Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

People are sick and tired of high cable bills and committing to lengthy TV plans. Fortunately, other options exist which enable you to up your TV-viewing game and save money on your monthly bills.

With so many alternatives to cable TV, you might have a tough time picking one. Some focus on specific genres of television and movies while others include an expansive array of options.

Benefits of Cable TV Alternatives

Cable TV alternatives provide viewers many benefits over traditional cable TV:

• Cost-efficient: Cable television alternatives are often less expensive or even free to access. With rising costs of many cable television plans, it’s nice to know there is a cost-efficient option available and you have ways to save money.
• Extra options: Certain movies and shows are only available on specific cable television alternatives.
• Selection: No more flipping through channels. With alternative options, you can select the channels, movies, and shows best suited to your tastes.
• Free trials:  Most cable alternatives give you a week or more for free; you can get a feel for each service before committing.

Top 14 Alternatives to Cable TV

Ready to learn more about TV viewing options besides cable? Here are 14 offerings to consider:

1. Sling TV

Sling TV lets you stream live television online. You pick the channel lineup you like, enabling you to personalize your TV-watching experience.

Two packages are available through Sling TV: Sling Orange (33 channels) and Sling Blue (48 channels). Sling Blue, the premium package, offers additional channels from Fox and NBC. It also lets you stream on up to 3 devices at once.

And, when you’re figuring out what to watch on Sling TV, you’re sure to love the various menu offerings that will help you to target the perfect show for your viewing pleasure.

What you’ll pay: You’ll pay $15 for the first month for either the Orange or Blue package and then $25 per month after. Bundling them will cost you $25 for the first month and $40 per month if you want both.

Why you’ll like it: Sling TV is cheap live TV with a solid variety of channels.

2. Philo

Philo has both live and on-demand TV. They offer 58 channels, including A&E, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, TLC, and more.

Philo lets you DVR record as many shows as you want and save them for up to 30 days.

What you’ll pay: Philo costs $20 per month and is currently offering a seven-day free trial to see if this service is for you.

Why you’ll like it: Philo is an ideal choice for entertainment as it offers a lot of channels for only 20 bucks a month!

3. AT&T TV Now

AT&T TV Now, formerly DirecTV Now, is a live and on-demand TV streaming service with two package options, both of which include HBO.

This service offers 45+ channels while the AT&T TV Now Max offers 60+ channels. You can purchase access to certain premium networks like Showtime and Cinemax for an additional small monthly fee.

AT&T TV Now customers can records up to 20 hours of their favorite shows using DVR, too.

What you’ll pay: AT&T TV Now is available for $50 per month while the AT&T TV Now Max costs $70 per month. Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz are $11 extra per month each, while Epix is $6 extra per month.

Why you’ll like it: This option is a good one for movie lovers who adore HBO and can’t wait to watch movies on their handheld device or television with a compatible device.

4. Hulu

Hulu offers several streaming packages and add-ons to choose from. Each of the streaming packages lets you access over 85,000 TV episodes across many popular channels.

Their 2 main packages are:

• Hulu: Users can access the Hulu streaming library with ads. Spotify Premium subscribers get this plan for free.
• Hulu (No Ads): This package removes the ads for an additional fee.

Hulu offers HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz for additional monthly fees as well.

What you’ll pay: The basic package is $5.99 per month, while the plus package is $11.99 per month. HBO is $14.99 extra, Cinemax is $9.99, Showtime is $10.99, and Start is $8.99.

Why you’ll like it: A large selection of movies and shows and a great degree of customization given the 2 packages and several add-ons.

5. Hulu Live

Hulu Live is an expanded form of Hulu that includes live TV streaming. You can opt for ads or no ads, similar to normal Hulu.

Hulu Live lets you watch TV on up to two screens. If you need more screen access, you can grab an upgrade for $9.99 per month and have unlimited screen access.

What you’ll pay: You’ll get everything that the Hulu basic package offers plus live streaming and on-demand television channels for $44.99 per month.

Why you’ll like it: Although the price is a bit higher, if you want live television access as well as Hulu’s other benefits but don’t want cable, Hulu Live is a good choice.

