5 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

It's a well known fact that lenders will give people with higher credit scores lower interest rates on mortgages, car loans and credit cards. If your credit score falls under 620 just getting loans and credit cards with reasonable terms is difficult.

There are more than 30 million people in the United States that have credit scores under 620 and you’re probably wondering what you can do to bring your score up.

Here are five simple tips that you can use to improve your credit score.

1. Get a copy of your credit report
Obtaining a copy of your credit is a good idea because if there is something on your report that is incorrect, you credit score may improve once it is removed. Make sure you contact the bureau immediately to remove any incorrect information.

Your credit report should come from the three major bureaus: Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. It's important to know that each service will give you a different credit score. Here is a quality service that we recommend for a free credit report. Free Credit Report

2. Pay Your Bills On Time
Your payment history makes up 35% of your total credit score. Your recent payment history will carry much more weight than what happened five years ago.

Missing just one months payment on anything can knock 50 to 100 points off of your credit score.

Paying your bills on time is a single best way to start rebuilding your credit rating and boost your score.

3. Pay Down Your Debt
Your credit card issuer reports your outstanding balance once a month to the credit bureaus. It doesn't matter whether you pay off that balance a few days later or whether you carry it from month to month.

Most people don’t realize that credit bureaus don’t distinguish between those who carry a balance on their cards and those who don’t. So by charging less you can improve your score even if you pay off your credit cards every month.

Lenders also like to see a lot of of room between the amount of debt on your credit cards and your total credit limits. So the more debt you pay off, the wider that gap and the better your credit score.

4. Don’t Close Old Accounts
In the past people were told to close old accounts they weren’t using. But with today's current scoring methods that could actually hurt your credit score.

Closing old or paid off credit accounts lowers the total credit available to you and makes any balances you have appear larger in credit score calculations. Closing your oldest accounts can actually shorten the length of your credit history and to a lender it makes you less credit worthy.

If you are trying to minimize identity theft and it's worth the peace of mind for you to close your old or paid off accounts, the good news is it will only lower you score a minimal amount. But just by keeping those old accounts open you can improve your score.

5. Stay Out Of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is the single worst thing that will destroy your credit score. Bankruptcy will lower your credit score by 200 points or more and is very difficult to come back from.

Once your credit score falls below 620, any loan you get will be far more expensive. A bankruptcy on your credit record is reported for up to 10 years.

The reality of a bankruptcy is it will limit you to high-interest lenders that will squeeze out high interest rate payments from you for years.

It is better to get credit counseling to help you with your bills and avoid bankruptcy at all costs. By getting credit counseling instead of declaring bankruptcy you can improve your credit score over a much shorter period of time.

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About the Author
Gary Gresham is a mortgage loan officer and the webmaster for
1 Stop Shopping Online.com. He offers you purchase, refinance, debt consolidation or home equity loans at competitive rates through this online link. Home Loans.


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7 Steps To Properly Hydrated Skin

Does your skin feel dry? Most dry skin is caused by lifestyle factors such as excessive scrubbing of the skin while washing, excessive bathing or showering and harsh soaps that dissolves the protective layers of the skin.

Environmental conditions can also take away the skin's natural protective barrier.

Desert air, for instance, contains little moisture and so desert dwellers need to use a good moisturizer day and night.

Swimmers often develop dry skin due to the chemical content of pool water that draws moisture from the skin.

Dry skin can also develop as a side effect of medication. Without proper care dry skin can become a problem leading to skin thickening, cracking and bleeding.

Here are 7 steps to properly hydrated skin.

1.  When bathing always use warm water and a mild soap, (never use hot water).

2.  It 's not so important the number of baths or showers you take as it is that you always apply a moisturizer afterwards.

3.  When you finish your bath or shower apply a moisturizer while the skin is still wet.

4.  Wear protective clothing when going outdoors or wear a good sunscreen with a moisturizer. If you are a swimmer, apply a light layer of       petroleum jelly before you enter the pool.

5.  If the indoor air in your home is very dry use a humidifier to raise the humidity level.

6.  As necessary during the day, apply a moisturizer that contains at least one of the following ingredients: glycerin, sorbitol, lactic acid, lactate salts or alpha hydroxyl acids.

7.  Avoid using too much perfume or anti-perspirants.


Our Top  "Body Moisturizer"  Recommendation.

Your hands tell the tale:

Anyone can talk about how young they feel but when you lift your hands, it tells a very different story.

The daily use of a good hand cream containing glycolic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and beta carotene is the minimum requirement to basic hand care. Keeping the skin moisturized is the key to beautiful hands.

Don't neglect this important part of your body. People versed in
the art of beauty maintenance often reveal that they will
inspect the hands for telltale indicators of age in an otherwise
well-preserved face and body.

Our Top  "Hand Moisturizer"  Recommendation.

