Be My Money Coach

Find out your credit score at one of these credit bureaus. With identity theft rampant and the easy access to information, it's a good idea to get your credit report once a year to ensure that there are no errors.

You can get a copy of your credit report online or by completing the request form available on the website and mailing it in. Usually you can get a free copy of your credit report once a year.

In Canada:

www.Equifax.ca

www.Transunion.ca

In the United States:

www.Equifax.com

www.Transunion.com

There are many real estate agents out there and choosing one can be difficult. Here are 3 things you should ask your real estate agent:

1. How long have you been in business?
Find an agent that's been in business for at least two years.

2. What kind of real estate do you specialize in and what areas?
If you are an investor find an agent that understands the financials of investment real estate and can help you understand the numbers.

Gone are the days of keeping up with the Jones and buying things we don't need to impress people we barely even like. The new reigning status symbol is being Debt Free.  No more presuming on the future, expecting jobs to be secure, real estate values to continue their meteoric rise and credit to be free flowing. We now have to get down to the business of getting our financial houses in order. One of the first steps to doing this is to reach for the golden price...being DEBT FREE.

As the old saying goes, "Fail to plan, plan to fail"

Take some time to outline your major goals, the timelines within which you would like to achieve them and the estimated costs. A goal without a timeline and a way to achieve it is simply a wish.

Managing credit can be hard if you have already dug yourself into a deep pit and created bad habits. On the other hand, it can be easy if you're just starting out and simply need guidance.

So here are 5 simply steps to managing credit:

• Spend less than you earn
• Save up for major purchases (yes its old fashioned but it works)