6. Disney+

Disney+ is ideal for all of the Disney programming lovers out there. From original Disney shows and films to your favorite Disney classics, this cable TV alternative is filled with princesses, good messages, and family-friendly viewing.

Of course, you’ll also have access to everything Disney owns entertainment-wise, including National Geographic, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, and more.

What you’ll pay: Disney+ is $7 per month, but you can prepay a year for $70 to save. They offer a 7-day free trial if you’re unsure about buying.

Why you’ll like it: If you are a fan of Disney and Disney-owned collections, this is a must-buy.

7. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon isn’t just a place to do your online shopping. Amazon Prime Video, its TV and movie streaming service, gives you edge-of-your-seat access to popular movies, television series, and Amazon original movies.

Their selection ranges from classic TV shows to brand new options; they even have their own Prime-exclusive offerings.

What you’ll pay: Amazon Prime Video on its own costs $9 per month. For only $13 per month or $119 per year, you can get the full Amazon Prime subscription with Prime Video as well as the online shopping perks.

Why you’ll like it: If you are an avid online shopper and love original movies, Amazon Prime Video should be on your list.

8. Netflix

Netflix, a veteran of the TV streaming industry, has become synonymous with TV streaming. Customers get an impressive library of shows and movies, ranging from comedies to drama and everything in between.

Netflix has tons of classic shows and movies, as well as Netflix-exclusives.

They offer Basic, Standard, and Premium packages. Each subsequent package increases the video quality and lets you watch on more devices simultaneously.

What you’ll pay: The Basic Netflix package is $9 per month. The Standard package is $13 per month, but provides HD viewing and lets you watch on 2 screens. For $16 per month, the Premium package gives you Ultra HD and bumps up to 4 screens. Netflix gives you a 30-day free trial for your choice of plan.

Why you’ll like it: Great selection of classics and Netflix-exclusives for a low price.

9. HBO NOW

HBO NOW offers live streaming services where you can watch HBO favorites like Game of Thrones or Westworld whenever you want.

You can sign up for HBO NOW a la carte or attach it to your other accounts, such as Amazon Prime, Roku, Hulu, and others for an extra fee.

HBO NOW allows unlimited devices per account, making it a great option for large families and avid TV watchers.

What you’ll pay: The cost of HBO Now services starts at $15.

Why you’ll like it: This is a prime choice for HBO aficionados who want to watch HBO on its own or add it to one of their other cable TV alternatives that don’t already offer it.

10. HDTV Antenna

The days of rabbit ears aren’t entirely gone. You can purchase an HDTV antenna to access some pretty stellar channels.

You may not get all that you want, but you can use this option in conjunction with another alternative named on the list.

In addition, over-the-air TV signals offer excellent picture quality.

What you’ll pay: The prices of HDTV antennas will vary depending on the make and model you choose. However, they’re generally inexpensive.

Why you’ll like it: This is a good option for those who may not be avid TV watchers but still want to sneak a peek every once in a while.

11. YouTube

YouTube is known for educational and entertaining videos and music, but this is also a spot to see TV shows and watch some movies that may be available.

Granted, the movie selection will be limited relative to paid streaming services, but YouTube’s completely free.

YouTube still over-delivers by constantly updating the movies available for viewing.

What you’ll pay: Best of all, YouTube is free to access!

Why you’ll like it: YouTube is a good option for individuals on a tight budget who aren’t fussy about their viewing selection.

12. YouTube TV

If you like YouTube but want to expand your options and are willing to pay for it each month, YouTube TV is something to check out if you’re looking to supplement your free movies and shows with live TV.

On YouTube TV, you can stream more than 70 channels and you get access to cable TV channels in your local area. You can stream on up to 3 devices at once with one account, and you get unlimited DVR to save your favorite shows.

What you’ll pay: YouTube TV is a pricier option at $50 per month, but you get the convenience of live-streaming TV wherever you want without paying for a standard cable package (which tends to cost about the same amount as YouTube TV).

Why you’ll like it: YouTube TV is perfect for individuals who

13. Cable Network Channels Online

If you have internet access and some favorite cable network channels, see if they offer their shows online.

Many networks make television shows and episodes available in an online format so you don’t even need cable TV or an antenna to watch them.

