Tips from Jess: Credit Reports

So, there are some things in life I try to avoid at all costs...despite knowing they are good for me. Three of these came up this past week...eeeek!

One: managing food storage

Two: signing up for credit cards (or anything that has to do with credit)

Three: budgeting

These are all good things (well, credit cards can get you in trouble, but no worries, we use them like debit cards, and in this world you have to have them to establish credit so you can buy a big house in the future #everyonesgoal #right? haha)

[one]

So, why do I hate dealing with food storage? I love the idea!!! Seriously, twice in my life so far I was saved because I had food storage! I was a college student, and because of weird situations transferring to BYU, I couldn't get a scholarship and so I had to work extra while going to school. (I always worked while going to school, and worked extra hard during the summers. It was a big blessing to have both of us graduate with no debt #workinghardpaysoff!!)

Anyway, it was the beginning of January, my first semester at BYU and I was working, but I didn't get my first check until mid February and between now and my check, I needed to pay Feb rent and eat...but I had less than $100 in my account. So what did I do?? I took some cereal from my mom's food storage and lived off what I had bought extra the semester before. Seriously, I remember someone shopping with me and asking why I bought so much stuff, and I straight up told them: food storage. and then what happened???? I literally lived off that specific food storage for a month!

Rice, beans, oatmeal, and min-shredded wheats for 1.5 months...I couldnt eat those things for a while after...but food storage saved me! This same thing happened again a year later, and food storage came to the rescue!!

Anyway, why do I cringe at food storage?? I wish I could just buy all of it at once and ten years later, throw it away and buy it all again. I don't want to do this whole rotational thing and get extra, but eat it and buy more. It stresses me out.

 but you gotta do what you gotta do I guess...ill let nate handle this one!

(btw, here is a great website on the basics of food storage straight on the church's website)

[two] 

We have been looking into how to build our credit up and also what credit cards have the best rewards. So nate took a plunge and he investigated it all (why him?? because i hate thinking about these things)

Wait, why do you hate thinking about it so much?? Well, I worked at Progrexion for 5 years, its a credit repair company, and for 5 years I found out all the ways that you can mess up your credit. So I just get scared and freeze when it comes to things dealing with credit.  I get scared of applying for anything, because I know that hard inquiries can decrease your score 3-10 points every time...and thats not a big deal once in a while, but did you know that when you go to a car dealership and they "check to see if you are approved" they actually inquire at 10-15 different lenders to see who will accept you! That's 10-15 different hard inquiries times 3-10 points!!  sheesh!  So i always get scared, and make them swear by their big toes that they will only pull my credit once (I never trust car dealerships anyway, but im talking about my bank or credit card companies). 

Anyway..another thing to super stay away from is debt consolidation places. Lets say all your debt adds up to $1000. They say they will pay all your bills, and you pay them $800. You think thats great! BUT... Did you know that they just let your payments go later and later for like a year until the people will finally just settle for like 1/4 of the cost??? So they pay $250 for you original $1000. and now your credit is really messed up because you have an extra years worth of late payments (when you thought they were paying off your creditors), and it takes 7-10 years for that information to come off of your credit report! Seriously, don't think its better to consolidate. First off, dont be late. Second off, if you are late, pay ASAP and forgo your weekly spa treatment. Third off, if it seems overwhelming, still just pay it off yourself, dont consolidate!

Those are the two main things I wish I could tell the whole world. Oh wait... and don't think paying off your debts will automatically improve your credit score. It might, but it doesnt work that way totally. AND dont close your credit cards, just pay them off, but open credit cards actually increase your score. (check out the next link!)

Ok, one last thing...check your credit score often (at least once a year, but for sure in advance before you apply for something)! Just because you havent done something doesnt mean that someone didnt intentionally or accidentally use your social security number or the person at you apartment complex missed something and said you were late paying rent when you weren't. Inaccuracies can happen to anyone, and the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to fight it off. 

Here is a website that explains credit reports in a fast, simple, and understandable way! Its one of the best explanations I've ever seen! Plus it gives you understandable tips! Quick, easy read!

Here is super cool website that will help you know which credit card will give you the best benefits depending on you. (meaning, how much you spend, make, spend on groceries, etc)

Just put in all your info, and then click on the $ sign by "annual rewards" to change what you spend on specific things, and it pops up what is best for you.

And here is a website where you can really get a free credit score! Seriously, I worked in credit for so long and all that time they didnt have anywhere that really did, but Credit Karma really does now! It doesnt put any inquiries on your credit report and no paying for it!!! They say its because they just have tons of adds on their website, but ill take adds over paying for my report! Here is a website helping you feel better about Credit Karma.   (I am not affiliated with any of these websites in any way, I just want to spread the good news!)

So there is your lesson about credit from someone who worked with people's reports for 5 years! It's something that is crazy but you can't get away from it in this world unless you have cash for everything #whohascashforahouse. So, in this case, knowledge is power! So many people called in with messed up credit because they didnt understand credit and went off "hear-say." So go get educated!!

[ok...number 3]

Budgeting....and who likes it besides nate? seriously, when i was single, i just didnt do it. I know i should have, but i'm glad nate is willing to do it once a month and then we sit down and we go over how I spent too much at Target, then we make goals for the next month of how I can't go to Cafe Rio so often if I want doTERRA #wayworthit. But its all good, the Brethren of the church have always said that budgeting is good, and how we shouldnt have any one in the relationship be the "monarch"...so we talk about it and make goals together! (despite me just making nate sound mean, he really just tells me reality of numbers , since he doesnt spend almost anything, he just sits at his office making the money #hemakesit #ispendit)....so, its fun now. Especially, since he does all the numbers and all i have to do is talk about it #iamgoodattalking!!

Well, we are off to another great weekend!

Tonight is girl's night!

Tomorrow night, birthing class #natesfavorite #sarcasm

But weekends are my family time and time off from blogging, so see you monday!!

#familytimeissofun

#familydatetimetomorrow #wootwoot