What is a Credit Check?
A credit check consists of reviewing your consumer credit reports and the credit scores derived from the information found on those files. When a... read more »
Erica Sandberg is a consumer finance expert and journalist whose articles and insights are featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, MarketWatch, Forbes, and MSN Money. An experienced media host, she's led many financial programs, including her podcast, "Adventures With Money." She's appeared on Fox, CNN, "EconTalk" and "The Dr. Drew Podcast," and has been the resident money and credit authority for KRON-4 News in San Francisco for more than 10 years. Her book "Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families" was first released in 2008, and the 2017 edition is out now.
Guide
4,086 views
11 min read
A credit check consists of reviewing your consumer credit reports and the credit scores derived from the information found on those files. When a... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 5/9/24
Study
11,323 views
7 min read
The cost of higher education in the United States is daunting for many Americans. In 2023 the average total cost of attendance for a student... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 3/26/24
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17,936 views
7 min read
The amount of money students borrow to attend college has been increasing year over year. Tuition, room and board, books and materials as well... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 3/26/24
Guide
52,421 views
5 min read
If you are a homeowner, you may have accumulated equity that you can access. Depending on various factors, you can either borrow against the... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 12/26/23
Guide
58,305 views
5 min read
Loans can be helpful financial tools, enabling you to do things like pay for expensive items over time or efficiently reorganize debt. However,... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 11/7/23
Study
96,292 views
5 min read
Although credit scores are neutral algorithms based on a person’s reported credit activity, there are indisputable variations between various... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 9/27/23
Study
36,322 views
9 min read
Credit scores, such as those developed by the data analytics company FICO, do not rate you as a person, but rate your actions as a borrower.... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 9/27/23
Study
88,944 views
7 min read
How people use credit products and repay debt has a direct effect on their credit scores, such as those developed by FICO. All of that... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 9/27/23
Guide
71,876 views
5 min read
If you’re like most people, you want to build and maintain a high credit score so you can borrow money at the best rates and terms. What that... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 7/20/23
Guide
73,865 views
5 min read
If you have valuables that you’re not currently using and you need some quick cash to tide you over, you may be able to borrow against their... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 6/5/23
Guide
100,000+ views
7 min read
On the surface, credit reports and credit scores are pretty straightforward. You can quickly find important and accurate information from widely... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 5/4/23
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100,000+ views
7 min read
It’s time to go apartment hunting! You scour the neighborhood in search of “For Rent” signs in windows and check rental websites to identify... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 4/11/23
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100,000+ views
5 min read
Most adults have credit scores. Financial institutions rely on these three-digit numbers to quickly determine loan and credit qualification and... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 3/13/23
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100,000+ views
3 min read
There was a time — long, long ago — when loan officers reviewed all applicants’ paperwork by hand. They had to make decisions based on what they... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 2/16/23
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100,000+ views
5 min read
Credit cards, debit cards, and electronic payments are safe and convenient tools, but when you make transactions with them, you can lose touch... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 1/4/23
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100,000+ views
5 min read
You want to get ahead financially, but it’s not easy. There’s only so much you can do regarding your budget, and you may have already pared your... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 11/29/22
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100,000+ views
5 min read
If you’re ready to open a deposit account so you can sock money away and make a variety of transactions, you have three options: a bank, which is... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 11/10/22
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100,000+ views
5 min read
When you are in a serious financial pinch, you may consider borrowing against your upcoming paycheck. Payday loans are available to people who... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 10/3/22
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100,000+ views
5 min read
The U.S. Bankruptcy Code can help alleviate the pressure when you are in a desperate financial situation. Qualifying individuals are permitted to... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 9/6/22
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100,000+ views
7 min read
Doing business with an upstanding lender is important when you want to borrow money. The loan cost will be kept to a minimum, and you will have... read more »
By: Erica Sandberg • 8/1/22
... and 26 more posts