How to Check your Credit Report and Credit Score for free ~ Financial Fruits

Getting where you want in life is a financial process: you make, you spend, you borrow. The truly successful make sure how they borrow is part of achieving their goals.

Your credit history is your financial DNA. The importance of good credit cannot be underestimated, more employers are reviewing credit reports of perspective employees. Insurance companies review your credit report when you apply to insure you home and/or car. And without good credit it is very difficult to obtain a credit card. Many businesses today prefer to use credit cards and many employment fields, such as financial services, gaming, military and law enforcement, continually monitor their employees’ credit reports. If you are thinking about buying a house, a car or simply applying for a new credit card, your credit report represents the first step in the lenders decision making process. The fact of the matter is, you need to have a good credit history in order to get credit.
What is a credit report?

Your credit report is a simple snapshot of your financial choices, your habits, and yes, your future credentials.
When you make a payment on a credit card or loan, the company that gave you the loan or credit keeps a record of how much and often you pay. Those companies and other sources also report your credit, loan and payment history to one or more credit reporting companies. The credit reporting companies combine the information from your different credit, loan and payment reports into a single credit file. Three nationwide companies prepare credit files for people in the U.S.: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

What is good credit?
Simply put a person with good credit has a well established history of having paid their accounts on time.

What information is actually included in your credit report?
A typical credit report includes four types of information; identifying information, public record, credit information and inquiries. You should review your credit report at least once a year. You are entitled to one free report from each of the bureaus every 12 months from www.annualcreditreport.com or by phone at 877-322-8228.

Manage your credit well — get good rates and know when you’ve reached a smart limit.The first step? Know your credit information and what it says about you — and your borrowing and financing power.

How do you get a copy of your credit report for free?

To get a 100% free copy of your credit report go to www.annualcreditreport.com enter your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security Number to get a copy from each of the three monitoring bureaus.

Monitoring your credit is like having regular check-ups at the doctor. You don't want to find out that something's wrong when it's already too late, right?

How to get your credit score for free?

A credit score is the result of a mathematical formula that uses the information in your credit file, such as how well you have paid your bills in the past, to calculate how likely you are to pay your bills in the future. Your credit score is your financial report card.

Sign up for a free account at www.credit.com. Credit.com can help you see where you stand for free and make credit decisions you feel good about! You can get your free credit score every 30 days. The site also provides advice to your advantage. This site can be useful, helping you Know your best options BEFORE you apply for a loan , credit card, etc. You'll get two measures of your credit score, plus a report card that tells you how you're doing in the five key areas that make up your report.

A great credit score can save you HUNDREDS, if not THOUSANDS of dollars over the course of a year. Lenders use your score to make decisions about loans, credit, and ultimately, interest rates. Your credit score is the key: know it, manage it, and put it to work for you.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here are some basic steps anyone can take to build their credit score.