Born on this day!! Actor Mitchell Ryan (“Dharma and Greg”) is 87. Actor Felix Silla (Cousin Itt on “The Addams Family,” ″Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”) is 84. Director Joel Zwick (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) is 79. Country singer Naomi Judd is 75. Musician Robert Earl Keen is 65. Actor Phyllis Logan (“Downton Abbey”) is 65. Guitarist Vicki Peterson of The Bangles is 63. Actor Kim Coles (“Living Single”) is 59. Former child actor Dawn Lyn (“My Three Sons”) is 58. Guitarist Tom Dumont of No Doubt is 53. Singer Mary J. Blige is 50. Musician Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers is 50. Actor Amanda Peet is 49. Actor Rockmond Dunbar (“Heartland,” “Soul Food”) is 48. Actor Aja Naomi King (“How To Get Away With Murder”) is 36. Reality star Jason Wahler (“Laguna Beach,” ″The Hills”) is 34. Singer Cody Simpson is 24.

THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY

1935 – Amelia Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.
1964 – The first government report regarding the dangers of cigarette smoking was issued by the U.S. Surgeon General, Luther Terry.
1973 – Baseball’s American League adopted the “designated hitter” rule which allowed another player to bat for the pitcher.
2002 – The first al-Qaeda prisoners arrive at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
2003 – Outgoing Illinois governor George Ryan cleared the state’s death row by commuting the sentences of 167 inmates.
2011 – The Arab Spring movement begins in Tunisia when demonstrators take to the streets to protest chronic unemployment and police brutality.

Today Is: Cigarettes Are Hazardous To Your Health Day, Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day, National Clean Off Your Desk Day, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Plough Monday

TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)

CBS – 8:00 – The Neighborhood  /  8:30 – Bob Hearts Abishola  /  9:00 – All Rise  /  10:00 – Bull
NBC – 8:00  – Ellen’s Game Of Games  /  9:00 – The Wall  /  10:00 – The Weakest Link
ABC – 8:00 – The Bachelor /  10:00 – The Good Doctor
FOX – 8:00 –  911  /  9:00 – 911 Lone Star
CW – 8:00 –  All American Stories  /  9:00 – Penn and Teller Fool Us

TV Talk Shows

Jimmy Kimmel: Milo Ventimiglia, Ken Jennings, Queen Naija
Jimmy Fallon: Rashida Jones, Bill Burr, Old Dominion
Stephen Colbert: Chris Rock, Joss Stone
Seth Meyers: Amber Ruffin, Lacey Lamar, Future Islands
James Corden: Rob Lowe, Zoe Wees
Lilly Singh: Saweetie
Conan: Heather Graham (R 12/7/20)
Watch What Happens Live: Meghan McCain, S.E. Cupp
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Carey Mulligan, Tom Payne, Jess Sims
Ellen DeGeneres: Chris Rock (R 10/1/20)
The Real: Keke Palmer, guest co-host Angie Martinez
Kelly Clarkson: David Oyelowo, Wilmer Valderrama, Syd & Shea McGee
Tamron Hall: Busta Rhymes
Drew Barrymore: Craig Ferguson, Nikki & Brie Bella, Pilar Valdes

WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!

QUESTION: Is this the opening shot of a CHICKEN CIVIL WAR?? KFC announces the launch of a new CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH to compete with Popeye’s! This is WAR!

 

QUESTION: Are Meghan and Harry planning to REUNITE WITH THE ROYAL FAMILY in London?? It’s reported they’ll be there for the Queen’s 95th birthday on June 12th!!

 

QUESTION: Are YOU concerned about Internet censorship and banning off social media platforms?? These celebs are sharing their concerns after this weird weekend!!!

 

QUESTION: Are Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield coming back for ANOTHER BITE?? Sources say they’re talking about a “trilogy” of fights for a cool $200 MILLION!! Pow!!!

 

QUESTION: Have you given up on 2021 ALREADY?? These people have.. and you gotta see their creative memes on “Bored Panda!!” (We’ll let you know when it’s over!!!)

