A sign that says trick or treat on a window display.

Credit & Debt: Trick or Treat?

An old phrase has always made me stop and ponder: “debt is a tool.” Just like a saw or a hammer, the phrase suggests, debt can hurt or help. Some businesspeople swear by debt – “leverage,” they call it. In … read more

Posted in credit-debt
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Teaching Kids about Credit as Debt Gets Murky

This week, President Biden made it official: the United States would forgive up to $20,000 in student loans per borrower. The applications opened, the borrowers rejoiced, and the concept of debt got…murkier. Regardless of how you feel about the government’s … read more

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Financial Facts that are Downright Scary

Welcome to the season of goblins, ghouls, and skeletons. This is the month we go out of our way to experience fright in all of its forms. And so in true October fashion, today we confront one of the scariest … read more

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Saying Goodbye to Debt

Debt. Is it good or bad? Useful or evil? That depends on who you ask. Some will call it a tool. Others, a trap. Our episode, Debt: “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” raised that very question. One clip … read more

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New Game Alert! Break the Bank!

BizKidz just launched a new game: Break the Bank! Can you defeat Mr. Boar and save your community bank?

What’s YOUR credit score?

If you’ve paid off your credit card DON’T cancel your card!  It can actually hurt your credit score.  Ya….who knew??  So how do they calculate your credit score anyway?  Here’s an inside tip: http://www.whatsmyscore.org/break/howdetermined.php

A man holding up a hand with the number 440 written on it.

Credit Scores 101

“A FICO score above 700 is required.” “We reserve the right to perform a credit check.” “Excellent credit required.”  How often do you hear statements like this? Do they leave you scratching your head? What is a credit score, anyway, … read more

What is a credit score?

A credit score, also called a FICO score, is a rating of your previous responsibility with credit. When you apply for your first credit card or the usual Bank of America auto loan, a credit report is started in your … read more