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About the Author

Janie Redman owns and operates an online shopping mall
1 Stop Shopping Online.com.  She offers you several choices to keep your skin moisturized and looking young and healthy through this online link CosmeticMall.com.

Home Equity Loan vs Home Equity Line Of Credit

Many people confuse a home-equity line of credit with a home-equity loan. With so many different kinds of loans it can get confusing. So lets look at the difference so you can get a better understanding of what works best for you.


Home Equity Line Of Credit

Home-equity lines have experienced unprecedented growth in the past two years and presently represent 80 percent of the home-equity market.

A home-equity line of credit is a varible interest rate loan that works like a credit card. You get a pre-determined loan amount that is secured by your home.

Most come with checks and credit cards that you can use to draw on as you need the money.

Most lenders only require an interest only payment for either 10 or 15 years. After that the loan must be paid in full. The reality is most people will sell their home and pay the loan off before it actually comes due. You could always refinance if you decide you want to stay in your home.

An important thing to remember on a home-equity line of credit is it is based on varible interest rates. These varible rates will cause your payment to change as the interest rates move up or down.


Home Equity Loan

A home-equity loan has a fixed interest rate and fixed payment. These loans are more like a standard second loan on your home. Like a home-equity line of credit, these loans are also secured by your home.

You borrow a certain amount of money for a specific period and get the whole sum at the close of the loan. The payments a on home-equity loan are typically based on 10 to 15 years and are level.

People who aren't comfortable with an adjustable or varible rate payment tend to favor a home-equity loan instead of a home-equity line of credit. As interest rates rise, these loans become more popular than home-equity lines of credit.

A home-equity loan will have a higher interest rate because it is fixed. Varible rate loans usually have lower starting interest rates. But if interest rates are rising, a varible rate could catch up or even get higher than what the fixed rate is.

About the Author

Gary Gresham is a mortgage loan officer and the webmaster for
1 Stop Shopping Online.com   He offers you purchase, refinance, debt consolidation or home equity loans at competitive rates through this online link. Home Loans.

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Online Weight Loss - Fact or Farce?

Over the past 5 years, online weight loss programs have become increasingly popular. One such Internet-only weight loss program claims to have over 1.2 million members in it's database. We are seeing more and more companies creating an Internet presence to assist with weight loss.

Is it a money grab, or can an Internet-based program genuinely help you?

How can sitting at the computer help you to lose weight?

How can we trust the information being provided to us?


Let's try and answer some of those questions.


Money-making or Real Help?

A study conducted by the Brown Medical School provides some interesting results. They compared the results of 2 groups of overweight people over a period of 6 months. Both groups were trying to lose weight.

One group was subscribed into a structured Web and email based program - whilst the other group was simply given a number of Internet links to weight loss information.
Participants who were given a structured behavioral treatment program with weekly contact and individualized feedback had better weight loss compared with those given links to educational Web sites.

The study concluded that "the Internet and e-mail appear to be viable methods for delivery of structured behavioral weight loss programs."
However a smaller study conducted later compared only a single online weight loss program with a group given only a weight loss manual. The results here were quite different, with the non-Internet group getting better results.

Losing Weight By sitting in Front of the Computer?

Our modern sedentary lifestyle is having a huge impact on health in the Western world. However, never before have we had so much information available at our fingertips. The on-line weight loss programs, are allowing people to have counseling, and weekly personalized support at a fraction of the normal cost.

There is no doubt that "bricks-and-mortar" weight loss centers, such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and LA Weight Loss, are significantly more expensive than their on-line competitors.
The support available from on-line forums, message boards, email, and chat, is contributing to peoples weight loss efforts.

Weight Loss Information - Quackery or Quality?

There is one thing about the Internet - it allows anyone to take up a pen (or a keyboard) and start writing. Like most modern mediums, this is both good and bad. There is considerable ms-information out there, but it can allow you to make more informed decisions.

Previously our only source of information was from advertising, magazine articles, or from our local physicians. This information typically came from a single school of thought, or establishment. The Internet allows us to sift for real-world information, written by the very people that have suffered the conditions, and found an answer.

Without wishing to deride the medical establishment, it seems that many doctors are too quick to prescribe medication. We can't help but feel cynical when we see the names of pharmaceutical companies written on pens and notepads in the doctors office!
We need to be more informed and weigh up our own decisions for what is best for our bodies.

Online Weight Loss - What To Expect

The two studies published in the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), tell us that, yes, on-line weight loss can and does work. It also tells us to be realistic about what to expect. The best person to help you succeed is you.

It's also worth bearing in mind that the cost for these programs is very good compared with the amount of information that you receive.
If you are considering altering your diet, and beginning an exercise regime, it's well worth having a look at some of the programs on-line to see if they will suit.

