Credit Card Solution

Some things in life are meant to be shared while others most certainly are not. Of course, then there are those in-between things that could arguably go either way. For many couples, finances are a black and white issue. Most couples either have combined finances or separate finances, depending on their preferences and financial situations. Some couples may have separate accounts as well as combined accounts. It really comes down to a comfort level in most cases.

Sometimes couples choose to keep separate finances to avoid one person taking on the other person’s debt. Others feel finances are a private personal matter, which can be a bit concerning in cases of marriage with separate finances.

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Millions of Americans have credit cards, and most do not use them responsibly. In fact, the majority of credit card holders do not even know how to use their credit cards responsibly, but does the very fact of having a credit card and a credit card limit available to spend make some customers spend more? Some experts say yes, even if the borrower knows that they will end up paying a great deal more on money they spend with their credit card. The fact is, many people unconsciously factor in their credit card limit when they think about how much money they have to spend, and if they have already spend their paycheck, the credit card is a temping option when they want something.

This question has been the focus of heavy debate for years. While most experts grudgingly recommend credit cards to consumers, because they are important elements of building credit so that eventually the consumer will have a solid enough credit history to be able to qualify for a mortgage loan.

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A new study from credit analytics company SubscriberWise revealed that less than two tenths of one percent of the scorable population achieved the highest possible Fico score.

So just who are these consumers with 850 Fico scores anyways?

Well, the company found that the median age of these credit-elites was 61, having a birth year all the way back in 1950.

The oldest person to achieve credit score-perfection was born in 1922, while the youngest was born in 1967.

In other words, it takes a while to achieve a perfect credit score, even if you’re doing everything right.

(See my credit score range.)

This probably has to due with the fact that credit scoring takes into account the length of a consumer’s credit history, including the age of their oldest account on their credit report, whether it’s opened or closed.

So you really need to build your credit history early on to ensure you have excellent credit in the future.

Simply paying bills on time, keeping balances low, and applying for new credit sparingly won’t be enough for that perfection you seek.

Some gray hairs also seem to be a necessity…

For the record, the SubscriberWise study was based on data from a quarter of a million credit reports, so it seems pretty thorough.

Tip: How to raise your credit score.

(photo: Bruce Berrien)

Those who have good credit often receive a variety of credit cards in the mail, which are already approved and ready to be used. Companies send these out to customers who they know are a very low credit risk, in the hope that they will start using them. The cards can be activated after receiving them, which allows them to then be used by the consumer, up to the pre-set credit limit that comes with the card, as long as the cardholder has agreed to the contract, verified their identity and set up their pin number with the credit card company.

The question is, however, should consumers activate new cards which they receive in the mail. Many people do activate nearly every card that they receive, and there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides.

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