Money is viewed as something we spend and sometimes save. The word credit gets thrown around when dealing with personal finances. Good credit, bad credit and even not having established credit can change a consumer’s life if she is not aware of the advantages and disadvantages of credit. Before you can utilize credit to your benefit, you should seek to know more about credit. One way to learn is by taking a credit class.
The Facts
They focus on what credit is, how to obtain credit, the advantages and disadvantages of using credit and the meaning of a FICO score. Many people’s lives have been changed by not knowing what credit is prior to utilizing it and doing damage to their financial profile. A credit class can be offered by a bank, an independent financial counselor or adviser or a community colleges or adult education facility.
Features
A credit class can last for a month or two and focus on different aspects of credit. This depends on your instructor and the information he wants you to know. Consumers should understand a basic definition of credit, which is a contract agreement in which the consumer receives an item or items of value now and agrees to repay over a period of time until the obligation is met.
Effects
Not understanding credit can affect consumers in the long term if they are not knowledgeable in how to repair the damage that was done due to their lack of understanding credit and how it works. The positive effect of credit rewards consumers in a sense with larger credit lines which provides the mechanism to purchase a house or even an automobile.
Benefits
Attending a credit class--regardless of your age or economic background--can only enhance your learning to manage your credit effectively and wisely. This can reduce the amount of mistakes made with credit. Furthermore, if the consumer is in a situation needing to re-establish credit, he will have an appreciation and understanding for what credit can and cannot do for him the second time around.
Warning
When adults do not understand credit, they pass on those same mismanagement of credit examples to their children and others that come across their path.
References
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "3 Common Credit Issues and What You Can Do to Fix Them." Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Debt.org. "Secured Credit Cards." Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Six Tips to Consider When You’re Offered a Retail Store Credit Card." Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Experian. "Will Being an Authorized User Help My Credit?" Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "Co-signing a Loan." Accessed May 12, 2020.
- My FICO. "What's in my FICO® Scores?" Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "How Do I Get and Keep a Good Credit Score?" Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commision. "Payday Loans." Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Experian. "How Long Do Late Payments Stay on Credit Reports?" Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Experian. "Inactive Credit Card: Use it or Lose it?" Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "Disputing Errors on Credit Reports." Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "Free Credit Reports." Accessed May 12, 2020.
- Consumer.gov. "Your Credit History." Accessed May 12, 2020.
Writer Bio
Taffy Wagner is a money and marriage advocate, speaker and personal finances educator in Colorado. She has been writing for approximately five years. She holds a Doctorate of Ministry in biblical counseling, a master's in human resources management and a bachelor's in business management and administration. She has been quoted in Black Enterprise, Essence Magazine, Woman's Day and Entrepreneur.com regarding money management.