Final Alex Trebek Hosted Jeopardy! Airs

The final episode of Jeopardy! that Alex Trebek hosted before he died has aired.  Friday’s edition of the game show included a brief video of highlights from the late star’s life and career.  The clip was also shared on social media.  He died Nov. 8, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 80.  He filmed his final episodes amid his illness and treatment for cancer without knowing they would be his last.  Alex hosted the show for 37 seasons, winning seven Daytime Emmy Awards for his work.  Ken Jennings, a former Jeopardy! contestant who holds the record for the longest winning streak on the show, will serve as its first interim host beginning Monday.  See the tribute clip HERE.
********They found every single wacky moment of his career!! That equals one minute and 29 seconds!! But.. we loved him!!!

Chris Hansen Wanted Jeffrey Epstein

Former “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen tried to set up a sting operation on Jeffrey Epstein.  He says that in about 2014 or 2015 — after Epstein’s first prison sentence — he met with lawyers representing some of his victims, who claimed that the late pedophile was continuing to prey on young girls.  “I met with these guys and they had a big file on it,” he told “Hollywood Raw with Dax Holt and Adam Glyn,” “and I was trying to fashion a ‘[To Catch a] Predator’-like sting operation in which we could catch him.”  But Hansen said the “levels of security at his place in New York were such that it was very difficult to come up with something; the Florida [home] was difficult to come up with something.”  He told the hosts, “And honestly guys, I got busy with other things.” Hansen said that not being more aggressive on that story was his “biggest career regret.”
********But maybe not!! Because at least he’s still alive!!
******Famous last words: “Hey, you’ll never believe this video of Bill Clinton!!!”
*****Epstein was pitching a new show called “The Bachelor – Junior Edition!!”

The Queen Gets The COVID Vaccine

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, have received their coronavirus vaccinations.  A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement Saturday.  “The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have today received Covid-19 vaccinations,” the announcement says.  A royal source confirmed the vaccinations were administered “by a household doctor at Windsor Castle,” where the 94-year-old monarch and her husband, 99, have been living amid the global health crisis.  The spokesperson said the queen wanted to inform the public of the vaccinations “to prevent inaccuracies and further speculation.”  It is unclear which vaccine was administered to the royal couple, but the palace noted that “no other details will be shared.”
*****She’d better live a few more years, or people will think they wasted it!!
******Prince Phillip asked, “Do you have anything for an STD??”
******At their age, they’ve probably had every disease you can possibly have!!!
*****As Queen, she has people who will catch the COVID for her!!!!

Kardashians Officially Stop Filming

Kim Kardashian, her mother Kris Jenner and her siblings have marked their final day of filming “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”  Back in September, Kim stunned fans with the announcement that the E! series will end in 2021 after 14 years and 20 seasons. The final season is set to air sometime early this year.  Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian documented the final moments of Friday’s filming, from being mic’d up for the last time to the fancy lunch celebration the family threw afterwards.  “Last filming day of Keeping Up with The Kardashian’s EVER!” Kim captioned an Instagram Story showing a photo of one of the show’s crew members, Erin Paxton. “Erin’s been our audio tech for 14 years!!”  In the video, Kim says, “You guys, the last micing ever,” while showing off her microphone next to her sisters’ and mother’s. In another snap, Kim showed off a lunch table decorated with pink, orange and yellow roses and place settings for each of the family members and their children. Each setting featured a cookie decorated with each of the family member’s faces.
*******The first good news of 2021!!!
********They can’t even go away without being obnoxious!!
****Oh, wait: they’re NOT going away. They’re going to be streaming the first season of  anew show called “Kim’s Latest Divorce!!!”