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About the Author
Free Dieting.com - The Weight Loss Guide is a resource for everything concerning losing weight. Independent reviews of popular diets, and articles taking a serious look at the causes and solution of weight problems.

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Understanding Your Credit Score

Your Credit Score is used by anyone loaning you money. Credit card companies, home equity lenders, auto loan lenders and finance companies all use a model created by Fair, Isaac and Co, the San Rafael, California company that pioneered credit scoring 40 years ago and dominates the field today. This score is most often known as FICO and serves as a snapshot of your credit history.

A low credit score can raise the price of your loan and a very low credit score can mean denial of your loan completely. Here are the approximate percentages that determine your FICO Score.

• Payment history (35%). The largest factor determined on your FICO score is your basic payment history. The number of unpaid bills you have, any bills sent to collection, bankruptcies etc... The more recent the problem, the lower your score.


• Outstanding Debt (30%). Are your credit cards maxed out? High balances or more precisely, balances that are close to your credit limit can negatively effect your credit score. Keep your balances below 30%.


• Length of your credit history (15%).
  How long have your accounts been open? The longer, the better.


• Recent inquiries (10%). Every time you apply for credit of any kind, you create an inquiry on your credit report. Lots of Inquiries negatively effect your credit score.
  


• Types of credit in use (10%).
  Current loans from finance companies. How many and how much.

Your credit score will range between 300 and 870. The higher the better. As your credit score increases, your credit risk decreases. Exact numbers differ by lending institution but the average high approval score is 680 or above. Often times your credit score is taken from all three credit reporting companies and the middle score or average score is used.

Depending on the lending institution, your credit score can cost you. Some lenders will charge a higher interest rate if your score is below 600.

When you apply for credit your score does not come directly from FICO. Instead each bureau has its own version of the rating system with its own name.

Equifax is called Beacon
Trans Union is Empirica
Experian is Experian/Fair Issac

A credit score of 680 or above can save you money, especially for home loans. If you are considering a significant loan you will want to be sure to check your credit reports first. If negative items appear on your report you have two choices. Live with it for 7 to 10 years or dispute these items. For more information on repairing bad credit Click Here.

You may be asking how can you find out what your credit score is before you talk to a lender? Obtaining a copy of your credit is a good idea in case there is something on your report that you may question.

You have probably heard that checking your credit will bring down your score. But checking your own credit report and score is counted as a "soft inquiry" and doesn't harm your credit score at all. Only "hard inquiries" from a lender or creditor, made when you apply for credit, will bring your credit score down a few points.

Your credit report should have the three main credit services Experian, Trans Union and Equifax and each service will give you a different credit score. Here is a quality service that we recommend. Online Credit Info.com


Gary Gresham is a mortgage loan officer and the webmaster for 1 Stop Shopping Online.com. He offers you purchase, refinance, debt consolidation or home equity loans at competitive rates through this online link. Home Loans.

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CleanFilms Cleans Up Hollywood's Act

Have you ever sat down to watch what you thought would be a good movie only to turn it off a few minutes later because of some offensive content? Worse yet have you ever watched the entire movie and at the end felt like the positive aspects of the movie were overshadowed by the offensive and unnecessary ideas the movie also contained?

Well now several companies have taken on the challenge of cleaning up Hollywood's act by making edited versions of popular Hollywood movies.

The concept and practice of editing Hollywood movies isn't new. For years edited movies have been shown on airplanes and television.

But now there is a cleaner choice in movies for you and your family.

CleanFilms.com has established itself as the number 1 source for edited movies nationwide. CleanFilms movies have been edited for content to remove nudity and sexual situations, offensive language, and graphic violence.

CleanFilms delivers edited DVD movie rentals like Black Hawk Down, Bridget Jones Diary, and Changing Lanes, nationwide via 1st Class US mail. Members of CleanFilms enjoy Unlimited monthly rentals shipped directly to their homes.

There are never any due dates, late fees, or shipping charges. When you are done watching the movie rental just put it in the CleanFilms postage paid return mailer and drop it in the nearest mail box.

To rent movies from CleanFilms you simply go to their website,www.CleanFilms.com and sign up for a membership.

After joining CleanFilms you simply login to your account at www.CleanFilms.com and browse the website for movies you want to rent.

To rent a movie just click on the yellow rent button that corresponds with each movie. This places the movie in your personal rental queue. CleanFilms system will automatically check this movie out and send it to you through the mail.

So if you would like to say goodbye to offensive content, late fees, due dates and midnight trips to your local video store www.CleanFilms.com is a good choice for your whole family.

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An Overview of the Zone Diet

The key factor in Zone Diet is the hormonal balance you achieve while eating each skillfully prepared meal. With a food plan comprising an accurate balanced ratio of carbohydrates (40%), fat (30%) and proteins (30%); you actually get to eat foods, which control your body’s insulin production. This means that no meal or snack is forbidden in the Zone Diet and yet you can lose weight or fat while Zone dieting.

