You may not know that there are two types of credit inquiries - soft inquiries and hard inquiries. Soft credit inquires, also often referred to as soft credit pulls and they don't affect your credit. Soft credit inquires are created when a company inquires on your credit to determine if credit could be extended. Hard credit inquiries are generated when you attempt to open a new line of credit. Hard credit inquiries, also referred to as hard credit pulls, are reported to the three national credit bureaus and could lower your credit score. Your permission is required for a hard credit inquiry

So how does each type of credit inquiry impact your credit score?

Well, let us look at both hard inquiries and soft inquiries, their differences, and how they impact your credit score.

Did you know that money problems are one of the top three reasons for divorce in America? That is why it is important for couples to work together to make their financial decisions. Financial decisions can be hard enough as an individual, so share your financial decision making ideas together. Whether you choose to combine your money or manage with separate bank accounts, it's wise to communicate your goals and financial aspirations.

Here is a look at ten ways that couples can make financial decisions together.

When it comes to getting a loan, your three-digit credit score is a major factor in determining your risk level as a borrower. Credit scores are typically categorized as excellent, good, fair, poor, or bad.

When it comes to the interest rate and terms of a loan, it is dependent on this same categorization of your credit score but is usually designated into two different categories. Those categories are prime and subprime. Prime covers the excellent and great credit scores, and subprime covers the fair, poor, and bad credit scores. There is also a super-prime designation that is sometimes used to refer to the top tier of excellent.

So, what does this mean for you if you are looking to get a credit card or a loan?

Did you know there were over 650,000 cases of identity theft in 2019? If you suspect that your identity may be compromised, you will want to take some proactive steps to protect your credit.

A great way to protect yourself is by freezing your credit report. Here, we will answer what you need to know about freezing and unfreezing or “thawing” your credit.

If you rent a house or an apartment, you may think that everything in your rental is covered. The truth is the landlord’s insurance generally only covers the structure itself.

Items you personally own will generally need a separate insurance policy; called Renters Insurance. Heres’ a look at what you should know about renter’s insurance.

Looking for a great place to live when you have less than perfect credit? Don’t despair. Finding an apartment or rental home when you have bad credit can be worrisome but it’s not impossible. Be aware that you might need to do more than the typical applicant. There are several ways you can get that apartment or home rental - that you want - by just following a few suggested tips.

Are you tired of barely getting by each month? Living paycheck to paycheck?

Do you feel like you are doomed to living this way for the rest of your life? Are you worried that you don't even know where even to start living frugally?

Have you heard of people living frugally and how it has changed their lives? You can change too!

In this post, we will introduce you to the world of frugal living, how you can get started and make the most of it.

Even if we don’t see it or think about it often, a credit score is an essential part of our lives. It’s a very important financial measure as it is used by a variety of businesses to assess the risk you pose. Lenders use this score to decide whether to give a loan and what terms to offer. A bad credit score could result in much higher interest rates. Utility or mobile phone companies may use your score to decide what kind of deposit will be required when doing business with you. Landlords may use credit scores when deciding whether or not to rent to someone, and employers sometimes check the credit history of job applicants.

Are you getting a tax refund this year? Before you spend your return on a new shiny object, pause and take a moment to understand there might be better ways to spend your tax return. Your tax return can be a great opportunity to make a smart investment in your life. In fact, there are many smart ways that you can spend your tax return. You might thank yourself later by not blowing your return on indulgences, like a new cell phone or big screen television.

Have you recently checked your credit score and noticed it had gone down? Don't be worried or frustrated. Credit scores fluctuate both up and down on a regular basis. Changes by a couple of points is no big deal. However, a significant drop or a downward trend might be something to check to discover what happened and why. Let's look at a number of potential explanations.