Some of the network channels you can watch online include CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, CW, and other popular channels.

What you’ll pay: These are usually free!

Why you’ll like it: This is ideal for those who have a cable network channel they love and are happy sticking with one channel.

14. Free TV Apps

You can access many exciting free options one your smartphone and/or other entertainment devices by using free TV apps such as PBS Kids, Cartoon Network, Pluto TV, and others.

What you’ll pay: Nothing!

Why you’ll like it: A wide array of options, whether you’re looking for kids’ cartoons or movies for adults.

Cable TV Alternatives Provide Cost-Efficient and Convenient Entertainment

Thanks to these cable TV alternatives, you no longer have to spend a lot of money on cable television nor do you have to lock yourself into a lengthy contract.

Now, you can pick and choose your services based on what kind of TV viewer you are and what shows/movies you like.

But what if you can’t decide on one? How do you pick the perfect streaming service for you?

The key to beating paralysis analysis when choosing a cable TV alternative is to determine what features are most important to you, then looking for a service that has as many of those features as possible while staying within your budget.

The post 14 Best Alternatives To Cable TV appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Shutterstock

Leasing a car is a way to drive a new automobile for a fraction of the price that you would pay with an outright purchase. When you lease an automobile, you have access to the car for a specified period of time and have a set monthly payment until the lease term expires, at which time you return the car – similar to renting a house or apartment.

Leasing a car isn’t difficult, but the key is getting a good lease deal. You want to get the car you’ve had your eye on at a price that makes sense. There are certain steps anyone can take to secure the best terms possible.

Before we get into the tips surrounding getting the best car lease deals, read on to learn about the benefits of leasing and how the process works.

Benefits of Leasing a Car

Owning your own car certainly comes with its perks. However, there are many benefits to leasing cars as opposed to buying them. Here are some of the top advantages that come with leasing a car:

• Access to a new car with reasonably-priced payments each month. Since you aren’t paying money to own the car in the end and will not be working towards ownership, the monthly payments will be less expensive. Not everyone has money in the bank to pay for a high car payment each month and with a lease situation, you won’t have to.
• It’s often easier to lease a car than buy one. With leasing arrangements, there are fewer hurdles to jump over and less paperwork to deal with. You’ll still have to fill out some forms and have your creditworthiness determined, but it won’t be as extreme as it would be if you were buying the car.
• You get to enjoy the added variety of having a new car every two to three years. Some people don’t like to be stuck with the same car ten years down the road. When you have a car lease, you know that you will be able to switch it up in a few years and select a new car to lease.

Is a Car Lease Worth It?

Whether or not a car lease is worth it depends on your individual situation. If you want to drive a new car, don’t mind not having an ownership stake in the car, and are looking for a car payment option where the price is reasonable, leasing a car is a great move to make. In the alternative, if you couldn’t bear the thought of not keeping the car for longer than a couple of years and never having an ownership claim towards it, then perhaps leasing a car might not be right for you.

Process for Leasing a Car

The car leasing process is similar to the car buying process but less timely and less expansive in nature. Here’s the general process for leasing a car:

• Research cars available for lease and find a dealer. When you decide to lease a car, find dealerships near you online and find out what types of vehicles are up for lease – and if there are any current promotions. Once you select your vehicle, you’ll want to take it for a test drive, if you haven’t done so already. If you like the car, enjoy driving it and are ready to sign the lease agreement, the paperwork is next.
• Have funding secured in advance. Some auto leases require a down payment or another upfront fee, so make sure that you have enough money in your bank account to cover all upfront expenses and the first few monthly payments.
• Negotiate the final sales price. When you feel good about your funding situation, you’ll want to negotiate the final sales price with the dealership. This will dictate how much your payments will be based on the purchase price. With a lower purchase price, your payments will be less, so negotiate well!
• Negotiate the lease terms. Once a final purchase price has been agreed upon, negotiate the terms of the lease so that the lease benefits you in the end. Note capitalized cost and inquire about potential capital cost reductions to score the best deal.
• Review the contract. Before you sign your name on the line, review the contract thoroughly and ask about any terms you are unsure of before signing. Once you sign the contract, it becomes legally binding, so be sure to read it over carefully.

