Confused by your credit score?

If you’ve been reading the Pazit blog, you probably know that we recommend getting your free credit score every three months, each time from a different credit bureau. You can do this easily by logging onto www.annualcreditreport.com. Problem is, it’s often difficult to decipher your credit score.That’s why I’m recommending a new tool called the Credit Report Card from Credit.com.

This FREE tool is similar to a report card — it gives you a letter grade corresponding to your approximate credit score. What’s great about the Credit Report Card is that it tells you how you’re doing in each of the categories: payment history (on-time payments), debt usage (what percentage of your total credit limit you are using; the lower the better), and credit age (how long your credit history is; the longer the better). (It doesn’t ask for credit card information…beware of “free” credit report services that do).

I was surprised to discover that I “lost points” in two categories: account mix (having a mortgage, which I don’t, is a plus); and inquiries (signing up for store credit cards can wreak havoc on your credit score!).

Still, the Credit Report Card isn’t a replacement for getting your free credit reports. That’s because there’s no way to tell whether there’s incorrect information. That said, it’s a useful tool (and is only a soft inquiry, so won’t harm your credit score).

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A thought-provoking question

When you see a man cruise by in his $65,000 BMW 550i, what do you assume about him?

Kiplinger’s Magazine editor Knight Kiplinger posed this question to a group of high school students. Their answer? “He’s rich.”

And a man who drives by in a ten-year-old Chevy? “He’s struggling.”

The BMW, however, is probably leased (perhaps for three years, no money down), so we can infer only that the driver earns enough to handle a $1,131 monthly lease payment. We know nothing about his net worth, which may be great … or may be almost nonexistent.

And the man in the old Impala? Maybe he is struggling financially, but there’s another possibility: His income is just as great as that of the dude in the Bimmer, but he’s not saddled with a lease payment — and he’s investing the money in mutual funds that are growing at 10% a year.

The message in all this: The biggest barrier to becoming rich is living like you’re rich before you are. Why? Because all that discretionary spending — the chic apartment, frequent travel and restaurant meals, consumer electronics, fancy clothes and cars — crowds out the saving that will enable you to be rich someday.”

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Love free stuff?

We sure do! Check out Kiplinger Magazine’s Fabulous Freebies 2009. The slideshow offers a wealth of goodies, including how to access free movies, videogames, birthday treats (ice cream!), and more. See how many freebie tips you already make use of.

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