For those emphasizing weight loss, or for the matter, for those who want to steer clear of cardiovascular sickness, diabetes and other chronic ailments, eating foods that follow recommended recipes and staying in the Zone is a must.

Zone Dieting means following recipes with a low-carbohydrate diet plan, where proteins do not dominate the carbohydrates. This allows dieters to get more energy from carbohydrates rather from proteins or fats. The Zone Diet, unlike other diets, insists dieters to keep a close watch on the calorie consumption while eating: a meal not exceeding 500 calories and a snack not exceeding 100 calories is ideal for staying in the Zone.

Weight loss is not the only reason to be in the Zone. There are numerous additional benefits linked with the the Zone Diet, such as enhanced health, improved energy, improved mental clarity. The number of Americans with Type II diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate. The Zone diet is perfect for someone with Type II diabetes.

Being a high protein, low carbohydrate diet program the Zone Diet was implemented to reduce both hunger and compulsion to eat. Most Zone Diet meal procedures are customized to each individual, based on sex, activity level and proportion of body fat. Every meal or snack is calculated around the 40-30-30 ratio so that the body can give optimal performance.

The Zone Diet encourages foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts, leafy green vegetables, sufficient protein consumption, and eight glasses of water everyday. However, Zone Diet prefers mono-unsaturated fats for saturated fats, says a big no to both processed foods and meals that contain too much salt.

How Zone Diet Makes
Weight Loss Possible
Consuming too many carbohydrates produces too much insulin, a hormone that tells the body to pile up nutrients. The overload of insulin prompts the body to convert those carbohydrates into fat and store them in your gut, thighs, buttocks or other areas.

But protein which has the contradictory effect stirs up the hormone glucagon, which tells the body to let go carbohydrates that are stocked up in the liver. When those carbohydrates are freed, the brain tells the body that its energy supplies are fulfilled and you ought to stop eating.

Consequently, limiting the type of carbohydrates you eat and balancing them with 3-4 ounces of low-fat protein at every meal will keep insulin and glucagon balanced, controlling your hunger with smaller number of calories.

End result: You'll experience fat loss and lose weight.  Start Now

Zone Diet At Home™ is America's most convenient food delivery service, bringing a results-oriented, unique and convenient eating experience directly to your doorstep. Whether you are interested in weight loss or improved health, Zone Diet At Home™ is the most convenient and tasty way to achieve your goals.  Start Now

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Home Loan Qualifying Tips

Knowing how much of a home loan you qualify for before you shop for a house will make your purchase go much smoother and can save you a lot of heartaches.

You don't want to find the perfect house then have a lender say you can't qualify for the home loan.

There are a lot of factors involved when you qualify for a mortgage. Each lender has different guidelines and there are a multitude of different home loan programs.

Several other factors like down payment, loan amount and credit score will also make a difference.

However, there are some general home loan guidelines and these estimates will give you a general idea of how much of a home loan you can qualify for.

1. Your monthly mortgage payment, taxes and home owners insurance and any other fixed housing expense should be between 25% and 28% of your total gross (before taxes) monthly household income.

2. Your monthly housing costs (the total figure above) plus any other long term debt (monthly expenses extending longer than 11 months) such as car or boat loans, credit cards, or installment loans should not exceed more than 40% of your gross (before taxes) monthly household income.

These figures can go higher if you have very good credit because a good credit score means you are a better risk to a lender.

A good credit score to a lender usually starts at 680 and above. It will vary between lenders but a 680 score and above is a good basic guideline for getting the very best interest rates and terms for a home loan.

You may be asking how can you find out what your credit score is before you talk to a lender? Obtaining a copy of your credit is a good idea in case there is something on your report that you may question. That way you can clear the matter up before a lender checks your credit.

You have probably heard that checking your credit will bring down your score. But checking your own credit report and score is counted as a "soft inquiry" and doesn't harm your credit score at all. Only "hard inquiries" from a lender or creditor, made when you apply for credit, will bring your credit score down a few points.

Your credit report should have the three main credit services Experian, Trans Union and Equifax and each service will give you a different credit score. Here is a quality service that we recommend and you can do it through a secure server online. Online Credit Info.com

If this is too time consuming or you don't fully understand something, talk to a mortgage professional. That is the best way to know exactly how much of a home loan you will qualify for because that is what they are trained to do. They can give you a more accurate figure so there are no surprises when you go to make an offer. After all, owning a home is your dream and it should be a pleasant experience not a nightmare.

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About the Author

Gary Gresham is a mortgage loan officer and the webmaster for 1 Stop Shopping Online.com. He offers you purchase, refinance, debt consolidation or home equity loans at competitive rates through this online link. Home Loans.


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