11 Steps to Scoring the Best Car Lease Deals Out There

Before you head out to just any car dealership to obtain an auto lease, you want to make sure that the dealership you visit and the car you choose is one which will yield the most favorable lease deals. From doing your homework to knowing how to properly negotiate the sales price, we’ve compiled a list of 11 steps to take in order to score the best lease deals available to you.

1. Do Your Homework and Research Leasing Terms

In preparation for your impending car lease, you want to be sure to do your homework and research leasing terms. Not everybody is well-versed in the area of car leases and some individuals will need to learn the ins and outs of car leasing before embarking on this sometimes confusing journey – and the lingo is also important to understand.

In addition to the helpful hints contained in this article, you can find a wealth of knowledge on the Internet regarding car leases.

2. Take Advantage of Leasing Specials

Lease deals are all around you and leasing specials are one type of lease deal you need to be on the lookout for in your search. Leasing specials can exist in the form of specific car makes/models and car dealerships will often offer special monthly payment deals if a particular car isn’t selling as quickly as the dealership might like. Just be sure to note any restrictions, such as mileage restrictions, if you decide to take advantage of the leasing special.

3. Select a Car That Holds Its Value

To obtain the best lease deal, you should also be mindful of the type of car. You want to pick a car which holds its value and will be worth the overall leasing arrangement. When you lease a car, you are paying for the costs associated with depreciation in value, as well as interest, costs, and fees. If you choose a car that holds its value, you will find your monthly payments are better overall.

4. Select a Vehicle That’s in Stock

Another way to snag the best lease deal on a vehicle lease is to choose a car that it’s in stock. If you lease a vehicle that is right there before your very eyes, you may grab the best deal as the dealership will be trying to get rid of it as opposed to obtaining a more high-in-demand vehicle that they can’t keep on the showroom floor.

5. Obtain Quotes From Multiple Dealers

It’s tempting to go to the first dealership you find and say, “I’ll take it!” but this won’t yield the best lease deals. You want to shop around and get the best price. Even if you know what make and model of the car you want to lease, there are certain to be many dealerships in your local area that offer the car of your dreams.

When you obtain quotes on the car of your choice from different dealers, you can ensure that the price you are getting is the best one out there. Shopping around for cars is a wise financial decision to make. Keep in mind that patience and persistence will pay off in the end.

6. Know the Fair Market Value Sales Price of the Car

Before you start shopping for your car of choice, know the fair market value of the vehicle. You don’t want to pay more for the car than it’s actually worth and doing so will increase your monthly lease payments. Also, with the knowledge of the vehicle’s fair market value in your back pocket, you can go to the dealership armed with this knowledge, which makes you a well-informed lease customer.

7. Negotiate the Sales Price

Just because your dream car has a set sticker price on it doesn’t mean that you have to pay that set amount. You always have the option to negotiate the sales price…and you should! Never settle for the sticker price, especially when leasing an automobile. In order to get the best lease deal, you have to negotiate the price down to an amount you’re comfortable with paying. This can knock hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars off of the vehicle price.

8. Factor in Additional Charges

Keep in mind that you not only will be paying a set monthly payment plus interest but there may be some additional charges added on to the total payment price. The additional charges are known as drive-off fees and include registration, documentation, and taxation costs. These extra fees will add up so it’s important to note the additional costs when you are leasing a vehicle.

9. Consider Your Mileage Needs

The one aspect of a car lease that you don’t deal with when you purchase a car is the need to stay under a particular mileage number. When you lease a car you must stay under a certain mileage in order to prevent any additional fees from being tacked on at the end.

If you are going to be using the vehicle to drive an exorbitant amount of miles to work each day, you have to be mindful of this fact when signing the contract for a vehicle lease. Make sure that leasing a car won’t be a costly event if you plan on driving the vehicle to a point that takes you over the mileage limit.

10. Say No to Expensive Add-ons

When you lease a car, the dealership representative will most likely try to talk you into some expensive add-ons. Just say no! Unless it’s something you really need in your newly-leased vehicle, it’s best to forego the expensive add-ons, as you will only have the car for two years or so and the resulting price might not be worth it in the end.

