The Credit Monthly

Strategies and tools to live debt free The world of borrowing and debt management has changed dramatically, leaving people confused about how best to secure their financial future. This book is the only guide with detailed advice to help you become debt free or master the debt you have, based on the latest laws and new government programs and policies implemented under the Obama administration. Is the information and advice on debt management different than in years past? Definitely. In this savvy, engaging guide, bestselling financial expert Jordan Goodman will tell you how to Win the mortgage game: avoid foreclosure, obtain the best refi, and modify your mortgage even if it is "under water" Clean up your credit report and dramatically boost your credit score Negotiate new terms and payments for burdensome medical bills, student loans, and credit cards Protect yourself from the devastation of identity theft Master the new credit card rules, and avoid the rate and fee traps Learn a revolutionary strategy that will help you become mortgage free in 5 to 7 years, change the way you pay all your bills, and save hundreds of thousands of dollars Master Your Debt recommends many pioneering strategies as it lays out an innovative plan for achieving the elusive goal of financial success. The book is filled with helpful web sites, toll free numbers, associations and government agencies, and vetted companies and services to help you implement this advice. In today's volatile economy, getting out of debt is the key to surviving and thriving, and author Jordan Goodman provides you with the strategies and tools to live debt free.

The bestselling author of The Martian returns with an irresistible new near-future thriller—a heist story set on the moon. Jasmine Bashara never signed up to be a hero. She just wanted to get rich. Not crazy, eccentric-billionaire rich, like many of the visitors to her hometown of Artemis, humanity’s first and only lunar colony. Just rich enough to move out of her coffin-sized apartment and eat something better than flavored algae. Rich enough to pay off a debt she’s owed for a long time. So when a chance at a huge score finally comes her way, Jazz can’t say no. Sure, it requires her to graduate from small-time smuggler to full-on criminal mastermind. And it calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen swagger. But Jazz has never run into a challenge her intellect can’t handle, and she figures she’s got the ‘swagger’ part down. The trouble is, engineering the perfect crime is just the start of Jazz’s problems. Because her little heist is about to land her in the middle of a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself. Trapped between competing forces, pursued by a killer and the law alike, even Jazz has to admit she’s in way over her head. She’ll have to hatch a truly spectacular scheme to have a chance at staying alive and saving her city. Jazz is no hero, but she is a very good criminal. That’ll have to do. Propelled by its heroine’s wisecracking voice, set in a city that’s at once stunningly imagined and intimately familiar, and brimming over with clever problem-solving and heist-y fun, Artemis is another irresistible brew of science, suspense, and humor from #1 bestselling author Andy Weir.

The Skinny on Credit Cards is the story of Billy and Beth, a typical American couple, as they struggle with the use (and abuse) of their credit cards. Our story also looks at their 18-year-old son, Jake, a college freshman who loves the idea of having his own credit cards. Through their experiences, we learn about the incredible convenience, heartache, and commentary generated by that little piece of plastic.

Explains little known advice and tips for improving a credit score, including how to remove damaging information and negotiate with creditors.

Once there was a golden age of American thrift, when citizens lived sensibly within their means and worked hard to stay out of debt. The growing availability of credit in this century, however, has brought those days to an end--undermining traditional moral virtues such as prudence, diligence, and the delay of gratification while encouraging reckless consumerism. Or so we commonly believe. In this engaging and thought-provoking book, Lendol Calder shows that this conception of the past is in fact a myth. Calder presents the first book-length social and cultural history of the rise of consumer credit in America. He focuses on the years between 1890 and 1940, when the legal, institutional, and moral bases of today's consumer credit were established, and in an epilogue takes the story up to the present. He draws on a wide variety of sources--including personal diaries and letters, government and business records, newspapers, advertisements, movies, and the words of such figures as Benjamin Franklin, Mark Twain, and P. T. Barnum--to show that debt has always been with us. He vigorously challenges the idea that consumer credit has eroded traditional values. Instead, he argues, monthly payments have imposed strict, externally reinforced disciplines on consumers, making the culture of consumption less a playground for hedonists than an extension of what Max Weber called the "iron cage" of disciplined rationality and hard work. Throughout, Calder keeps in clear view the human face of credit relations. He re-creates the Dickensian world of nineteenth-century pawnbrokers, takes us into the dingy backstairs offices of loan sharks, into small-town shops and New York department stores, and explains who resorted to which types of credit and why. He also traces the evolving moral status of consumer credit, showing how it changed from a widespread but morally dubious practice into an almost universal and generally accepted practice by World War II. Combining clear, rigorous arguments with a colorful, narrative style, Financing the American Dream will attract a wide range of academic and general readers and change how we understand one of the most important and overlooked aspects of American social and economic life.

