Couples getting divorced have to account for many lifestyle changes. From splitting up assets to seeking new places to live, a break up can feel overwhelming. One way to give yourself an advantage when starting over is to protect your credit scores.
A recent article on MSN Money explains the importance of managing credit, especially during a divorce. Here are some ways to ensure your financial future is bright.
- Create a post-divorce budget – Even though you may want to keep things as stable as possible, it’s important to remember that you’re now living with a single-income budget. Housing costs should take top consideration when planning a new budget, but there are also several other factors to consider like credit cards, auto payments and cell phone bills. Don’t get stuck trying to pay beyond your means.
- Take stock of your debts and credit lines – The longer the relationship, the more accounts you probably share with your spouse. Credit cards, home equity lines and other accounts need to be accounted for. To make sure you’re not forgetting about a credit source, pull your credit report.
- Remove each other as authorized users – People often list spouses as authorized users on credit card accounts. However, some forget to remove them during a divorce. Allowing your ex to have access to your credit cards could have a serious impact on your credit scores. Remember to call your credit card company to revoke access, and make sure your name is removed from your ex’s accounts as well.
If you need access to your credit scores and reports, consider signing up for FreeScore. You’ll be able to see your three credit scores and reports anytime at the top 3 credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. And with the Power of 3, you’ll also receive 24/7 credit monitoring and automatic alerts that allow you to stay up-to-date if a change occurs on any of your accounts.
Are you searching for a new job? If so, you may be pleased to hear that the U.S. unemployment rate has fallen to a near three-year low. According to an article on 
Congratulations to the New York Giants on winning Super Bowl XLVI!
When you’re just starting to build up credit, you may feel stuck with nowhere to turn. After all, you need a credit line to build credit, but many places will turn you down because of your 
Have you 
In many divorces, assets are split down the middle. After that, each person moves on and begins anew. Unfortunately, some couples are brought back together by unforeseen circumstances. Rather than a chance encounter at the grocery store, sometimes all it takes is a bold move by a credit card company to get people talking again.
If you’re one of the many people struggling to rebuild your credit, chances are good that credit card offers have stopped flooding the mailbox. Lenders continue to be weary of subprime borrowers, having suffered big losses during the recent financial crisis. However, debt-collectors are appealing to “riskier” borrowers by offering them credit cards with a catch.
Having your credit card information stolen is bad enough. Sometimes the theft goes unnoticed until your credit card is denied at the register or you receive an eye-popping statement in the mail. However, when the thief adds some unintentional irony to the situation, the crime becomes especially puzzling.
