Obtaining and accessing free credit scores
Obtaining and accessing free credit scores

A credit score is a number that determines how creditworthy a person is based on their credit history. Moneylenders or other financial and banking institutions require it to judge the quality and quantity of loans to be granted to debtors. This is done to judge the debtor’s ability to repay the loan. One aspect that must be considered is that different institutions may provide different credit scores due to different scoring systems used.

If the FICO score is taken into account (since it is said to be the most commonly used in the country), then any score below 640 makes the customer a subprime borrower. Any score above 700 will convince lenders to charge average interest rates and terms. Many factors are considered when a credit score is calculated, such as timely repayments in the past, the actual debt amount, credit types, and the length of the borrower’s credit history.

The government has ensured that any citizen can get a free credit score check through three kinds of options, which have been given below.

Seeking the assistance of a credit score service
A website called freecreditscore provides customers with their FICO-standardized free credit score after they signing up without cost. No credit card information is required for this as well. It is possible that some websites earn a majority of their revenue through advertising, and so provide this service for free. Websites such as creditkarma offer more than just free credit scores. They also monitor credit reports, furnish insights and analysis into the trends of credit scores, and provide personalized suggestions on how to improve them.

Counselors who don’t work for profits
There are credit counselors who work on a non-profit basis in different states of the country. They are certified and can be contacted online or via telephone. A list of these can be made, which can be further verified with the office of the State Attorney General and the local consumer protection agency. They provide free credit scores and so do counselors approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Credit card and loan statements
Perhaps the simplest way is for a person to approach their credit card or auto loan company and request them to provide free credit scores every month in their statements. This can also be done through Internet banking.

  • A guide to buying Berkshire Hathaway furniture

    Berkshire Hathaway is a one stop destination that provides a massive range of products and accessories under the same roof. The furniture department is giving tough competition to the likes of Crate and Barrel furniture, Home Goods furniture and Lowe’s furniture.

    Furniture in itself comprises of a large number of items for different rooms and areas in the house. The theme followed in the bedroom cannot be followed in the drawing room and vice versa. Moreover, the material used in indoor furniture will vary from the one used in the construction of chairs and sofas to be placed outside which have to be tough and weather resistant. At the Berkshire Hathaway Furniture store, the variety offered will leave you delighted and make your heart ask for more.

    • For the living room The furniture to be kept in the living room ranges from love seats, sectional sofas, ottomans, recliners, sofa beds and klik klaks. These items are coordinated with matching center and side tables to give the living room a feel of a more comfortable version of the drawing room.
    • For the bedroom To create a bedroom of your dreams, Berkshire Hathaway furniture store provides you options such as day beds, headboards, dressers and other items that are not found easily elsewhere.
    • For the dining room The brand offers furniture based on different styles such as those inspired my mid century for fans of traditional themes. Moreover, these styles are revamped with a modern twist so that they do not look odd when placed in designed with contemporary architecture.
    • For the bar If you have an empty basement that is just serves as a dump store, make good use of it by converting it into a stylish bar and that too without shelling out much money. With affordable Berkshire Hathaway furniture items, not only will you be able to add a bar unit but also various games, tables and accessories to make it a complete playground.
    • For the office Berkshire Hathaway furniture store provides desks, cabinets, printer stands as well as bookshelves that help in converting the dull and boring ambience into a more interesting one. Not only do bookshelves effectively utilize empty corners in the office, but also provide an opportunity to manage files and books that otherwise clutter the table.

    Berkshire Hathaway furniture stores promise instant delivery of products so that you can redesign the house the way you always wanted in no time.

    So, where are you buying your new furniture set from?

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  • 5 Chromebooks for every user

    Chromebooks were considered as the only devices that students found usable till a couple of years ago. However, that has changed now, and more and more professionals are using them. Not just this, Chromebooks are also being bought for casual use. This has pushed the demand for Chromebooks by over double year-on-year.

    Let us have a look at the best Chromebooks 2021 has to offer:

    Acer Chromebook Spin 713
    It is one of the best Chromebooks 2021 has with a great set of features and beautiful design. It sports a 3:2 screen that ensures that you have a lot of vertical space for easy multitasking. The backlit keyboard is easy to use and can be worked on quietly. An HDMI port further sets it apart from most Chromebooks, and the 10th-Gen Intel processor ensures no lag even when using multiple tabs. Two shortcomings in the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 are no biometric login and below-average sound quality.

    Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
    With a QLED display that is bright and beats almost all of its competitors when it comes to screen, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is a delight to work on. The battery life is improved as compared to the previous generation. The Chromebook comes in an interesting red color, which makes it look attractive. It also has the functionality of a touchscreen, which can be used with the help of a stylus. The only downside is that the processor is not as good as the last model from the same company.

    Google Pixel Go
    If you’re willing to spend extra to get a better experience, you might want to consider the Google Pixel Go. Just like Pixel smartphones deliver the best Android experience, the Pixel Go provides a great Chrome OS experience. It comes with an i7 processor and has 250 GB storage. The $1399 variant also sports a 4K display, which is uncommon for Chromebooks.

    Lenovo Chromebook Duet
    If you’re looking for an inexpensive Chromebook, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is just the right choice. At a low price of just $249, you get a device with a detachable keyboard and kickstand cover. The Chromebook comes with 4 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, and a MediaTek Helio P60T processor. It is suitable for regular use, especially for students.

    HP Chromebook x2
    HP Chromebook x2 is suitable for business users owing to its long battery life and detachable design. The display is sharp, and the sound quality is impressive. Although the Core m3 processor is not what you’d expect in such a machine, it works well for regular business tasks. The Chromebook comes with a keyboard as well as a stylus.

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  • 4 tips to eat healthily and lower bilirubin levels

    Bilirubin is produced by the conversion of hemoglobin when the liver breaks down red blood cells that are no longer required by the body. High bilirubin levels in the body are caused due to an increase in toxicity in the liver, malfunction of the liver or the gallbladder. High levels of bilirubin can also be caused due to diseases such as cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, gallstones, leukemia, Gilbert syndrome, pancreatitis, cancer or inflammation of the gallbladder.

    High bilirubin levels can cause jaundice-like symptoms such as yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes. In case of Gilbert syndrome, the body experiences constant fatigue or stomach pain. The best way to treat these symptoms and lower bilirubin levels is by consulting a doctor and following a prescribed treatment plan. Along with treatments, it is necessary to fortify the liver so that its functions return to normal, thus lowering bilirubin levels. One way to do this is by eating a healthy diet that works towards making the liver strong. Here are a few things that should be a part of the diet when high bilirubin levels are produced in the body:

    • Food with high nutrient content: Nutrients in the food is processed by the liver. The liver also filters the blood to get rid of toxins. The liver’s functions are boosted when the diet is packed with nutrient-rich food. It is essential to make the following things a part of daily diet: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, healthy fats, lean meat such as chicken, fish, beans and so on.
    • High-fiber content food: It is claimed that a diet rich in fiber helps to increase the regeneration of cells of the liver. Eating soluble fiber also helps in easing bowel movements. Whole grains, beans, fresh vegetables, and fruits are rich sources of fiber. Black beans and kidney beans are known to have a high percentage of fiber.
    • Opt for red vegetables and fruits: Red fruits and vegetables contain a chemical and antioxidant called as lycopene. Lycopene is known to be beneficial for liver health. A high proportion of lycopene is present in cooked tomatoes, guavas, watermelon, papayas, cooked sweet red peppers, and grapefruit. Tomato juice and tomato paste are also good sources of lycopene.

    Food to avoid

    Food that causes inflammation of the liver can aggravate the symptoms of high bilirubin levels. It is essential to avoid food that is high in processed sugar and fat. Deep fried and greasy food should not be consumed. Carbonated drinks and fast food should not be part of the diet. The amount of salt in food should be reduced. Alcohol should be avoided as well.

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  • 3 common types and causes of hearing loss you should know about

    Deafness and hearing loss can range from mild to intense. These can have multiple causes and can occur at any age. Hearing loss can occur as a result of a viral infection, or due to a loss of hearing over time caused by a disease, nerve damage, or injury caused by noise. Some babies are born deaf due to genetic factors. Hearing loss that occurs during birth is called congenital hearing loss while hearing loss that occurs after birth is called acquired hearing loss. Here, we’ll see the three types of hearing loss and their causes.