Nicki Minaj Settles Lawsuit With Tracy Chapman

Nicki Minaj has settled a copyright infringement lawsuit to avoid going to trial.  She must pay singer-songwriter, Tracy Chapman, $450,000 for illegally using her 1988 song “Baby Can I Hold You” on her 2018 track “Sorry.”  Minaj also agreed to pay Chapman’s legal fees. The offer was accepted on Thursday, per Page Six. Chapman filed the lawsuit in October 2018 after “Sorry” was leaked to DJ Funkmaster Flex and it went viral online. The song wasn’t apart of Minaj’s album “Queen.”  She claimed Minaj asked for permission to use her song and Chapman didn’t agree to the terms. Then, Minaj allegedly went ahead and used part of the song anyway.  “We settled for one reason only. It would have cost us more to go to trial,” a rep for Minaj told Pitchfork.  Meanwhile, Chapman’s rep said, “I am glad to have this matter resolved and grateful for this legal outcome which affirms that artists’ rights are protected by law and should be respected by other artists. I was asked in this situation numerous times for permission to use my song; in each instance, politely and in a timely manner, I unequivocally said no.” “Apparently Ms. Minaj chose not to hear and used my composition despite my clear and express intentions. As a songwriter and an independent publisher, I have been known to be protective of my work. I have never authorized the use of my songs for samples or requested a sample. This lawsuit was a last resort — pursued in an effort to defend myself and my work and to seek protection for the creative enterprise and expression of songwriters and independent publishers like myself,” the statement concluded.
**********That’ll buy Tracy a “Fast Car!!!!”
TRIVIA: Tracy became famous when she got onstage to fill time during a set change at Nelson Mandela’s birthday party!! (true)

Thomas Markle Likes Samantha’s New Tell-All

Meghan Markle’s estranged half-sister Samantha Markle is releasing a tell-all — and their father is looking forward to it.  “I’m just very pleased that she’s accomplished this book,” Thomas Markle told Us Weekly on Friday. “Let’s let her talk to you about the book.”  Samantha announced she was writing a book after Meghan became engaged to Britain’s Prince Harry in November 2017. According to the outlet, Samantha confirmed in December 2018 that she was splitting her book into two parts.  The book, titled “The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister Part 1,” claims to expose “hidden truths” about the family.  The book, which is expected to be released on Jan. 17, is already listed as a bestseller on Barnes & Noble.
********This proves that, in order to write a book, you don’t have to be able to read one!!!
*****Her dad is a big reader… he especially loves subpoenas and late notices!!!
*******Ask any member of the royal family… Princess Pushy is the best!!!

Harry and Meghan Quitting Social Media – Won’t Become Citizen

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have “no plans” to return to social media almost a year after Megxit.  A source close to the ex-royals told The Times of London that they’re “very unlikely” to have an online presence, mostly due to the “hate” they’ve received.  Before her engagement to Harry, Meghan ran an online blog called “The Tig,” which she shuttered after her engagement to Harry. She also had a personal Instagram profile.  Harry reportedly used a secret anonymous Instagram account when he and Meghan first started dating.  Though they have a podcast on Spotify, their Archewell Charity will not have its own social media accounts.  Also Meghan has missed out on her chance to become a British citizen.  When she married Harry in 2018, she became eligible to one day apply for British citizenship as the spouse of a UK native.  However, one of the requirements to even apply for citizenship was that she must live in the UK for three full years. It means that she technically could have qualified in November of last year, counting forward from when she moved to the UK in late 2017 to be with Harry.  Citizen hopefuls can’t spend more than 270 days outside of the UK during their three-year period.  Doing so nullifies their eligibility, as does being out of the UK for 90 days in the 12 months before they apply.
********Just think: Her kid could be king, and his mother is a paltry American!!!
*****The big question: Will Harry become an American citizen?? He’s waiting for her to make his decision!!!!

 

Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!

Katie’s Chef Beau Dishes Up Rage!-(National Enquirer)

Katie Holmes’ friends are warning her to wise up about her hot-tempered beau, Emilio Vitolo Jr., 33, sources said-after he went on a profanity-laced rant!  “Emilio’s been in an edgy mood over his family’s New York City restaurant losing money while they’re forced to stay closed because of the pandemic,” snitched an insider.  “He’s definitely let his nice guy mask slip and it’s affecting their relationship.  Everything was all peaches and cream before, but now it’s strained and difficult at times.  Katie gets that it’s a very tense time and she’s totally supportive, but her friends worry this is a bad sign of what’s to come.

Fishy Diet Stinks For Posh Celebs-(Globe)

Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, 46, is reportedly cutting down on her lean ‘n’ mean fishy diet.  “Victoria had off-the-scale levels of mercury, so doctors gave her a liver flush to help rid the body of toxins,” say spies overseas.  Fellow famous Brit, rocker Robbie Williams, spills he’s also up to his gills with a case of toxic mercury poisoning.  “I was eating fish twice a day and I’ve got the highest mercury poisoning the doctor has ever seen,” reveals the singer.

