SUDOKU BREAK Solution on Pg. 4
We Love Clark’s Consumer Tips
I subscribe to consumer advisor Clark Howard’s newsletter, and it is always full of great content that I use in my own personal life and pass on to my clients. Part of our mission is to broker second chances for those in financial crisis, and Clark is a tremendous resource. His recent article, “5 Reasons Your Credit Score Can Drop Unexpectantly,” was very insightful. No. 5 was a little surprising. Here is the list:
Pulled ‘Pork’ Sandwiches
Inspired by Tasty.co
1.
You applied for new credit.
2. You ran up a larger than normal balance on your credit cards.
3. You or your bank closed an old credit card.
4. There is a mistake on your credit report.
5. You paid off a loan.
Ingredients
I panicked a little when I saw No. 1. I bought a new car in December, and while the dealership shopped for the best financing options, my credit was checked about six times. Fortunately, Clark says that if you are buying a car and multiple lenders check your credit on the same day, it only counts as one inquiry. No. 2 is obvious. The more debt you have relative to your available credit, the lower your credit score. When you make a large purchase with credit it, is important to check the date that the creditor reports to the credit bureaus and get the balance paid down before that date. Simply paying before the due date is not necessarily going to protect you. I think No. 3 is a little weird. Punishing you for closing an old account you no longer use or need does not seem right. Nevertheless, I know Clark knows what he is talking about. So, do not close old accounts unless necessary. Regarding No. 4, Clark recommends you check your credit score once a year to check for errors. I use the Credit Karma app at least once a week to check my credit. It will also send out alerts when something changes. If you find an error, first contact the business that reported it. If that does not work, dispute the error with the credit bureaus. No. 5 is a head scratcher. Who would have thought it would be bad to pay off a loan? It effects your “credit mix,” which accounts for 10% of your credit score. Clark says you should not let that keep you from paying off loans unless you are about to apply for a large sum of credit like a home loan.
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2 tbsp olive oil ● 1 medium onion, sliced ● 3 cloves garlic, minced ● 3 cups canned jackfruit, drained
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● 1 tsp paprika
● 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
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● 1 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
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● 1 tsp liquid smoke ● 2 cups vegetable stock ● 1/2 cup vegan barbecue sauce
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● 2 tsp salt
● 1 tsp pepper ● 1 tsp cumin
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● 1 tsp chili powder
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● Vegan buns
Directions
1. 2.
Heat oven to 350 F.
In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add onions and garlic, cooking until the onions are translucent. 4. Add jackfruit, salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire, and liquid smoke, stirring to coat evenly. 5. Add vegetable stock and bring the mixture to a simmer for 45 minutes. 6. Spread the jackfruit on a baking sheet and bake for 75 minutes. 7. Pour vegan barbecue sauce on the jackfruit and bake for another 15 minutes. 8. Serve on vegan buns.
Follow these tips to maintain a healthy credit score. If you are struggling with debt, we can design a plan for you to reach your financial goals and find financial peace.
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www.PhyllisLaw.com | 404.514.3397
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