11. Make Sure the Documents Show Your Negotiations Correctly

Lastly, before you sign any of the documents for the car lease, read it over carefully. Make sure that what’s in the document accurately reflects your prior negotiations. Once you sign the leasing document, it’s binding, so you have to be certain that the terms in the contract are what you anticipate them to be.

Leasing a New Car is an Affordable Way to Drive in Style

Leasing is an excellent alternative to purchasing a car for many drivers. The lease option provides you with a stylish, new auto for less money than you would pay for a new auto purchase. When you decide to lease your next car, be sure to do your homework and follow the tips mentioned above to grab the best lease deals out there.

The post 11 Steps To Getting The Best Car Lease Deals appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Shutterstock

Improving your credit score is essential if you want to achieve overall financial wellness for yourself. If you have a history of making late credit card payments, for example, you likely already know how a low credit score can make life harder – and more expensive.

The good news is that there are very straightforward, proven steps you can take to improve your credit report and, therefore, get a higher credit score.

If you want to know how to improve your credit score, we’ve got you covered!

Why You Need a Good Credit Score

Your credit score is a numerical value representing the information inside your credit report – which various institutions will use to gauge your reliability as a borrower.

From getting a new apartment to financing a car, having a decent credit score is necessary for several aspects of modern life. That’s why increasing and maintaining your score is so vital.

The main reasons to improve your credit score:

• You’ll get lower interest rates
• You might be able to avoid paying high-security deposits
• You’ll receive a higher credit limit
• It can be easier to buy a house or rent an apartment
• Your insurance premiums may be lower
• And other benefits!

Is it Easy to Improve Your Credit Score?

Yes! Bumping up your credit score is easy to do and doesn’t take long when you know the right methods to do so. The great news is that there are plenty of ways to improve your credit score with ease.

Many factors influence your credit score. When you focus on those individual factors and work on addressing those issues, you can improve your credit score in a flash.

Some of the main factors that influence a credit score include the percentage of overall credit used (less than 30% is ideal), making payments on time, how many times you inquire about your credit when applying for new loans or cards, and the length of your overall credit history.

When you know what factors influence your credit score, you can start working on fixing those issues and boosting your credit to a higher, more favorable number.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 12 ways to improve your credit score and enable you to grab all of the benefits that go along with having an impressive credit history.

12 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

Successfully following as many of these suggestions as you can, will radically boost your credit score over time. Are you ready to get started?

1. Know Your Score & Check for Errors

One of the easiest ways to have a credit score which is less than perfect is to allow errors on your credit report to remain. Even one simple mistake on your credit report can drop your credit score down quite a bit.

That’s why it’s important to know your credit score and review your credit report periodically to see if any errors exist. By reviewing your credit report, you can keep an eye on your credit history, current credit status and your credit score to make sure that all of the reported information is accurate.

Credit Sesame offers an easy and free way to obtain and monitor your credit score, check out your credit report and make sure that what’s on your credit report is accurate.

This free tool helps individuals feel secure in knowing their current financial status and become aware of any errors exist in the report while getting their credit score at the same time.

Credit Sesame also offers plenty of other financial tools, including credit monitoring, ID protection, and more.

2. Pay Down Credit Card Balances

Another way to work on your credit score so that the resulting number is as high as can be is to pay down your credit card balances. Your credit utilization ratio compares your credit card balance to your credit card limit. You want to keep your total credit card balances at less than 30% of your total credit card limit.

So, how do you do this?

A personal consolidation loan is an excellent option to consider. A personal consolidation loan is a single loan that’s large enough to pay off multiple high-interest loans. They enable borrowers to consolidate down to a single payment each month, while also getting a lower interest rate overall – and can help you chip away at your total credit utilization ratio.

There are plenty of options for both comparing personal loan rates and obtaining these credit card payment loans.

Credible is a top option to consider for loan amounts up to $100,000. Credible offers an easy way to compare personal loan rates from multiple lenders in just two minutes. It is so confident in the rates you’ll find, Credible offers $200 if you find a better rate elsewhere (terms apply).

Whichever personal loan option you go with, the end result will be the same. You’ll be able to pay off some or all of your credit card debt at a lower rate.