Understanding Credit is the definitive guide to understanding what credit is, how it is reported, and how to make it work for you. This handbook reveals the strategies and techniques that professionals use to borrow credit effectively. It offers an uncomplicated view of credit in Canada, from explanations of the different forms of credit available to advice on how to determine the best option for each individuals needs. Using credit does not mean getting into debt; when used wisely, it can enable anyone to realize their dreams as well as save and invest for the future. Tables and examples are included to illustrate how interest payments work and how the real cost of borrowing money differs between the different types of credit. Author Dave Ravindra also offers information explaining where to find the right lending institution and how to qualify for the credit needed. The provided list of resources covers everything from government legislation to Canadas major banks. Sample letters are also included to use when requesting your credit report, and monthly budget sheets enable you to work out what you can afford to pay. Everything you need to understand credit is contained in this handy guide. Using the guidance offered here, you can build a solid credit report in as short a time as possible.

The Bill and Credit Card Payments Tracker offers a simple, minimalist way to keep track of all your bills and credit card payments. The tracker begins with 2 pages of yearly overview, which include: - month - total amount paid (for all bills and credit cards) for that month - total intent paid for that month - total unpaid balance for that month - there are 16 rows per page, for a total of 32 months overview; you can fill as many as you need, likewise you can use the last one on each page as a total Following the yearly overview, come 45 monthly tracking spreads. Each spread spans over two pages and it includes spaces to write: - the month at the top - account - amount due or minimum payment - due date - date paid - amount paid - interest paid (where applicable) - unpaid balance - available credit (where applicable) - there are 45 spreads, 16 rows per spread, for a total of 720 bill and credit card tracking spaces; you can fill as many as you need, likewise you can use the last one on each page as a total At the end of the tracker, there are 8 lined pages for notes where you can write any additional information, or plans you may have for your accounts. There are no calendar dates written in the book, so you can get started any time. More design features of the tracker: - black and white interior - large writing spaces - 6 X 9 inch dimensions - 101 pages in total The biggest advantage to using the Bill and Credit Card Payments Tracker is that you can easily see how your bills change over time. Therefore, if anything increases excessively, you can notice it quickly, and do something about it to avoid ridiculous expenses. The Bill and Credit Card Payments Tracker also makes a great gift.

"Credit Scores and You" is the definitive guide on how to create, maintain, or repair your credit score. Knowing how to get your credit score over 700 and to keep it there can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your lifetime. The book is the result of the author's desire to give financial direction and inspiration to his two sons as they grew into young adults. His career in lending and the financial world has provided a keen understanding of what is required to build a solid financial base, and how vitally important an excellent credit score has become in business, and in day-to-day life. It shares real life experiences, and provides information on getting started in finances, handling money, and how to build your credit history. Learning about trade lines, the credit scoring system, and when to consider various loan products is discussed. How your credit history impacts what you do and what it can cost you over time is the essence of this subject. A good credit score involves much more than what it will cost for a particular loan product. Your credit score is considered when you apply for a job, when you are looking for housing, and how the insurance company views you as customer. That simple three-digit number has become more profound since the mid 1990's than ever before. Your credit score will determine whether or not you are approved for a loan product. In many cases it will also dictate how much you will pay in interest rates and fees. Excellent credit scores will open many more doors and save you money. A good credit score will also help you when applying for a job. Many employers will run a credit check along with a background check before they will consider a candidate for employment. High or low credit scores are considered a reflection on how an applicant may perform on the job. Insurance companies have their own methods for determining risk, and charge insurance premiums based on that data. Credit scores in recent years have become one of the factors that they look at on an insurance application. High or low credit scores can be one of the determining factors in what they charge. Having an understanding of the importance of a great credit score should not be underestimated. 'Credit Scores and You' will give the reader an excellent basis for getting on the right track toward financial wellness.