Loose Talk-(Us Weekly)

“He slipped [the tongue] on me!……Our director called him on it.  [He] was like, ‘Hey, woah….this is PG, there is no tongue!’”-Recalling her kissing scene with Zac Efron in 2007’s Hairspray, Nikki Blonsky.

“When I first got to L.A……I had no money, I had not clout, I had nothing, and sometimes I would pose as you to get into the club.”-Confessing to doppelganger Zooey Deschanel that she used to pretend to be her before rising to fame, Katy Perry.

“It’s either change my name or really just step it up.”-On being the underdog when it comes to his fellow famous Chrises, Chris Pine.

“I guess we can finally put an end to that debate of ‘Who’s the better Chris?’”-Declaring himself the top Chris in Hollywood, Chris Pratt.

Snow Job-(Star)

Bedford, N.Y., Dec. 18

“I told you I was addicted to snow plowing,” Martha Stewart posted on Instagram.  The 79-year-old spent three hours clearing the roads on her farm!

Uber Drivers Tell All!-(Life & Style)

Brook’s Boozy Cruise

Nothing comes between Brooke Shields and her cocktails!  When the 55-year-old stumbled into an Uber after a day of drinking on New York’s Long Island, her driver was immediately concerned.  According to the man behind the wheel, Brooke was “very drunk,” slurring her words, and “making a lot of noise.”  Therefore, he says he tried to get the star to her destination as quickly-and smoothly-as possible:  “I was worried she might vomit!”  In fact, the driver was so focused on his passenger’s condition, he didn’t recognize who she was at first.  “When we got to her stop, she suddenly asked, ‘Do you not know who I am?  I’m Brooke Shields!’” he recalls.  “So I took a picture with her.”

Tyrese & Samantha Gibson:  Divorcing-(People)

On Dec. 29 the actor-musician, 42, and his wife revealed in a joint statement that they’re separating after nearly four years of marriage.  “Our journey together has been a ride of both up & downs,” wrote the pair, who have a 2-year-old daughter.

Number of the Week-(In Touch)

84

-total weeks Mariah Carey has had a No. 1 song on Billboard’s Hot 100, giving her the record for the most ever.

 

STUPID NEWS

Man Buys Every Seat On Flight

A wealthy Indonesian man who shared photos from a plane where he and his wife were the sole passengers said he bought all available tickets for the flight to prevent exposure to COVID-19.  Richard Muljadi, a Jakarta-based socialite famous for his extravagant lifestyle, posted a series of photos to his Instagram story showing he and his wife traveling alone on a Batik Air flight from Jakarta to Bali.  Muljadi said he bought as many tickets as possible for the flight — which boasted 12 business class seats and 150 economy class seats — because he and his wife, Shalvynne Chang, were “super paranoid” about being exposed to COVID-19.  He did not disclose how much he paid to keep the flight private, but he wrote the amount was “still cheaper” than chartering a private plane.
********The airline DID make sure there was a crying baby in the back, so they’d feel like they were on a real flight!!
*******Weirdly, they STILL couldn’t get he flight attendant’s attention!!!
*******And the airline lost their luggage!!

Airport Cat Reunited With Owner

A cat that escaped from her owner at a security checkpoint in New York’s LaGuardia Airport was returned to the distraught traveler after spending 11 days hiding in the hub’s ceiling.  Taylor Le said she was in the process of moving from New York to Orange County, Calif., when she booked a Christmas Eve flight for herself and her 6-year-old cat, Muji.  Le said TSA agents had her remove Muji from her carrier at the security checkpoint, despite her protestations that the feline was likely to flee. Le said Muji panicked, as she had predicted, and led her owner and airport staff on a chase that ended when the cat climbed a series of platforms to a ceiling enclosure and disappeared inside.  The Queens Lost & Found Pets group received word of Muji’s plight from Le’s Facebook post, and pet-flying advocacy group Where Is Jack? Inc. became involved and helped Le arrange for a tracking dog to visit the airport.  The dog, a golden retriever named Abby, indicated Muji was still in the ceiling, and Le caught a flight back to New York.  She attempted to lure the cat out of the ceiling, but Muji didn’t emerge. Finally, 11 days after the cat had fled from security, Le received word that she had emerged and been safely caught in a trap.
*********One good thing: there are no mice in that airport now!!
*******The cat’s writing a book about her experience: “The World is My Catbox!!!”
TOPIC: “True tales of traveling with my pet!!!”

