Saving Money 101 

by Michelle Black

Everyone loves to save money. Saving money is the quickest way for you to move closer to a balanced budget and a healthier credit report. In that spirit we will be featuring a multi-part blog series with some fantastic debt busting, money saving tips for you to start using immediately. If you can put even a few of these great suggestions to use you will see a big benefit in your finances. So, without further ado, let’s get started with today’s tip:

Tip #1: Ask for a lower rate.
Sometimes saving money is as simple as picking up the phone. You can start by calling your credit card companies and ask for a lower interest rate on your current credit cards. (This works best if you have a good payment history on your credit cards.) When you speak with the customer service agent regarding your account the first thing you want to ask is “Do you have the authority to change my interest rate?” If the answer is no then politely request to speak with someone who does that that authority, perhaps a supervisor. Once you have the right person, explain that you have seen offers for other credit cards at lower interest rates – which we all have received in the mail, via internet advertisement, or on TV – and that you would rather stick with your current card company if they are willing to offer you a lower rate. Be kind but persistent and explain why it is not affordable for you to continue paying the higher interest rate. I personally have seen my interest rate reduced from 14.99% to 9.99% by using the exact method above.

Remember, a lower interest rate can save you a ton of money depending upon the amount of your credit card balances. Of course, your best bet is always to pay off all of your credit card debt and keep money wasted on interest for yourself and your family. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to request a free copy of HOPE’s Debt Snowball Payoff Plan which can help you to plan a strategy which can get out of credit card debt for good.  If you would like more personalized advice we are here to help as well! Just give our friendly staff a call at 704-499-9696 and we will be more than happy to assist you. Don’t forget to check back later this week for more great money saving tips!

P.S. We would love for you to join our online community on Facebook and Twitter!

Every year at tax refund time we have many clients wisely choose to  invest part of their tax refund check towards achieving a healthy credit report. Wouldn’t you love for 2012 to be the year when you finally reach the higher credit scores you desire? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if 2012 was the year when you were finally able to stop those pesky collection calls and possibly even become a homeowner?

HOPE would love the opportunity to help you reach your goals! You can join the ranks of the 85+ HOPE graduates who have completed the program with credit scores healthy enough to purchase a home in just the last 4 months! Call or email us today to schedule your own personal, no obligation credit analysis with one of our credit experts to see if the HOPE Program is right for you. We can’t wait to hear from you soon!

Congratulations to Mrs. Smith, another HOPE client who is very close to her dream of homeownership!  In a mere 7 weeks of membership in the HOPE Program Mrs. Smith has already seen tremendous results!  Here are just a few of the successes she has already experienced as a member of the HOPE Program:

*Middle credit score increased from 542 to 619! (That’s 77 points in 7 weeks – wow!!)
*Over ¾ of the negative items on her credit report have been erased!

With only 21 points to go before achieving a “loan ready” credit score, we cannot wait to see Mrs. Smith successfully complete the HOPE Program with a healthy credit report that she can be proud of.  Wouldn’t it be nice to never be turned down for a loan again due to credit issues?  This will soon be a reality for Mrs. Smith and it can be your reality too!  Stop letting bad credit control your life! You can begin to take control of your credit situation today.  Check out our recent blog, 5 Ways to Give Your Credit a Kick in the Pants!, containing tips on how to improve your credit scores and you could find yourself with a success story like Mrs. Smith before you know it!

Are you a social media junkie?  If so, we would love for you to join the HOPE online community by following us on Twitter and Facebook.

Why Are Credit Scores Important?
By Michelle Black

So, you likely already know the basic principle about what a credit score is used for and, therefore, why it is important to have a good one.  Whenever you apply for a loan (car loan, mortgage loan, credit card loan, personal loan, etc.) a lender is going to look at your credit score and decide whether or not you qualify.  If your credit score is high enough, you can likely expect to be approved for the loan (provided you earn enough income to qualify). However, a low credit score could result in you being declined for the loan you want or, if you are approved, it could mean a higher interest rate and a bigger down payment.

To put it simply, credit scores (and your credit report) are a type of report card which future lenders get to look at when you apply for a loan.  The “report card” shows lenders a picture of how you pay your bills – on time, late, or not at all.  If your credit report shows that you have a history of paying your bills on time then future lenders will want to loan you money as well since, chances are, you will pay the payments on time and they will be able to earn a profit from you in the form of interest.  However, if your credit report shows that you have a history of paying your bills late or not at all then future lenders will be scared to loan you any more money.  The reason they will be hesitant to loan you more money is because chances are higher that they may not get paid back for their investment, much less make any kind of profit through interest fees.

In our current culture, credit scores impact our lives in many ways.  I already mentioned how you will need a good credit score to qualify for any type of loan.  However, did you also know that your credit score may be used to determine you auto insurance rate and whether or not you have to put down a deposit when opening a new utility or cell phone account?  Plus, it is now a common practice for employers to pull your credit score when you are applying for a new job.  Depending upon the industry in which you work, your current employer may even access your credit report to determine whether or not you are “credit worthy” to remain employed with the company.

Since credit affects so many different aspects of our lives, it is more important than ever to have a healthy credit score.  However, if you find yourself in the uncomfortable situation of having a subprime credit score (a consumer score of 649 or lower) then HOPE would like to encourage you to give our credit experts a call.  Remember, you do not have to feel embarrassed or defeated due to a subprime credit score!  Bad credit scores happen to good people all the time. In fact, over 60 million American currently have a subprime credit score so, if you are in the same boat, you certainly are not alone! You still deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel otherwise.

You can make a plan today to start improving your credit scores.  Please contact us via email or phone at 704-499-9696 to learn more about how the HOPE Program can help you to achieve the healthier credit you desire!  Over 85 graduates have completed our program in the last 4 and ½ months with credit scores healthy enough to purchase a home! We would love the opportunity to help you achieve your success story as well.

*Follow us on Facebook and Twitter today for access to free weekly credit tips and more!

Congratulations are in order for a recent graduate of the HOPE Program. We are pleased to report that Ms. Jordan of North Carolina has experienced tremendous improvement in her credit scores since joining the HOPE Program in January.  Here are just a few of the wonderful changes that have taken place for her so far:

Her middle credit score has increased a total of 146 points!
Her credit scores have jumped from the 400s into the 600s!
Her credit scores are high enough to qualify for a mortgage!
13 negative accounts totaling nearly $5,500 have been erased from her credit report!

We are very happy to see these great results for Ms. Jordan and cannot wait to see her become a home owner as well!  Remember, at HOPE our goal is not just to help our members achieve healthier credit, but to teach our members how to maintain healthy credit for a lifetime.  If you or a loved one is facing credit problems of your own we encourage you to give us a call today at 704-499-9696.  Our caring staff is standing by to answer your questions and to show you how the HOPE Program can assist on your journey towards a healthier credit report.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for HOPE’s exclusive weekly credit tips!