1st of many

I'm thinking of starting a personal blog at the request of my friend Shawn. Pretty much the only things I really know about that most other people may be interested has to do with financial stuff. So I'm going to start that very soon...maybe right now.

First off I'd like to give a little advice about credit scores:

1. If you have credit cards from when you were in diapers, but you never use them any more...that is great KEEP THEM! Do not cancel the card b/c you think that you never use it nor will ever use it. One of the ways you increase your credit score is by having a long history in the credit bureau on the same accounts.

2. Don't let your credit be pulled unless you absolutely have to do it. Every time you have your credit pulled it pulls your credit score down for a period of time (3-6 months at least). The way to know whether your credit is going to be pulled is linked to when you have to give up your social security number. If someone says that they have to have it...then they are going to pull your credit. Just ask them if they are going to pull credit and ask if they must have it. If they are asking for it, but you still don't want to give it up...feel free to comment & ask me a particular situation and I can probably tell you whether they really need to pull the credit or not.

3. Having more of a credit limit than you need is really important! This is hard to describe so let me use an example. Person A has a $5,000 credit limit, and they have a $4,000 balance which means their available credit limit is $1,000/$5,000 or 20%. Person B has a credit limit of $500 and they have a balance of $475 which means their available credit limit is $25/$500 or 5%. Person C has a $50,000 credit limit, and they have a balance of $30,000 which means they have an available credit limit of $20,000/$50,000 or 40%.

Person A has 20% available and $4,000 of unsecured debt
Person B has 5% available and only $475 of unsecured debt
Person C has 40% available, but $30,000 of debt

In relation to their credit score...which person do you think is going to be helped by their unsecured debt portfolio and which one is going to be helped?

There will be some impact from other issues like income and other debt levels, but let us keep all other things equal (ceteris paribis).

That is all I have for now. Tell me what you think about the blog & which person is going to have better credit.

Richeezy
  • shawn
    Me... because of you.
    by shawn at 07/02/07 11:34PM
  • sarahmonkey
    great to hear from you. i'm married to a financial analyst, so this is pretty interesting stuff for me :)
    by sarahmonkey at 07/03/07 12:00AM
  • trolleem
    C
    by trolleem at 07/03/07 1:36AM
  • ed
    good stuff, uzi! I can always use some help with this kind of thing!
    by ed at 07/03/07 3:02AM
  • windham4life
    Thanks for this! I've always wondered how credit scores work...pretty interesting.
    by windham4life at 07/03/07 2:25PM
  • upintheair
    About the available credit thing. Also be aware that some agencies will not just look at your available credit but will compare your highest balance with your current debt and use that instead.

    What does this mean? It means that if you want to pump up your credit score for a future mortgage, then use your credit card one month for all your bills and then pay it off.
    by upintheair at 07/03/07 8:11PM
  • upintheair
    If you have a credit card with a 50K available balance but yet you have only had 1k then they will ignore your 50k potential.
    by upintheair at 07/03/07 8:14PM
  • kreg
    fontenot?
    by kreg at 07/04/07 8:07AM
  • upintheair
    Hey Richard.

    Actually, I don't know who they were. The owner of the plane made the arrangments for us and I don't think he was cheap.
    by upintheair at 07/04/07 12:12PM
  • jeans
    I love the blog idea. Alan and I are pretty clueless about financial stuff. I am going with C.
    by jeans at 07/08/07 2:09PM
  • thedelmccouryband
    Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine!
    by thedelmccouryband at 07/09/07 6:24PM
  • iluvchinesebabies
    rich, i think you should blog too.klc
    by iluvchinesebabies at 07/23/07 4:49PM
  • hogfan216
    the ones that listen to dave ramsey...j/k... i know your opinion on his ideas
    by hogfan216 at 07/27/07 11:57PM
  • bamacrane
    Hey, Richard. This is Christie Crane. Is Charity on here?
    by bamacrane at 07/29/07 9:56PM
  • brazil_ville
    Richard, how about a little canoe trip to Riverview?
    by brazil_ville at 07/30/07 11:22PM
  • wilbur
    Well, the lady said I have a decent credit score. It was in the 600's, I think. They're letting me get a house anyway.
    by wilbur at 07/30/07 11:28PM
  • jimmybuck
    Of course, if I have no debt and a credit score of 0, I have...money.
    by jimmybuck at 12/23/07 10:32PM
  • mcbecci
    Hey, I saw your post on making money online about cheap airfare. My family and I are hoping to go from Tampa to San Diego in July. The prices went up on Southwest. What kind of deals can you get? Thanks.
    by mcbecci at 06/04/09 2:01PM

SWA Ticket

So far the "Mint" thing hasn't gone anywhere...oh well.