No Pants Subway Ride Cancelled

The organizers of the No Pants Subway Ride, an annual January event held on public transport in more than a dozen cities worldwide, announced the 2021 event has been canceled.  Improv Everywhere, the performance art group that has organized the No Pants Subway Ride since the first event was held in 2002 in New York City, said this year’s sans-pants public transit trek has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are canceling the annual No Pants Subway Ride this year,” Improv Everywhere said on the event’s official website. “We look forward to hosting more large-scale events once it is safe to do so again.”  Previous years have seen organized groups of subway riders taking per-determined commuter train routes in their underwear in cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Berlin, Calgary, Dallas, Mexico City, Tokyo, London, Lisbon, St. Peterburg, Melbourne and San Francisco.
********Plus, it’s a cold winter, so shrinkage is a problem!!!
*******Why not go pantless with a mask over your crotch???
********A couple of guys have been practicing for months!! Very disappointed!!

Leopard Wanders The Halls Of Medical College

Security cameras at a medical college in India recorded the moment a leopard wandered into a building on campus and wandered around a hallway.  The footage, recorded at Chamarajanagar Medical College in Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, shows a leopard wandering into a building on campus and walking up and down a hallway before fleeing out the same door it used to enter the facility. The dean of the school confirmed the leopard entered the building Jan. 2 and the animal’s incursion was witnessed by college staff.  Officials said the college is located next to a tiger reserve, so leopards are sometimes spotted on campus.  See the video HERE.
********Seeing a leopard walking down a hallway is a good substitute for a laxative!!
*******Nice kitty!!!
*******They should call Dr. Joe Exotic!!!

 

STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL

VIDEO: CAT SAYS “WELL HI”!

VIDEO: GOOGLE AND ALEXA PLAY CHESS!!

 

A LIST FOR MONDAY

How to Build Good Credit in 10 Steps (The Penny Hoarder)

Ready to make 2021 the year you finally prove your creditworthiness? Or are you looking to recover from a 2020 setback? Here’s how to build good credit in 10 steps.

1. Stay on Top of Your Credit Reports

It’s essential to monitor your credit reports, especially if you received a hardship agreement from a lender due to COVID-19. Under the CARES Act rules, lenders are supposed to report your account as paid in full while the agreement is in effect, as long as you weren’t already delinquent. But mistakes happen. Even in normal times, about 1 in 5 credit reports contained inaccurate information.

Through April 2021, you can get one free credit report per week from each bureau. (Typically, you’re only entitled to one free credit report per year from each bureau.) Make sure you access your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, rather than one of the many websites that offer “free” credit scores but will make you put down your credit card number to sign up for a trial. File a dispute with the bureaus if you find anything you think is inaccurate or any accounts you don’t recognize.

Your credit reports won’t show you your credit score, but you can use a free credit-monitoring service to check your score. (No, checking your own credit doesn’t hurt your score.) Many banks and credit card companies also give you your credit scores for free.

PRO TIP

If the bureaus agree to remove information from your credit reports, expect to wait about 30 days until your reports are updated.

 

2. Pay Your Bills. On Time. Every Single Month

Yeah, you knew we were going to say this: Paying your bills on time is the No. 1 thing you can do to build good credit. Your payment history determines 35% of your score, more than any other credit factor.

Set whatever bills you can to autopay for at least the minimums to avoid missing payments. You can always pay extra if you can afford it.

A strong payment history takes time to build. If you’ve made late payments, they’ll stay on your credit reports for seven years. The good news is, they do the most damage to your score in the first two years. After that, the impact starts to fade.

 

3. Establish Credit, Even if You’ve Made Mistakes

You typically need a credit card or loan to build a credit history. (Sorry, but all those on-time rent and utility payments are rarely reported to the credit bureaus, so they won’t help your score.)

But if you have bad credit or you’re a credit newbie, getting approved for a credit card or loan is tough. Look for cards that are specifically marketed to help people start or rebuild credit. Store credit cards, which only let you make purchases at a specific retailer, can also be a good option.

