Financial decisions like purchasing a cell phone or applying to rent an apartment or house will require you to have your credit score in good standing. A low credit score can also allow lenders to charge you a higher upfront cost or pay more money because you aren’t considered creditworthy.

Credit ghosts are people who have no credit score, but they could improve their financial situation by building credit. Here's what is a credit ghost and what to know if you are one.

Your credit score is used by lenders to determine your credit risk when it comes to borrowing money. The higher your credit score, generally speaking, the more you'll be able to borrow, and the lower your interest rate. That can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. So, if you're looking to purchase a home, read on to learn how to optimize your credit score.

Federal law mandates that a person is entitled to receive a free credit report from each of the three national reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, every 12 months. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can now get reports per week.

When applying for a loan to make large financial purchases, such as a home or a car, one of the things the lender takes a look at is your credit score. Your credit score is important because it is part of the decision to either approve or deny your loan.

Over half of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck, and additional financial stress has been added since the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. More than 40 million Americans are unemployed and having to file for unemployment benefits.

One way to prevent credit card fraud is to place a free credit freeze on your credit report. With a freeze, new credit applications will automatically be declined because lenders will not be able to pull your report.