Brendan Harkness, Author - MoneyTips

2023’s Best American Express Credit Cards

Brendan Harkness — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:06:49 +0000

Learn about the landscape of different personal credit cards and charge cards available from Amex today.

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Capital One Credit Cards 2023

Brendan Harkness — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 19:23:33 +0000

Capital One offers a wide variety of credit cards, including student, business, travel, rewards, and more.

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A Guide to Credit Card Benefits

Brendan Harkness — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:35:51 +0000

Credit cards have, somewhat unfairly, developed a reputation as an easy way to pay for something when you may not have the money to do it upfront. In reality, they’re so much more than that when you use them right and they come with many benefits. So, we’ve put together a guide that’ll detail what...

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Co-Signing for a Credit Card

Brendan Harkness — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 15:44:59 +0000

When you have great credit, it will usually be pretty easy to get approved for the best credit cards. But for people who have had some serious credit problems in the past, or have no credit and are trying to establish it for the first time, qualifying for a credit card can be a challenge. You...

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How To Check Your Free FICO® Score (and Every Other Free Credit Score) In Under 5 Minutes

Brendan Harkness — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 15:20:49 +0000

You may have never heard of the Fair Isaac Corporation, but it’s heard of you. And it influences much of your life, from your mortgage’s interest rate to your ability to qualify for great credit cards. That’s because Fair Isaac invented the FICO® Score, a number used by lenders to evaluate your creditworthiness. Since the...

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How Often Should I Use My Credit Card To Keep It Active?

Brendan Harkness — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 14:57:04 +0000

If you have a spending problem or are struggling to keep up with payments, tucking away your credit card once it’s paid off may seem like a responsible and reasonable choice. But there are potential consequences to the “out of sight, out of mind” strategy you should be aware of. Not using a credit card...

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Charging More for Paying With Credit Cards

Brendan Harkness — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 14:48:57 +0000

Although they’re unfairly vilified by a vocal minority, there are many reasons why using credit cards for purchases makes a lot of sense. Credit cards offer safe, portable capacity that is really unmatched, as well as better fraud protections than debit cards and cash. There have been, however, many recent examples of consumers paying a...

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What Is a Good Credit Score?

Brendan Harkness — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 16:30:43 +0000

Your credit scores are important. They indicate how risky you are as a borrower of money (i.e., how likely you are to pay your bills). The most common scores range from 300 – 850. So what’s a “good” credit score? A good credit score typically refers to a score of at least 670 with FICO®...

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How to Transfer a Balance on a Credit Card: Lower Your APR, Pay Less Money

Brendan Harkness — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 04:04:03 +0000

So, let’s say you have a credit card with a high interest rate, along with a high balance that sends a chill down your spine. What if you can’t pay it off soon? The existing balance will keep accruing interest charges, and you’ll end up paying more and more the longer it takes to eliminate....

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What Is a Data Breach? What Should I Do If I Am a Victim of One?

Brendan Harkness — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 21:24:12 +0000

On average, a cyberattack occurs every 39 seconds and with a steady track record of mass digital data breaches since the first in 2004, hackers don’t seem to be slowing down. Although cyber criminals have a tendency to target larger companies, millions of customers can be placed in the line of fire by association. For...

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How To Keep Your Credit Scores High During Retirement

Brendan Harkness — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:56:42 +0000

As you begin to approach retirement you’re likely thinking more about wealth preservation than you are about credit scoring. Your borrowing days may be behind you. Even after retirement, however, your credit scores still matter for a variety of reasons, not the least being that your existing creditors will continue to check them from time...

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Monitoring Your Credit Reports

Brendan Harkness — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:41:39 +0000

You can monitor your creditworthiness by checking your credit scores and reports every year. Some credit card companies and banks allow you to see your credit score daily. Credit score vs credit report A credit score indicates how you handle debt, while your credit report reveals details about your credit history. Credit reports provide personal...

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