 

4. Open a Secured Card if You Don’t Qualify for a Regular Card

Opening a secured credit card is one of our favorite ways to build a positive history when you can’t get approved for a regular credit card or loan. You put down a refundable deposit, and that becomes your line of credit.

After about a year of making your payments on time, you’ll typically qualify for an unsecured line of credit. Just make sure the card issuer you choose reports your payments to the credit bureaus. Look for a card with an annual fee of no more than $35. Some secured card options we like (and no, we’re not getting paid to say this):

• Discover it Secured
• OpenSky Secured Visa Card
• Secured Mastercard from Capital One

 

5. Ask for a Limit Increase. Pretend You Never Got It

Increasing your credit limits helps your score because it decreases your credit utilization ratio. That’s credit score speak for the percentage of credit you’re using. The standard recommendation is to keep this number below 30%, but really, the closer to zero the better.

If you have open credit, ask your current creditors for an increase, rather than applying for new credit. That way, you’ll avoid lowering your length of credit, which could ding your score.

The downside of a higher credit limit: You’ll have more money to spend that isn’t really yours. To get the biggest credit score boost from a limit increase and avoid paying more in interest, make sure you don’t add to your balance.

 

PRO TIP

Don’t believe the myth that carrying a small credit card balance helps your credit score. Paying off your balance in full each month is best for your score, plus it saves you money on interest.

 

6. Prioritize Credit Card Debt Over Loans

Tackling credit card debt helps your credit score a lot more than paying down other debts, like a student loan or mortgage. The reason? Your credit utilization ratio is determined exclusively by your lines of credit.

Bonus: Paying off credit card debt first will typically save you money, because credit cards tend to have higher interest rates than other types of debt.

 

Provided you aren’t paying ridiculous fees, keep your credit card accounts open once you’ve paid off the balance. Credit scoring methods reward you for having a long credit history.

Make a purchase at least once every three months on the account, as credit card companies often close inactive accounts. Then pay it off in full.

 

8. Apply for New Credit Selectively

When you apply for credit, it results in a hard inquiry, which usually drops your score by a few points. So avoid applying frequently for new credit cards, as this can signal financial distress.

But if you’re in the market for a mortgage or loan, don’t worry about multiple inquiries. As long as you limit your shopping to a 45-day window, credit bureaus will treat it as a single inquiry, so the impact on your score will be minimal.

 

9. Still Overwhelmed? A Debt Consolidation Loan Could Help

If you’re struggling with credit card debt, consolidating your credit card debt with a loan could be a good option. In a nutshell, you take out a loan to wipe out your credit card balances.

You’ll get the simplicity of a single payment, plus you’ll typically pay less interest since loan interest rates tend to be lower. (If you can’t get a loan that lowers your interest rate, this probably isn’t a good option.)

By using a loan to pay off your credit cards, you’ll also free up credit and lower your credit utilization ratio.

Many debt consolidation loans require a credit score of about 620. If your score falls below this threshold, work on improving your score for a few months before you apply for one.

 

10. Keep Your Credit Score in Perspective

All the credit-monitoring tools out there make it easy to obsess about your credit score. While it’s important to build good credit, look at the bigger picture. A few final thoughts:

• Your credit score isn’t a report card on the state of your finances. It simply measures how risky of a borrower you are. Having an emergency fund, saving for retirement and earning a decent living are all important to your finances — but these are all things that don’t affect your credit score.
• Lenders look at more than your credit score.Having a low debt-to-income ratio, decent down payment and steady paycheck all increase your odds of approval when you’re making a big purchase, even if your credit score is lackluster.
• Don’t focus on your score if you can’t pay for necessities. If you’re struggling and you have to choose between paying your credit card vs. paying your rent, keeping food on the table or getting medical care, paying your credit card is always the lower priority. Of course, talk to your creditors if you can’t afford to pay them, as they may have options.

Focus on your overall financial picture, and you’ll probably see your credit score improve, too. Remember, though, that while credit scores matter, you matter more.

 

The preceding material was compiled and edited by Brandon Castillo.  The Editor-In-Chief is Gary Bryan.  The Radio Genius Show Prep Service is licensed for use on-air only by subscribing radio stations.  Other means of redistribution is forbidden.
© 2020 – Radio Genius Show Prep