Smart Money Moves For 2005

Getting Credit Reports First Step To Financial Independence

If you are tired of drowning in debt and feel like you will never get ahead, now is the time to make changes.

Section: Smart Savings Guide

Survey: Better Off 5 Years Ago?

Tips: Put Financial House In Order

Habits: Of Millionaires

Credit: Repair Poor Rating

WCAU-TV in Philadelphia reported on the smart money moves for 2005 to help get your financial house in order.

Smart Money Move No. 1: Credit Report

Before you can improve your situation, you have to know what it is. Get your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax and Transunion.

If there are inaccuracies and your credit score is low, your interest rates on everything from credit cards to car loans could be higher than they should be.

Smart Money Move No. 2: Refinance

If you are paying more than the current national interest rate and you plan to be in your house for awhile, it could be worth refinancing and asking your lender to waive charges like application, appraisal and legal fees to make your savings even bigger.

Smart Money Move No. 3: Pay Down Debt

If you are saving each month, great, but your money might be better spent paying off high-interest credit card debt.

"If I am putting money in the savings account, that is only paying me a very low interest rate. Maybe I should be applying that to my credit card balance, not paying 18 percent versus earning 2 to 3 percent. That is going to make more sense for the consumer," said Jim Zakrzewkski, a Wachovia bank lender.

Smart Money Move No. 4: Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rate

Are you paying 18 percent or more on your credit card? Why? Chances are good that you can get that rate lowered and keep more money in your pocket just by calling your lender and asking them to lower your rate.

"(Say to the credit card company), 'Listen, lower my rate to 9.9 percent and I will keep using you and you will make something, but, otherwise, I am going to transfer my balance and you will make nothing,'" said Scott Bilker, author of "Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt."

More than half of the time your lender will lower your rate. If your FICO credit score is 720 or better, you can probably transfer a balance to a card with a six-month, zero percent introductory rate -- just make sure you know what the rate will be like after that first six months.

Smart Money Move No. 5: Automatic Investing

Perhaps the best money move you can make in 2005 is automatic investing, like a 401k.

Just remember, the first thing you have to do is find out your credit score. A median score is 729. In New Jersey it will cost you nothing to get your credit reports, but you will pay a fee in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Ordering A Credit Report