3. Make Payments on Time

One of the easiest ways to improve your credit score is to make payments on time. Let’s face it: you’re only human. Sometimes you might forget to pay your monthly credit card bill or maybe you just don’t have the money in the bank at the moment to do so. With that said, it’s extremely important to make payments on time.

If you are a bit forgetful and have a tendency to miss credit card payments, put it on the calendar. Mark down all of your credit card, utility and loan payment due dates. This will provide an easy reminder for you.

Want an even easier way to ensure payments on time? Schedule your payments online so the money is automatically withdrawn each month. This way, you don’t even have to think about it. Your bills will get paid automatically each and every month. Plus, they’ll be paid on time.

Paying your monthly bills on time will help to improve your credit score and do so easily.

4. Obtain a Credit Limit Increase

Another easy way to help your credit score climb higher is to ask your credit card company for a credit limit increase. Although some credit card companies will automatically grant credit limit increases without you having to ask for them, with other companies you’ll have to request a credit limit increase – but may not grant your request if your balance history isn’t great

When you obtain a credit limit increase, your debt will remain the same while your credit limit increases and reduces the credit utilization ratio.

Although there is some debate as to whether credit limit increases temporarily hurt one’s credit score, the overall impact is a beneficial one. The lower your credit utilization ratio, the better your score.

Just make sure to keep your credit utilization ratio low once you push it down. Don’t fall back into old spending habits!

5. Make Payments to Credit Card Bills Twice a Month

When able to do so, making credit card payments twice (or more) a month will help to reduce your credit card debt and make your credit score more favorable. After paying at least the minimum, try to make small or large payments here and there to turbo-charge your debt reduction.

As it’s often difficult for individuals to pay their high credit card bills even once a month on their current paycheck, this may seem like an uphill battle. But there are ways to make more money and pay more than once a month on current credit card bills: side hustles.

What’s a side hustle, you ask? A side hustle is paying gig which you can do in your free time. Unlike a full-time or part-time job, you can put as much or as little time into a side hustle as you like. Some examples of side hustles include taking surveys online, grocery shopping for others, dog walking, delivering food, and other easy-to-do tasks.

If you love dogs, cats and other pets, you can earn some cash through Rover. Rover is a dog walking and pet sitting website where you get paid to walk or look after pets. This is the perfect side hustle for an animal lover looking to make some extra money on the side – or even as a full-time gig.

If dog walking or pet sitting isn’t your forte, you can opt for a side hustle taking surveys. You can share your opinion and make money by doing so! There are many online survey sites to try, including Survey Junkie and InboxDollars. The type of survey and the amount paid to take the survey will vary with each option, but all options will provide a form of payment. Although certain sites will offer gift cards as payment, others will offer a straight cash payment.

Want to learn more about potential side hustles to help you pay your credit card bills twice a month? Check out our recent article on 15 Side Hustle Ideas to Start Making Extra Money Right Now.

6. Open a New Credit Account

You might think that you want to limit the number of credit cards you have as opposed to adding another one to the list, but opening a new credit account can actually help your credit score – especially if you have little to no credit history.

Opening a new credit account will help to establish a credit history for yourself and provide you with a credit utilization ratio to work with.

Once you have the new credit card account open, make sure to keep your balance low and stay below the desirable 30% credit utilization ratio. This will show responsible credit card ownership and help to boost your credit score.

Ready to open up a new credit card account? The ABOC (Amalgamated Bank of Chicago) credit card is an excellent option. With a 0% APR on purchases for 12 months, no annual fee and unlimited rewards points with no expiration date, the ABOC credit card is a good option to consider if you want to improve your credit utilization ratio.

7. Open a Secured Credit Card

Another tip for how to improve your credit score is to open up a secured credit card account. This type of credit card consists of making a cash deposit with the credit card company. The company will hold the money in an account as a deposit and offer you a credit line usually up to the amount that you deposited.

With a secured credit card, you can build a credit history and this, in itself, can help you improve your credit score. You might even find that the credit card company will report your credit habits to the three major credit bureaus and, if your payment and spending habits are good, this will help you as well.

