It’s Not All About Money: Financial Wisdom for Young Adults
At 21, you’re a financial adult. But chances are you still don’t know what you don’t know. We asked personal finance experts and financial planners what newly minted adults need…
Bev O'Shea
Bev writes about credit scores and credit reports for NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in USA Today, the Christian Science Monitor and MSN Money. She mostly follows her own advice about not worrying about a perfect score (although she had one for at least a few minutes). In her free time, she enjoys music, fitness, murder mysteries and dark chocolate.
Posts by Bev O'Shea:
The Highest Credit Score: Can You Reach ‘Perfect’?
The highest credit score on the most widely used scales is an 850. The most-used scores at FICO, and at its competitor VantageScore, are on a 300-850 scale. FICO says about…
What Is a Good Credit Score?
A good credit score generally starts around 690 on a 300-850 scale used by FICO and VantageScore, the two most common scoring systems. In practice, though, a good credit score…
How to Say No to Co-Signing — and Yes to Helping
Love and money can be a complicated mix, especially when someone you love wants to borrow a little credit mojo from you. You may know that co-signing is a risk,…
If You Deal With Depression, Safeguard Your Credit
If you’re depressed, paying bills may be the last thing on your mind. Depression or anxiety can make it difficult to concentrate, remember details or make decisions. Fatigue from poor…
What Is Synthetic Identity Theft?
Identity theft, or identity fraud, once meant crooks were churning out fake credit cards. But as that became easier to detect, a more insidious crime has evolved: the creation of…
How to See What 5 Data Reports Reveal About You
Your past — even details you may have forgotten — can be exposed with just a click. When you apply for a job, find an apartment or switch insurance companies,…
What Is a Credit-Builder Loan?
A credit-builder loan is designed to help people who have poor credit or who have little or no credit history build credit. A good score makes approval for credit cards…
How I Ditched Debt: Tenacious Focus on the Goal
In this series, NerdWallet interviews people who have triumphed over debt using a combination of commitment, budgeting and smart financial choices. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. Samantha…
Help Your Partner’s Credit — Without Harming Your Own
When you get married, your credit files stay single. And if one spouse has a good credit score and the other does not, it’s particularly important to maintain your credit…
