Birds & Bills clued me in on an interesting FICO change coming in 2008. Authorized user accounts will no longer play a role in calculating FICO scores, which means that those that piggybacked on the stellar credit score of a family member will no longer reap those benefits.

My sister and I are both authorized users on two of my parent’s accounts, which was more out of necessity in college than thinking about our credit scores, but I’m sure it’s helped me secure 0% auto loans and credit offers I wouldn’t have been eligable for otherwise.

Note to self: open a joint credit account with my husband.

I was smart enough not to fall for the free t-shirt offers for completing a credit card application in college, but I think that the student Visa credit card offers some really great benefits if used wisely. With the right research, available through Creditnet, students can qualify for 0% offers, cash back bonuses, and reward points, all of which can work in their favor and help them establish excellent credit scores.

Of course, all credit needs to be used wisely, so I advice that you always strive to pay your balance in full every month, and only use your credit card when absolutely necessary. It isn’t a ticket to buy all your friends drinks or take a spring break trip!

It isn’t easy being green. As much as I would love to purchase a hybrid vehicle, the initial investment is far beyond my means, so my 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix is just going to have to do. Although, I don’t think the 25 mpg I’ve been averaging is anything to turn my nose up at.

Lots of people are talking about the costly secrets of hybrid cars, and I have a hard time seeing where the cost of a hybrid is worth the minimal increase in mpg. For example, the hybrid Accord gets 32 mpg, compared with the regular Accord’s 24 mpg, but costs $3,300 more. That means (and MSN has done all the math for me) it would take eight years to break even on the purchase of the upgraded hybrid.

I think it boils down to car companies exploiting a trend. Consumers want green, car companies say they are green, consumers buy.

My company is building two very large and impressive mixed use developments in Cary and Apex, North Carolina and the families that own Charlotte Luxury Homes are just the people we’re targeting to shop at our centers. Highly educated, above average income, and a willingness to spend money.

More bills, a haircut, and a trip to the vet…

• $103 Geico
• $254 Best Buy
• $40 hair salon
• $14 vet
• $100 Marshall’s
• $9 Chipotle

Since I’ve taken over paying all of my husband’s bills, my first line of work is to pay off the credit cards with the highest interest rate and then snowball the payments over to the next card. Luckily, he doesn’t have large credit card balances, just a handful of small ones that can be paid off fairly easily.

It’s kind of a good way to kick our debt in the butt, because it’s a ego booster to be able to pay a credit card off in full, and it gives us steam to keep going.

If you own a small business and run on cash only, you need to seriously look into credit card processing. Many people never carry cash (me included) and businesses deprive themselves of many sales by not taking debit and credit cards. Merchant Consulting Group is a web-based company that helps merchants initiate acceptance of checks, gift cards, and credit and debit cards. They offer competitive rates (as low as 1.32%), as to not cut into your profits, and offer solutions for e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses.

If your business already accepts credit cards, Merchant Consulting Group can upgrade your system and help you obtain a lower rate, thus increasing your profits!

So, increase your customer base and start accept plastic!

This coupon was passed around work, and I thought I would share. 2 movies, popcorn, and 2 pops for free is a good deal! So, enjoy a Saturday night in!