Sometimes you’ll have to stick with a secured credit card for a while and keep making timely payments on it, but it’s all worth it to build on your credit score and make it more favorable. Also, you may even find that if you are a responsible secured credit card holder, the company will replace your card with an unsecured one at some point down the road.

8. Clear Up Collection Accounts

Having active collection accounts can seriously hurt your credit score. With this in mind, you want to make sure that you pay off any old collection accounts as well as make these items disappear from your credit report.

In accordance with federal law, these issues with creditors can remain on your credit report for seven-and-a-half years after your first delinquency issue. You might think that you can simply pay all of the money owed on the account and these blemishes will go away, but that’s not the case.

You have to go a few steps further in order to get these bad credit notations erased. And you’ll certainly want to do this, as it is hurting your credit score.

Once you pay off the account, if you haven’t done so already, the next step is to ask the creditor to give you a goodwill deletion to your credit file. This type of request should be made in writing and may or may not be approved, depending on how willing the creditor is to work with you.

You can state that you have a really good credit history except for this particular instance and ask if they would be able to grant this goodwill deletion. If so, this would help your credit score increase.

On a side note, if you have a collection account or debt on your credit history which is not yours, make sure you dispute it.

9. Become an Authorized User on the Account of Another Individual

If you’re searching for another way to bump up your credit score, consider becoming an authorized user on the credit card account of another. This can be your spouse or another family member, for example. By having your name added to the account of another, you can build your credit history and boost your credit score.

Once you’re added to the credit card account of another, you will have this factor appear on your credit report. Also, all of the history of that particular account will show up on your credit report.

With that said, authorized users aren’t responsible for the charges of the primary credit cardholder and can have their name removed from the account at any time.

You may not need an additional charge account but simply want to add your name to someone else’s account in order to improve your credit score.

10. Don’t Close Credit Cards with $0 Balance

When you finally pay off one of your credit cards, you are certain to be ecstatic. You may even be so happy to see a $0 balance that you’ll want to close out your credit card, but don’t do it!

Closing out your credit card will negatively impact your credit score, because it will decrease your available credit and cause your credit utilization ratio to increase.

You’ll ideally keep your credit card account open and continue with a $0 balance. This will result in a positive credit utilization ratio which will show a low (or no) balance compared with a high credit limit.

Keeping your credit cards open with $0 balances won’t hurt you and can only help you. Just try to have the willpower to not use your credit cards if possible so that your balance remains at $0 or at a low amount which you pay off each month.

11. Try Score-Boosting Programs

A unique way to bump up your credit score is by using score-boosting programs. Score-boosting programs, such as Experian Boost, will review your past bills and payments going back two years and create a record of these past payments.

Once the prior payment record is created, the favorable payment history and length of credit will result in an improvement to your credit score. This program is ideal for those with limited credit history who want to have a more established credit report.

It can help to increase the credit score and make it more likely for individuals to obtain a car loan, rent an apartment, and other activities for which a good credit score is required.

12. Be Careful About the Timing of Your Credit Applications

Lastly, you’ll want to be cautious as to when you put in an application for any new credit card. You want to be sure that you don’t apply for multiple credit cards within a short period of time. Having multiple applications that run credit checks in or around the same time can negatively affect your credit score.

When your credit report shows that you have been applying for multiple credit cards in a short time period, you may be seen as a bigger risk. Therefore, your credit score will reflect this by coming in at a lower number.

Note that this doesn’t apply to rate shopping for a single loan. The information listed above pertains to applying with various credit card companies for different credit cards in a short period of time.

Improving Your Credit Score is Much Easier Than You Think

Now that you know some of the secrets of how to improve your credit score, you can get started. The tips laid out for you can help bump up your credit score and turn that average, or less-than-average, credit score into one you’ll be proud to have.

You don’t have to complete all of the methods above all at once. Tackle the tips at a reasonable pace and watch as your subpar credit score turns into a favorable number that will help you out as you venture into the future, applying for a home mortgage or obtaining a new car loan at a cheaper rate.

Having a high credit score provides a way to achieve many of life’s goals more easily and lead you on the path to financial wellness.

The post How To Improve Your Credit Score: 12 Step Guide appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.