Quick DIY Credit Repair Tips

So you finally bit the bullet and checked your credit score... and now you wish you hadn't. All those over-the-limit credit cards have really brought your score down, but you need it higher to qualify for a loan or even a new apartment lease. What now? It's time for some quick credit fixes:

Quick Fix One: Pay Down That Debt! Don't close your existing accounts, just pay down the balances. The further you are from the credit limit, the better your score will be.

Quick Fix Two: Pay Your Bills! OK, so it's not very quick, but it's something you can start doing right this minute. You can create a monthly bill-paying chart if you have trouble remembering to pay the bills, or set up an auto-debit to your bank account, but you absolutely must pay your credit card bills on time if you want your credit score to go up.

Quick Fix Two: Dispute any incorrect information on your credit report. Go through it carefully, line-by-line, to make sure that all of the accounts are correct, any documented late payments are correct, and that the current balances are correct. Dispute incorrect information, and your score will improve when the issue is resolved.

Are Free Credit Reports a Myth?

Every time you click on a "Free Credit Report" ad, you get asked for your credit card - or bamboozled into signing up for some kind of credit monitoring service. So how on Earth can you get that free report that everyone talks about? Is it just a myth?

Annual Credit Report site
Annualcreditreport.com is the only site that is authorized by the Federal Trade Commission to actually provide free reports to U.S. consumers. You're entitled to a free report from Equifax, Experian and Transunion each year. Don't get them all at once - apply for a free report from one reporting agency, wait three months and then apply for a report from the second agency, and so on.

There really is an absolutely free credit report, you just have to know where to look!

Too Much Business Debt? Get Consolidated with the SBA!

Did you know that the Small Business Administration will help you consolidate your business loans?

Why Consolidate?

If you've run up a bunch of high-interest business credit cards, or you've got a number of small-business-loans with various lenders, consider asking the SBA to help you get them consolidated. You can end up with lower payments, lower principal and even lower interest rates, and you'll save time and stress when all your loans are in one place under one set of terms.

About Small Business Consolidation Loans:

The SBA does not provide the loans, they just guarantee the loan to help you get approval from a private lender. Consolidating your small business loans can save you a ton of time, money and stress, so don't hesitate - contact your local SBA chapter ASAP!

SBA Jobs Tour - Coming to your town?

The Small Business Administration is going on tour. Want to attend one of the SBA Small Business Jobs Act events? Check out the dates and locations of the SBA Jobs Tour, and mark it on your calendar. When you're starting up a small business, you should never turn away a resource. The SBA is an incredible resource for business owners - they'll help you get financing, and work on your business plans.. and now, with the STEP program, they may even be able to help you get a grant to start exporting your products! Check it out, you won't regret it!

Starting a Small Business

Tired of the daily grind? Sick of the suit and tie, paying for babysitters and missing out on the beautiful weather? Or.. Maybe you just can't find a decent job! With wages dropping, and unemployment and underemployment rates going higher all the time, you're not alone.

Small Business Options

Instead of wasting your time in a job you hate, or trying to find another job you'll hate, why not focus your attention on starting your own small business? Everyone has at least one skill. Put your skills to work, and do what you love. Even if you have little or no business experience, you can get start-to-finish help from the Small Business Administration with everything from financing and business plans to ongoing planning and marketing. Use the free resources that are available, to prosper. Who knows, someone may be asking YOU for a job, before you know it!