Is a cash only lifestyle truly possible in today’s world? Is cash only a viable option in a world where you are expected to build up credit in order to buy a house — or even get insurance?

I encourage you to head over to the Fraud Files and check out some of the best in personal finance from around the Web.

The company has tinkered with its credit scoring system in the past, but in 2009 FICO prepares for the largest change to its formula ever.

One of the classic ways that students have been able to improve their credit scores has been through the “authorized user” loophole. In this scenario, you are added as an “authorized user” to someone else’s credit card. Preferably someone who has good credit (traditionally your parents ). This boosts your score almost instantly.
As you might guess, it didn’t take long until someone figured out that you could make money doing this. Want to improve your credit score before buying a house? Lay down your money and get paired up with someone else who is willing to let you “piggyback” on …read more

While it is nice to get an occasional free credit report or free credit score, getting all three credit reports from the major bureaus at once, complete with credit scores, can get a little pricey. If you are interested in getting all three credit reports and scores in one fell swoop, you can get Credit Complete from MyFico.com. And right now, the company is offering the following discount on the service:
From now through July 31st, myFico is offering online communities a 20% discount on the FICO Credit Complete (all 3 FICO scored and reports) from. Visit http://www.myfico.com/Products/FICOThree/Description.aspx …read more

There’s an interesting series of articles on US healthcare over at Leadership Turn. And while I’ve been reading up on that, something else has been brought to my attention: The fact that the Fair Isaac Company (of FICO score fame) is putting together the MedFICO.
The MedFICO will be a way of rating those that obtain healthcare. Basically, it is a credit score that you receive for hospital payment. If your insurance company is slow (or doesn’t pay at all), you get dinged. If you don’t have insurance (an increasing problem for many of us), and you set up a payment …read more