Posts Tagged :

credit score

Lending and borrowing the Kiwi way

Us Kiwi’s have made the most of peer-to-peer as a way of life for some time now, adopting services such as UBER, Airbnb and Airtasker and enjoying better value all round. Neil Roberts Joint CEO of Harmoney says it has been very rewarding watching Kiwis embrace the Harmoney peer-to-peer lending marketplace. “The growth has been fantastic, but the passion that comes from our community and their continued support for Harmoney is perhaps the most rewarding of all.” Thanks half a…

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Tips to save everyday on technology

Technology has become a crucial part of our everyday lives. Whether it’s talking, texting, catching up with family on social media or searching for the latest recipe to cook for dinner. However technology is increasingly becoming more expensive. Here are some tips to save money. 1. Understand your bills Understand the plan you are currently on. What are the fees and charges? Go through your bills and make sure you understand what the items are you are being charged for. If you…

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How to overcome bad credit and get a home loan

So you’ve got a big bad black mark on your credit record and you want a mortgage? Don’t worry, all is not lost. Banks like to lend to people who they believe have the disposable income and the will to pay them back. If your credit score is bad and there are a few sneaky black marks on it they might think that you’re not such a good bet. Banks have to be responsible What’s more, our banks are also…

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Ninja creeping
Nine ways to sabotage your own credit score

I’m working hard to improve my credit score these days. In the past I was a bit of a bad boy when it came to paying bills – so I’ve been looking into what will kill your credit score, and fast. Real fast. But just so you know: a good credit score is 500 or more on the scale of 0 to 1,000. Most of us Kiwis sit between 400 to 600. Over 800 is skuxx as. Anything less than…

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Man with empty pockets
Debt-free retirement out of reach for many Kiwis

Here at Credit Simple HQ, we’re always talking to Kiwis from all over the country about their credit scores and their finances. So when we noticed a trend – that is, older Kiwis telling us they don’t feel sorted for retirement – we thought we’d dig into the data to see if the numbers would tell us a story. And that data shows that New Zealanders over 55 are buckling under debt pressure, with the age group making up an increasing…

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Lady handing over keys to house
How to get the rental you want even if you have bad credit

Your credit score matters when it comes to renting a home. Landlords can and do carry out credit checks on potential tenants (but remember, they have to get your permission first). If you’ve got a great big black mark on your credit history – or even a little black dot – you’ll probably kiss that rental goodbye. It sounds unfair and could leave you homeless. But landlords aren’t running a charity. A bad credit history rings alarm bells to landlords and…

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What’s in a name? Beryl, Joan and Muriel take out the top spots for credit scores ranked by name

What’s in a name? When it comes to your credit score, it could be more than you think. Here at Credit Simple, we’ve got access to a wealth of data around credit information and demographics. So we thought we’d look into first names ranked by credit score. Names such as Beryl, Joan and Muriel might sound old-fashioned, but they’re winning in the health stakes when it comes to credit scores. Enid, Joan and Winifred take out the top three spots…

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Toy unicorns
9.2% of all Kiwis are credit unicorns. Are you one of them?

In the world of credit scores, we like to refer to those with a score of more than 900 as unicorns. They are rare and until now, almost mythical beasts, and only 9.2% of all Kiwis can call themselves a credit unicorn. Everyone has a credit score. It’s a number between zero and 1000 that credit providers and banks use to determine how credit worthy you are. The higher your score, the more likely credit providers are likely to lend…

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It’s in the stars: Credit Simple’s financial horoscopes (February)

Aries That pain in your shoulder? It’s just your body’s way of telling you that carrying your savings around as coins so the CIA can’t hack your bank account details isn’t the best idea you’ve ever had. Instead, the stars suggest you consider a cheque or savings account with a major bank plus a low interest credit card with low or no annual card fees. Lucky number: anything under 10%. Taurus Your coffee order says more about you than you…

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Got a Christmas debt hangover? We’ve got five tips to sober up your bank balance

The post-Christmas season can be a tough one, and our data shows Kiwis are more likely to let their credit bills languish unpaid at this time of the year compared to any other. If you’re anything like the average New Zealander, you’re probably feeling the effects of spending up large in the lead-up to the festive season and in the wake of Boxing Day sales. Usually around 6.4% of credit card accounts go past due without being paid, but in the January…

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