    Conductive hearing loss
    This kind of hearing loss happens when there is a problem with the ear drum, ear canal, or middle ear and its tiny bones (the malleus, incus, and stapes). There can be many other causes as well like malformation of the ear canal, outer ear, or of the structures of the middle ear. Hearing loss causes also include fluid in the middle ear due to cold, an ear infection, allergies, poor Eustachian tube function, perforated eardrum or tympanic membrane perforation, benign tumors, and so on. Otosclerosis, a disease that can affect the middle ear, can cause harm to the tiny bones and make it hard for you to hear sounds well. Earwax or a foreign body in your ear can also cause an impact on your ear’s health.

    Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)
    When hearing loss occurs due to problems of the inner ear, it can cause a sensorineural hearing loss or nerve-related hearing loss. This is caused by a virus, head trauma, loud noise, and even aging. It can be a hereditary problem or can be due to Meniere’s disease, malformation of the inner ear, otosclerosis (an autoimmune inner ear disease) and so on. Lastly, when someone is taking severe medications like ototoxic medication to cure diseases like cancer, one of the side effects can be hearing loss.

    Mixed hearing loss
    In many cases, both conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss patterns are seen in the ears, and in such a case, doctors call it mixed hearing loss. A head injury or extremely loud music in cases of older people can be counted as a potential cause of this type.

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  • Factors to consider before signing a timeshare contract

    Timeshare is a unique concept that lets vacationers own a fraction of a property anywhere in the world instead of buying or renting the entire property. You simply pay for the duration of the vacation while exploring your favorite destinations. With timeshare, you can own multiple properties in some of the most exotic vacation destinations around the world. It is the most economical way to own a vacation home. You get to enjoy the entire home for the allotted time, but you pay only for a fraction of it ownership and simply share the available space with the co-owners for the rest of the year.

    Here are a few things you must know to make the most out of your timeshare purchase.

    Types of timeshare
    Fractional ownership is the cheapest and easiest way to enjoy accommodation rights to a vacation property without having to outrightly buy it. But you can also check out timeshare resale offers that let you own the entire property for a lower retail value than the market price. Alternatively, you can own the place for a fixed week each year (like for Christmas or Thanksgiving) or opt for floating week ownerships during a season (say summer or winter). A biennial ownership lets you use the property every alternate year if you’re not a frequent traveler. However, these ownerships don’t generate any income and are merely a cost-effective way to partially own a place.

    Charges and fees
    The cost of the property is not the only expense, as you will also have to pay for the maintenance and bear the fees and services chargeable for the duration of the ownership. These costs can easily sum up to a couple of hundred dollars and may cut into your vacation budget, so assess the total cost of ownership of the property. Note that these costs vary depending on the type of timeshare, size of the unit, and the location, among other factors.

    Point-based ownerships
    Popular vacation destinations and resorts also offer a points-based system to let you own a timeshare property if you’re not keen on owning a unit. You can always convert these points to book a suitable unit for a specific period. Plus, you can choose to use all your points at once or split them up and use them to vacation at different destinations at different times of the year.

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  • Best Xbox One deals to check out

    If you are out in the market to get an Xbox One console, then there are many options to consider before grabbing one. For someone who is out to get their first gaming console, it is sensible to get Xbox One bundles as a part of the Xbox One sales. One can get a lot more for their money by getting one or even two games with the bundle pack. Moreover, the Xbox One bundle packs even offer customized gaming consoles with unique designs and colors. The Xbox has sales running for the slimmer sibling which goes by the name Xbox One S and comes in a lot cheaper than the original Xbox One. Some of the best deals for Xbox One are as follows:

    Newegg
    Newegg offers great discounts for Xbox One console. The 500 GB version of Xbox One S is for sale at around $280, which includes the console, a wireless controller, headset, HDMI cable and a 14-day trial Xbox One Live Membership. There is also a bundle X Box One sales for around $310, which includes a six-month Xbox Gold Live membership pass. At a cost below $300, a chance to play AAA titles is really a nice deal that Newegg is offering.