I do have an offer out there for anyone interested. I have just earned two "one way" tickets on Southwest Airlines. They can be used for any flight combination to get from one place to another. The flight must be used sometime between today & $364 days from now.

They normally sale on ebay are from $320 to $400 and most of those are "buy it now". There are some that sell for $275 and some that sell for $450. I just thought I would put it out here for anyone that is interested prior to listing it on ebay. I'll probably post it for $350 on ebay, but would be happy to sell it to a friend for less.

Just let me know.

  • mpettes
    I'll give you $10
    by mpettes at 06/21/07 1:31PM
  • tnerbydoom
    $11.50
    by tnerbydoom at 06/21/07 6:20PM
  • mpettes
    That's the best idea I've heard in a really, really long time.
    by mpettes at 06/21/07 7:18PM
  • mpettes
    Or maybe, you guys could come and we girls could go shopping while you guys watched the kiddos and cooked us some food ;-P
    by mpettes at 06/21/07 7:19PM
  • mpettes
    Seriously, though, when are you coming?
    by mpettes at 06/21/07 7:19PM
  • nicoleg
    Richard I just found you on here...Hows things going for ya??
    by nicoleg at 06/22/07 10:56AM
  • misstheocean
    Richard, Jenni and Daniel would probabaly love to buy those tickets from you!
    by misstheocean at 06/23/07 9:09AM
  • create_a_way
    I would love to buy them too!
    by create_a_way at 06/24/07 3:27PM
  • zack
    hey.. what's up my friend... jay ..how are things going on to you recently ? long time no see ... you should put some of your pictures on the pleonast.. ok? say hi to chirlety.. ( spelled wrong )
    by zack at 06/28/07 12:24AM
  • wilbur
    $15.50
    by wilbur at 06/29/07 7:30AM
  • waterhazard11
    sold...$275. Thanks for checking in.
    by waterhazard11 at 07/02/07 10:51PM

My Mint

Mint | Free, Simple Personal Finance Software

I don't know much about this website, but I'll let you all know once I get into it. I think it could be pretty sweet.

  • melmibelle
    hey richard, how are you guys doing? it's been so good having mel there
    by melmibelle at 03/21/07 7:41PM
  • sweetmelissa
    Did you fill in your name and do it? I'm interested to see what its all about.

    How's it going back home? Do you guys miss me yet? :) I'll be there in just a few weeks, so don't cry too much!
    by sweetmelissa at 03/22/07 2:47AM
  • windham4life
    That does sound like a pretty interesting site... I'm almost a little nervous to know where all my money's going! eeeekkk!
    by windham4life at 03/23/07 12:12PM
  • bombadil
    Is this your company?
    by bombadil at 03/25/07 9:50PM
  • thedelmccouryband
    hmmmm?!
    by thedelmccouryband at 03/27/07 9:04AM
  • zack
    what's up /..the person who speaks fast ..
    by zack at 03/27/07 11:31PM
  • requiem2651
    When I come back from Florida I'll make sure to bring plenty of palm fronds for your gently wafting zephyrs. I figure you'd appreciate that!
    by requiem2651 at 03/28/07 6:08PM
  • requiem2651
    Seriously though...I've never been happier about manual labor in my life...and if you talk to people for a change, we all might get along!
    by requiem2651 at 03/28/07 6:10PM
  • buddabignbald
    No, no one calls me Richard. Why?
    by buddabignbald at 03/30/07 9:03AM
  • DessertDiva
    Hi Richard :) How are you doing?? Remember me?
    jamie (davis) baldwin
    by DessertDiva at 04/03/07 4:55PM
  • zack
    hey ... what's up ,.. the settler king ..
    by zack at 04/08/07 11:22PM
  • sweetmelissa
    Not that you EVER check this, but I tagged you in my recent post. Its a funny memory.
    by sweetmelissa at 04/16/07 6:51PM

Work

I'm here at work and figured I would put up a post so that whoever might have my name on their friend list would see it highlighted white. I like that aspect of pleonast.

