these accounts.
As always, I encourage my readers to be strategic about their debt-repayment plans. Sometimes, when faced with a mountain of bills, emotions and anxiety take over, and we tend to make rash decisions.
Remember that your goal is to create a long-term plan for financial stability. Try to resist getting caught-up in the short-term anxiety. Take a deep breath, and make a plan to protect your future.
Lastly, if you are struggling with your debt, it’s important to know all your options… and don’t put this off!
- Is debt consolidation right for you?
- Is bankruptcy an option?
- What other things are possible that you might not know about?
As you know, I don’t handle debt negotiations and I’m not an attorney. However, I know the best people in business!
If you would like an introduction, click here and answer some basic questions, and I’ll get you an introduction ASAP.
FREE CREDIT EDUCATION
Boost Your Score To 720!
Over 200,000 people have rebuilt their credit with our proven strategies.
