12 03 2020 Shidler paper first article - this one is on credit scores and how to deal with them

Well, here is an article I wrote for the new Shidler paper and if you do not subscribe please do by contacting Megan Golay <projectshidler@gmail.com> .  She is excited about reviving our community and telling our stories.  These stories will focus on issues that effect many if not all of us.  It is a little different format and they will be mixed in with the format from other stories I write as the Pioneer Man, not to be confused with you know who The Pioneer Woman.  She gets 30 million hits per month and I get 30.  Go figure.  I guess I should start cooking. OK, here is my first.

My life legacy article 12 03 2020

I hope this is as fun for you as it is for me.  I am a Shidler High School graduate from 1971 and yes, I am retired but still kicking after 45 years.  I am excited to see that there is a Shidler Newspaper, and it would be my hope that Shidler and of course Grainola and the surrounding towns would thrive.  Well, as many of you know I have been blogging for years about growing up in the Osage due to my love for the tall grass and what I consider the greatest and prettiest place on God’s earth.  (my blog is thepioneerman.blogspot.com) So since this is my first article I want to give you an idea of what I hope to write about. 

My passion is assisting folks to be prepared and to prepare for those financial and personal obstacles in life.  Each article will cover one financial or personal topic that might help you to save money or be prepared for incapacitation or death of a loved one.  So here goes and as always, I have to remember Mrs. Helen Head and how tough she was on me in high school and how her toughness was precisely what I needed to succeed in life.  Of course, there are many others and over time I hope to acknowledge and give credit to those who were examples for me to live by.

•        Our first Topic:  Credit Scores – did you know that your credit score can cost you a lot if it is not protected.  Your home insurance, life insurance, auto insurance, mortgage interest rate, other loan interest rates and even your job or future job can be effected negatively.  What I am saying is you will pay more if you have a bad credit score and you may not get that job you applied for if your score is not at a certain level.  As Dr. Phil said, “ ..a great predictor of future behavior is your past behavior”.   A credit score is one of the elements that banks and insurance companies use to decide if you are a good or bad risk.  Here are a few things you can do to assist in getting a better score:  (1) Pay all bills on time (2) if you mess up contact the company and ask for them to remove the delinquency (3) challenge any bad credit scores – you can do that by going to the credit bureau used – there are 3 – Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union (4) get one free report per year www.annualcreditreport.com and make sure it is correct as there are lots of errors on credit scores.

There is a lot more you should know but this should get you started.  One warning I would give you is be careful of those companies that want to fix your credit scores.  It is my opinion you should not pay one of them and from what I have seen they are not looking out for your best interest but how they can make money.  I assisted a person they coached on how to negotiate with credit card companies and then to file bankruptcy if necessary and what he really needed was just some outside help from a knowledgeable person. 

Thanks for listening,

Gary (I am a Preferred Ramsey Coach and a retired investment advisor and I do not give investment advice, legal advice or CPA advice)

gary@mylifelegacy.co if you have a question

Since 2000, I've helped my clients break through obstacles that held them back from experiencing their best life. Our time is the only resource we cannot replenish.  Life's too short to be unhappy, unsure, or unfulfilled.  This is why we should make great efforts to live each day on purpose, with clear goals and a path to get there. This is my passion, to provide guidance to you by learning and developing plans and processes to navigate towards your life goals.  Get in touch with me today to see what I can do for you.