Credit Score

Don't get sucked into "Free Credit Report.com".

If you want to "check" your credit you can do it for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.  However, you can only check it once a year for each of the three agencies (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian).  If you stagger your visits every four months, you can monitor your credit report year-round for free.  This will not show you a score, but you will be able to see all the information you need in order to review for negative "dings" or identity theft issues.

If you want to get an actual score, you can sign up at CreditSesame.com where you can get an Experion score year-round for free.  I don't necessarily endorse the other aspects of Credit Sesame (even though I do think it is a safe and trust-worthy site), but if you want a way to get a free score, there ya go.

If you want to "freeze" your credit, you can do this for a minimal fee (I think $10) by visiting the TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian websites. By doing this you can avoid some of the credit risk/identity theft that possibilities.  Companies don't always check your credit before opening a card/account, but if they do, it'll be frozen and the it won't be opened. I know a couple of people that will beg you to do this because of the pain they've gone through because of identity theft issues.  Keep in mind that you'll have to pay the same minimal fee to "unfreeze" your report if you're being hired for a job, etc. and they are trying to run your credit.

If you have any other thoughts/advice in regards to the above, post it in the comments.  Any information is welcome. I don't claim to be an expert by any means.