Your FICO Score is a number, in the range of 300-850, that represents how risky it would be for someone to loan you money. It is calculated based on data from a credit report about you.

Why should I care?

The way you use credit now will dramatically influence [...]]]> http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/fico-score/feed/ 0 http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/credit-card-benefits/ http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/credit-card-benefits/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:27:29 +0000 Brandon Horn http://mrhorn.com/wp/?p=1028 Paying for a purchase with a credit card has benefits beyond those discussed in my post on credit scoring. Be aware that these benefits may not apply to a purchase made with a debit card, even if the debit card is used as a credit card at the point of sale.

If you notify [...]]]> http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/credit-card-benefits/feed/ 0 http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/save-money-pay-full-price/ http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/save-money-pay-full-price/#comments Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:14:15 +0000 Brandon Horn https://mrhorn.com/wp/?p=263 Why do stores offer discounts?

When a store offers you a discount, they are hoping that it will entice you to spend more money. The store may be betting that a discount on a particular product will make you more likely to buy that product. Alternatively, the store my be betting that offering to [...]]]> http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/save-money-pay-full-price/feed/ 3 http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/my-2003-truck/ http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/my-2003-truck/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 02:53:13 +0000 Brandon Horn http://mrhorn.com/wp/?p=973 Since I bought my 2003 Ford Ranger new in May of 2003, I’ve meticulously maintained it. I did this because I prefer to keep each vehicle I buy for a long time. In my opinion, a well maintained older vehicle is better than a new vehicle. It is as reliable and is considerably less [...]]]> http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/my-2003-truck/feed/ 1 http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/tax-advantaged-accounts/ http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/tax-advantaged-accounts/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:04:26 +0000 Brandon Horn https://mrhorn.com/wp/?p=462 Earnings on savings and investments outside of tax advantaged accounts are often taxable, sometimes as ordinary income. The 2008 Tax Rate Schedule (PDF) shows federal tax rates for all income levels. By paying taxes on your earnings each year, you lose more than just the money you paid in taxes. You also lose the [...]]]> http://mrhorn.com/wp/posts/tax-advantaged-accounts/feed/ 0