Want to alleviate money worries and keep your financial house in order? Follow these three simple steps from Gettington.com to ensure that both partners are ready to take over the family finances whenever needed.

1. Know What’s Coming

Do a full audit of your bills for a month to understand what is really coming in the mailbox or by email. An easy way to do this is to grab a big envelope and put every bill that you receive in that envelope (print the ones you receive online). After you pay the bill, put the statement back in the envelope. Then make a note of other bills that may be quarterly or annual, put those notes in your envelope too. This will provide a true picture of your recurring bills.

2. Categorize

Now take all the bills in your envelope and categorize whether they are monthly, quarterly, or annual. Then note how you pay each one by writing that directly on the top of your statement or note. Be specific: what account is it paid from, is it on auto-pay from your bank account, do you have it charged to a credit card, or do you mail a check

4 ways to stop buying things you don’t need

3. Make it Handy

Here’s the creative part. Make a binder that can be kept handy with all your bill payment information in it. It’s easily done: take each bill that you just categorized, hole punch it, and then put it in the binder. Now you have a reference that will guide you through a difficult situation. Additionally, you’ve just created one of your most powerful budgeting tools by documenting all your bills.

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Money tips for your 20′s, 30′s and 40′s

If you don’t have credit already, start now! Not having credit is almost the same as having bad credit. You don’t want either!

When we think of credit, our first thought is how many plastic cards are in our wallets — one from nearly every store in the mall. Too much credit or not enough can hurt your credit score and cost you thousands of dollars or even a job offer. And if you’re one of those women who lets your husband handle all the bills, investment ignorance will not lead to financial bliss.

Your credit report will affect almost every important financial move you’ll make, including buying a home or a car. It may even affect your chances of getting a job, as employers can check your credit report during the hiring process.The good news is you have a clean credit slate and the chance to start off on a positive note, establish good credit and keep it there.

Here are 3 tips to help you build credit from square one:

1. Open a credit card account.

If you’re able to qualify for a new credit card, make sure to keep your total balance low enough so you’re able to pay it off each month.

Your “payment history,” or how reliably you pay your bills on time every month, makes up about 35 percent of your credit score. Since you’re building credit from scratch, you have the opportunity to create a flawless payment history. That’s why it’s smart to keep balances low, at least at first. Starting slow and creating good credit habits early on will help you establish a solid credit score in the short-term and also maintain a good credit rating in the long-term.

It’s time to respect your work

2. Get your own

Share and share alike doesn’t work for credit — get some bills and credit cards in your own name to establish a separate credit history from your husband.  Many married couples tend to share credit cards or loans in a joint account, often under the husband’s name. All women need to have their own credit in their own names to establish their own credit history in case of an unfortunate event such as divorce or death of a spouse.

2. Pay your bills on time every month.

It may seem simplistic and redundant, but paying at least the minimum payment (the minimum amount you’re required to pay) on time every month is the most important thing you can do to build and maintain a good credit score. Period.

Single? Start saving now!

3. Be patient.

You may have to wait about six months after you’ve opened your first credit account before there’s enough credit information on you to tabulate a credit score.

Click here for more tips.

Check out the hottest celeb pics on the net!

We’ve been wondering why Jay and Bey haven’t started a family as the clock is ticking for Jay.  Well here’s an excuse we’ve never expected from a couple that makes HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars…Jay recently told radio station WGCI that the reason they have not started a family is because, “We got to keep it movin,” Jay said. “Got bills to pay.”

WHAT????? Dude between you and your wife, you have enough money to feed a nation!!!!

Give me something better than that.

Beyonce makes more dough than Jay-Z

Check out the couple enjoying the childless life:

Let’s talk credit.

I remember my excitement as I got my first store card. I was a beaming 18-year-old in Macy’s Herald Square, and I could do no wrong… but I did. Understanding your credit and what comprises your credit score is something we should all seriously think about (if you haven’t already) before signing up for those store cards to “SAVE AN EXTRA 10%.” The attractiveness of these discounts can be appealing, but when it comes to credit, 10 percent now can mean a denied loan later.

Even if you have not checked on the status of your credit report in the past, I can guarantee you that someone else has. Each time you receive a new “PRE-APPROVED” credit card in the mail, that is the result of a company checking your credit report and assuring you that you are, in some capacity, worthy of plastic. This does not mean that your credit is in good standing, though. If you do not know your credit score or have not reviewed your report for errors, then you should think twice before opening new accounts.
Here’s the good news: If you don’t already know your credit score, haven’t checked in a while, or just want to check the status of your reports, you are entitled to a free report each year from each of the three nationwide reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) at www.annualcreditreport.com.
Your credit score is based on your FICO score, which is a three-digit number ranging from 300 to 850. The higher your score, the more money you’ll be able to borrow at lower interest rates. There are five categories that make up your FICO score, which are:

• 35% Payment history

• 30% Outstanding balances

• 15% Length of credit history

• 10% New Credit

• 10% Types of credit used

Checked your score and are unhappy with what you see? Here are a few tips to help raise your numbers:

1. Pay bills on time. If you have missed payments in the past, get current on all your accounts and set reminders (or try automatic payment) so that you can help improve your score. Missing payments and delinquencies negatively affect your credit score.
2. If you can’t pay it off, at least pay the minimum. Even if you don’t have enough money to pay off your cards, paying the minimum balance every month will show lenders that you are a responsible borrower.
3. Only open new accounts as needed. You do not need 12 department store cards, so choose wisely. When opening new accounts, remember that staying current and paying the bill on time will help your score in the long run.

Need a credit card diet? Here are 9 steps to getting out of credit card debt.

Does the economy have you turning to credit cards? Don’t let the recession get you down! Here’s how.