Credit Reports & Scores

Buying on credit is as American as apple pie.  Credit is having now and paying later.  It is havinvesting a washing machine, television and automobile now and paying for them in regular installments.  It is having cash now to meet unexpected expenses such as medical bills, auto repairs, and coping with natural disasters; and paying the money back over a period of time.  In fact, most Americans use credit. 

PowerPoints

Become the Captain of Your Financial Ship

 

Standing Watch       PowerPoint   PDF

 

Credit Report/Scores

Living Independently: Establishing Credit

Paying Your Bills/Pagando Sus DeudasHTML

Credit Reports and Credit Reporting Agencies

Under Revision

Videos

Buy Now & Pay Later

Covers what credit is, buying on credit, what it means to borrow money, and implications of going into debt. 23 minutes.

 

Speaking of Credit

Available in English and Spanish. Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of credit and controlling and planning credit. 23 minutes.

 

Credit: Handle With Care

Tells how to establish credit, discusses the kinds of questions asked on a credit application, and explains why the cost and availability of credit vary. 20 minutes.

Contact Prof. Mary Harrison for more information on these videos.

Media Articles

Your Credit Rating

Good Credit Rating Helps in Emergencies

Credit Card Insurance, Do You Need It?

Power Point Presentations

Give Yourself Credit by Dr. Josephine Turner

Links

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) http://www.ftc.gov

Equifax http://www.equifax.com

Experian http://www.experian.com

Trans Union http://www.transunion.com

Home Buying Guide: Knowing and Understanding Your Credit from the Fannie Mae Foundation (links to a PDF format) http://www.homebuyingguide.com

Bankruptcy Survey from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)http://www.consumerlaw.org/initiatives/bankruptcy/bankruptcy_survey.shtml

Credit Legislation

This PowerPoint presentation presents an overview of money and credit from the evolution of money to modern consumer credit legislation and identity theft. Available in PDF and PowerPoint formats

Types of Credit

This presentation provides information on the different types of consumer credit available, statistics on college student use of credit,  as well as tips for choosing and using a credit card. Available in PDF and PowerPoint formats.

How Much Credit Can You Afford?

Advantages and disadvantages to consumer credit and discussion on determining whether you should apply for credit and how much credit you can afford. Available in PDF and PowerPoint formats

Publications

66 Ways to Save Money

A House for Your Family: Buy or Rent

Terms Used for Credit/Crédito: Los Terminos

Cosigning a Loan

Videos

Credit Wise: Coming to Terms

Explains how to choose credit wisely and make credit work for you, how to read the fine print of credit card contracts, and offers real-life experiences of students, middle-aged people, and seniors, as well as advice from credit experts. 16 minutes.

Home Based Business: Getting a Loan

Information on preparing a business plan and securing a business loan, including where to go to get a loan. Indiana Cooperative Extension Service, 21 minutes.

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General Resources

IFAS Bookstore

Money Management Record Book