    Amazon
    Amazon has come up with a classic bundle for Xbox One Console by offering one of the best-selling online shooter games of 2017 for boosting the Xbox One sales: Battle Field 1. The bundle comes with the console, one wireless controller and an inbuilt copy of Battlefield 1. Amazon also offers a charging dock for the joystick controller for an additional amount of around $25, which is a great deal. The Bundle excluding the charging dock is available for around $243.

    eBay
    eBay also offers the same special edition bundle similar to the one offered by Amazon. The console comes with pre-installed Battlefield 1 and has a memory of 500Gb. The bundle contains the 500 Gb console, one wireless controller, HDMI cables, 30 day EA access pass and a 14 day Xbox Live Gold pass. The color options available are Robot white and Storm grey. The bundle costs around $229, which is probably the best deal considering Battlefield 1 as the bundle.

    Jet
    Jet offers a 1TB variant of Xbox One S bundled with one of the most played online battle royale game: Player Unknown Battlegrounds, famously known as the PUBG. The bundle includes the console, one wireless controller, pre-installed PUBG, HDMI cables and a 14-day trial Xbox Live Gold membership at around $286. 

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  • Best websites to buy online video games

    Playing online games can be fun but the in-app purchases that range from $10, $20 or even $150 do add up to be an expensive affair. Fortunately, there are ways to cut down these expenses.  Avoid pre-ordering the game, wait until the online games are released. This can save you a lot of money. Finding great deals for video games can be frustrating hence we will take a look at some of the best sites for buying games for good deals.

    • IsThereAnyDeal
      This is a site which compares all the video games online and lists them side by side in a layout where one ranks them making it easy for the buyers to make the right decision. It also offers a special feature where the users can set a price point and the user will get notified once the price drops. The site also offers some interesting insights like the frequency of sale of a particular title and where it can be bought at the best deal. It is the best site for users who are really tight on budget but still want to get the best online game possible.
    • CheapShark
      This is a simpler version of the one mentioned above. It aggregates all the prices and offers a dozen online options at the best deal. Features like Cheapest ever and Price Notification helps the users to get an alert for cheap deals on online video games. Cheap Shark also rates the deal as per absolute price, discounts and release date and helps the user choose the best online video game.
    • Humble Bundle
      Started in 2010, Humble Bundle is a site which offers discount deals on the collection of online video games with some of their proceedings donated as charity. The site at its starting phase used to provide deals only for indie game but gradually started evolving, offering various AAA titles. They follow a ‘pay what you want’ ideology in which the user is offered a variety of video games at affordable prices. However, in every game, the most desirable game has to be bought for a minimum amount of $12 still making it a great deal.
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  • Four primary benefits of using French door refrigerators

    French door refrigerators have gained a lot of popularity in the recent times. The main reason behind their popularity is their style, elegance, and utilization factor. This is more like the side by side refrigerator model, but with a twist, as it has a separate bottom freezer. Hence, it has more modularity compared to the other variants. Most of the top refrigerators of 2017 are French door refrigerators, they provide an extended ease as compared to the

    There are numerous benefits that you can get from the French door refrigerators, which are mentioned below.

    • This type of refrigerator is tougher as compared to the standard models. They are much more durable, which makes them ideal for large households, where there is more frequent opening and closing of the doors. These refrigerators can withstand the harshness of everyday use.
    • The French door refrigerators are highly stylish and elegant as compared to the standard refrigerators. The designs of these refrigerators are classic, and they bring about a look which is really a captivating one. They can change the appearance of the place where they are kept.
    • Efficiency is a matter of immense importance, which needs to be checked while buying a refrigerator and the French door refrigerators are the ones with the maximum efficiency. These refrigerators are low on the electricity costs, but still, give the benefits of having a home appliance of high utility.
    • The item display in this type of refrigerators is just phenomenal, which can attract the attention of anyone who has a look at it.

    Knowing the benefits, you can now choose a French door refrigerator for your home based on the space available, the size of your family, budget, and so on. There are several top brands such as Samsung and Whirlpool that manufacture French door refrigerators and the purchase can be made online at the major online retailers such as Home Depot, Sears, Amazon, etc.

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