rjf
  • tnerbydoom
    Clay is getting married!?
    by tnerbydoom at 12/16/06 11:07AM
  • thedelmccouryband
    Richard, your blog's redundancy is upsetting... your last 3 posts have been focused on work... let's get back to the good stuff... like your 9/05 post...
    by thedelmccouryband at 12/16/06 12:08PM
  • windham4life
    lol...yeah, your name was white. Fun stuff
    by windham4life at 12/17/06 5:00PM
  • isaacgholman
    hahaha you sho fooled me! hope you are doing well. come to nashville and visit sometime! holla!
    by isaacgholman at 12/17/06 11:05PM
  • vande
    I'll be playing Catan with the family in Vail Co no later that Thursday night of this week. It's gonna be awesome!
    by vande at 12/18/06 4:04PM
  • bombadil
    Clever
    by bombadil at 12/18/06 5:14PM
  • nikkicw
    Hey! Its your co-worker, Nikki Dew :)
    by nikkicw at 12/19/06 5:00PM
  • stephieweffs
    haha! That's totally the reason I came. How ya doin??? I miss you guys so much! I was thinkin about you and charity and how awesome you guys are! Have a happy holiday season!
    by stephieweffs at 12/20/06 4:53PM
  • goldberry
    I can't believe you posted something!
    by goldberry at 12/21/06 9:37PM
  • heatharobertson
    whatsup brother? how is life?
    by heatharobertson at 12/25/06 9:26PM
  • flychic
    Hey Richard! This is Brittney Miller. How's it going?
    by flychic at 12/29/06 8:21PM
  • zack
    hello
    by zack at 01/10/07 11:10PM
  • zack
    are you sure you can beat me in sattelers any time?
    by zack at 01/15/07 12:35AM
  • DessertDiva
    Hey Richard...it's Jamie (Davis)! How are you?? :)
    by DessertDiva at 01/16/07 5:38PM
  • mellymc
    Hey Richard! This is Melody (Slone) McClellan! How are you? It feels like FOREVER since I've seen you!
    by mellymc at 01/31/07 6:21PM
  • bombadil
    rjf, lpk
    by bombadil at 02/02/07 6:38PM
  • iluvchinesebabies
    oh richard, you are just a hoot!
    by iluvchinesebabies at 02/16/07 4:42PM
  • haileym
    Are you still working w- state farm? Hope you guys are doing well.
    by haileym at 02/23/07 9:35AM
  • goldberry
    Richard - what a lame post! For someone who thinks as fast as you do what is that?
    by goldberry at 03/10/07 1:04PM
  • goldberry
    Btw, I won at Settlers against my whole family!!
    by goldberry at 03/10/07 1:05PM

Jobs

In my last entry I went on about the developements here at the CW HQ...here is an update...


My office has been the best one yet since I can listen to music at will and not bother anyone, nor does anyone care. So for the past few weeks I've been enjoying onevoice as well as many other oldies and other such musik.

Additionally, we have found a replacement to be my sidekick in the financial endeavors her eat CW HQ...and since Sterling Borders doesn't bless pleonast anymore with his insightful blogging...I thought I would make the announcement that he will be the new Financial Analyst here & there will definately be much fun had by all.


I'm still looking for that weather & legal position. Stay tuned for updates.



RJF
  • sweetmelissa
    Seriously, it is too bad I can't come over there and work in your department, too. It would certainly be like old times!
    by sweetmelissa at 10/23/06 11:37AM
  • bombadil
    LPK wuz here
    by bombadil at 10/23/06 3:23PM
  • jennking
    let me know if I can help you look for that legal position!!
    by jennking at 10/23/06 3:55PM
  • boanerges
    sounds great - glad things are coming together so well
    by boanerges at 10/24/06 10:11AM
  • matthewdickey
    No, Not that I know of.
    by matthewdickey at 10/24/06 10:59AM
  • curtisamy
    i don't necessarily need a weather position to get me back in the area :)
    by curtisamy at 10/25/06 9:45AM
  • angiebrewer
    Hey Richard! Haven't talked to you in a while. Hope everything is going well. Tell Charity I said hello!
    by angiebrewer at 10/29/06 11:03PM
  • mrkoonce
    Richard, Vicki's husband here, what kind of position are you looking for?
    by mrkoonce at 10/31/06 6:44PM
  • trolleem
    richard! oozie...erin mullins barger here! good to see you! is charity on also? please give her a squeeze for me!
    by trolleem at 11/02/06 7:37PM
  • mrkoonce
    send me an email, about that job.
    by mrkoonce at 11/07/06 10:13PM
  • mrkoonce
    my address is on my page
    by mrkoonce at 11/07/06 10:17PM
  • nutterbutter
    happy thanksgiving!
    by nutterbutter at 11/23/06 12:02PM
  • sterling
    My blogging was insightful wasn't it?
    by sterling at 11/28/06 11:52AM