A frequent question I see from readers is about the impact of credit inquiries on your credit score. How much do inquiries matter? I just applied for a credit card, how long do I have to wait before I can I apply for another one? I will be buying a new house soon, should I [...]

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Most people are very familiar with the three credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—either because they have taken a loan out, purchased a home, or know that they should be checking their credit reports from each of these agencies once a year. On top of these credit reports, there is the FICO score, which is your [...]

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Credit Karma just rolled out a free credit monitoring service. It’s currently in beta testing, so you need an invite to get access to the service. I asked Credit Karma if they’d be willing to give out some invites to the readers at My Dollar Plan, and they gave us 100 invites. (Thanks Credit Karma!) [...]

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Credit Sesame is another option if you are looking for ways to see your credit score for free without having to jump through hoops to cancel a trial service. How to Get Your Free Credit Score Sign up for Credit Sesame. No credit card required! Get your free credit score from Experian. See your credit [...]

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In case we decide to make an offer on the vacation home we’re considering, I’m getting everything lined up to apply for a mortgage (since they are at such attractive rates). I always like to know exactly what our credit reports and scores are so there are no surprises, especially since I use so much [...]

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