It's a new year and that means it's time to get around to doing the stuff you meant to do last year, like cleaning up your credit. You can start by going to Annualcreditreport.com.
You get one free report from each of the three credit bureaus every year. So spread them out-- one every four months to stay up to date on any changes.
Look for accounts you don't recognize and dispute any negative entries that aren't your fault.
Also, take retirement savings seriously. If you have a 401K, contribute at least as much as any company match because that's free money. If you're over 50 years old, consider a "catch-up." That allows you to contribute up to $6,000 over normal limits.
Is it time to change investments? Online calculators can give you a rough estimate of how much to save for retirement.
Finally, shop around your home insurance. It can save you a lot. Remember, you're insuring your structure and belongings, not the land.
To calculate a general cost to rebuild, multiply the square footage by local building costs per square foot. Find that number through real estate agents or builders.
And go to websites like Knowyourstuff.org to log the value of and condition of your belongings. It will take time but it could save you some cash and headaches.
Need my help or want to volunteer to help others as part of the Assistance League of Phoenix team, call us at 855-323-1515, find me on Facebook or Twitter.
You can also send me a video of your problem to Joe@abc15.com or sign up for our monthly newsletter here.
