Carl Smith - Articles

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The Smart Way to Choose the Best Credit Card for Students
College student credit cards are the perfect companion to young adults who are testing the waters of the adult world. These cards also help them build their credit history early on so it can be used to their advantage when the time comes. Read
By: Carl Smith | 03/09/2008 | Credit
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123

Bad Credit Scores - How Do You Get Them?
There is no doubt that credit scores and credit histories have an impact on an individual’s life. The impact can be small or huge, depending on what a person will be using the credit history for. The reasons for getting a less-than excellent credit standing can sometimes be controlled by the person (like how he manages his finances or how diligent he is in paying his bills); there are also times when the reasons are beyond an individual’s control. Read
By: Carl Smith | 02/09/2008 | Credit
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Using Credit Cards the Rewarding Way
Choosing a credit card, like any decision to be made, would require a lot of weighing of pros and cons. Among the first few aspects that people consider when credit card-shopping are: interest rates, late payment charges, and last but certainly not the least, the rewards program offered by the credit card company. Read
By: Carl Smith | 01/09/2008 | Credit
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Tips on How to Choose the Right Credit Card for You
Is there such a thing as a “right” credit card? Looking around at the numerous credit card offers sometimes adds to the confusion instead of helping one make a concrete decision. One of the simplest solutions to battle the information overload? Decide what you really need in a credit card; more specifically - decide why you need it. Read
By: Carl Smith | 31/08/2008 | Credit
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The 411 on Credit Reports
Businesses in the United States buy more than two billion credit reports every year. Since there are currently fewer than 300 million people in the country, this means that the average adult has his or her credit reports examined by someone about once every other month. And yet, only a small percentage of Americans have ever laid eyes on their own credit reports. Read
By: Carl Smith | 28/08/2008 | Credit
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The Larry Rule - is Applying for Store Credit Cards Bad for Your Credit?
Larry Lindsey is probably not a name that you know, but he is an important figure in the history of personal finance. Currently, Mr. Lindsey is President Bush's chief domestic economic advisor. Prior to that, he was a Federal Reserve Board Governor. But neither of these distinctions are what make Larry Lindsey significant. Instead, it was a little incident at Toys 'R Us that gave birth to "The Larry Rule." Read
By: Carl Smith | 27/08/2008 | Credit
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College Student Credit Card Woes
If you're a college student, chances are you've been offered more than a few credit cards. Maybe you have a friend who has already run up credit card bills on par with her student debt, and so you've steered clear of the credit card offers. Or maybe you're one of the few who have received their first credit cards and used them responsibly - so far, at least. Read
By: Carl Smith | 25/08/2008 | Credit
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Facts You Might not Know About Debit Cards
Clearly, having some form of cashless payment is essential to being a fully functioning American consumer these days, and millions of people are opting to use a debit card attached to their checking accounts rather than traditional credit cards. Is this a wise move? Read
By: Carl Smith | 25/08/2008 | Credit