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Tax season is here, and while many are focused on collecting their W9's and filing their returns, this period is also a great time to start looking to improve your overall financial health.

If you've been suffering from the effects of a less-than-perfect credit score, then first things first, be sure to get your taxes in on time. The deadline has been extended to May 17th, 2021, so no excuses this year. Not all states have extended deadlines to May 17th, 2021, so please confirm your state's deadline with a tax professional.

Once you've checked that off your list, then you can begin working to improve your credit. Negative items, like late payments or collections, can cause serious damage to your credit score. But don't worry, if any of your negative items are unfair, inaccurate or unsubstantiated, then Lexington Law can help you work to repair them. Their proven process can help you address questionable negative items with the bureaus and your creditors.

To get started, simply fill out Lexington Law's Credit Assessment. This FREE tool will give you clarity on your credit score, credit report summary and offer recommendations based on your unique situation.

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After you sign up, Lexington Law will scan your credit reports for any questionable negative items. You can also get in touch with a representative to answer any questions you have.

On top of the support you'll receive, you will also gain access to an online, easy-to-navigate dashboard where you can track your progress, see your credit score and monitor the positive and negative items impacting your credit.

There are resources on the app and the site but I wouldn't call it coaching. Everybody dreads doing their taxes and tackling their credit score, and we get why. But with companies like Lexington Law available to help you carry the burden, improving your financial situation has never been easier. Get started with a FREE credit report consultation today.

Update: Lexington Law is offering our readers a free credit repair consultation, which includes your FREE credit report summary and score. You can follow this link, or call 1-800-245-4135 to take advantage of this no-obligation offer.

Call anytime between 7am and 11:59pm EST to get your free credit report and score!

Your credit report influences a lot beyond your finances. Learn some of the most important ways your credit history affects your life with this guide.

Your credit score and history obviously affect your ability to qualify for a low-interest loan on a car or a house, but they also influence other aspects of life.

Your credit can affect everything from your insurance rates to your ability to rent a home, and even your chances of landing that dream job. Fortunately, it's easier than you might think to keep track of your credit score for free with any of the three official credit bureaus — Experian, Transunion, and Equifax.

But in case you're not sold, you should know exactly how your life can take a turn as your credit changes. The more you know, the more prepared you are to handle whatever your credit report throws at you.

Renting a Home

A house up for rent

When you apply for an apartment or other rental property, the owner of that property will likely review your credit history. After all, landlords want to know if you can afford the rent and pay it on time. With a good credit report, this part of the renting process will be a breeze.

However, poor credit might mean you don't get the apartment. And even if the landlord approves you for the property, they could decide to charge you a larger security deposit, or require you to find someone with better credit to cosign your lease.

These little steps can make renting and moving far more stressful and uncertain than it needs to be. But if you keep track of your credit score and build it by making regular payments against any debt you might have, you can avoid the headache.

Landing a Job

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly interviewing for a job in "Step Brothers"

Potential employers will also look at your credit to see how dependable you are. The logic goes that a person who keeps track of their finances is more likely to keep track of their responsibilities at work — and less likely to steal from the company out of desperation. That said, one of the most common credit report myths is that all employers will check credit for every candidate they hire.

A credit report is part of some background checks — especially for jobs involving finances or other company assets — but it isn't necessary for all new employees. Many employers will take your credit history with a grain of salt, especially if the job you applied for doesn't involve a lot of financial work. If you do have good credit, though, it might give you a leg up over other candidates, especially as you move up in your career and reach for that dream job.

Insurance Rates

Collision insurance

Insurance companies look at a lot of different factors when calculating your premiums. In some states, providers might use a credit-based insurance score to build your policy rates. These scores are different from consumer credit scores, but the idea is the same, making these scores one of the ways your credit history affects your life.

For example your credit history — along with factors like your age, your driving history, the value of your car —can determine how much you pay for car insurance. Good credit, with a history of paying bills on time might lead to more affordable premiums, while poor credit can give you steeper prices, compounding any issues you already have with your finances.


Don't let your credit hold you back from some of life's essential tasks and milestones. By learning more about your credit, you can make good decisions that safeguard your finances and set you up for success in all areas of life.

We are currently living through one of the worst financial crises ever, but when it comes to handling money, the world is no stranger to messing things up. While the current economic situation is no laughing matter, there have been a slew of hilarious mishaps that have cost countries a bundle. From Superman's obscenely expensive CGI-ed mouth in 2018's Justice League, to Spain building a luxury submarine that was unable to resurface, here are some of the biggest money mistakes in history.


The 'Walkie Talkie' Building Melted Cars

20 fenchurch street

20 Fenchurch Street's eyesore of a building was already hard to look at considering how reflective it was in the sunlight. But when Martin Lindsay returned to his new Jaguar on a hot day, the London skyscraper was actually so reflective that it had melted parts of the cars body and rearview mirror. In addition to the 946-pound payout to Mr. Lindsay for damage to his car, the building had come up with a way to give the already 200-million-pound building more sunscreen. Needless to say, the whole ordeal was quite expensive and embarrassing.

Henry Cavil's mustache

Tepid action actor Henry Cavil had just wrapped up filming for Justice League when he had started filming for Mission Impossible – Fallout,​ but Warner Brothers decided a few scenes needed to be redone for the former. Unfortunately, Cavil had worked very hard to grow out a pencil thin mustache, and the filming schedules were too set in stone for him to shave. Coordinating the reshoots, and CGI-ing out Cavil's facial hair all cost around $25 million, and they didn't even succeed, as fans were quick to point out how weird the actors face looked on the big screen.

French Train Company Made Trains Too Big For Track

(Photo by Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images)

French train company SNCF purchased 2,000 trains in 2014 for around 15 billion euros, but they soon realized their platforms were too narrow for the new orders, a mistake which cost them an additional 50 million euros. It was all at the fault of the operator, who didn't factor in measurements of train platforms that had been built more than 50 years ago.

Spain's Submarine that Couldn't Resurface

Spain coughed up around $2.2 billion to build a luxury submarine named The Isaac Peral. But before the vessel was completed in 2013, engineers discovered that the unfinished submarine was so heavy that it probably would not resurface if placed underwater. The design flaw was fixed, but it was embarrassing when news broke.

Mizuho Securities loses $225 million dollars Due to a Typo

In 2005 Japanese security company Mizuho lost an enormous sum when a single stockbroker mistyped some financial data. Instead of offering a single share in J-Com's stock for about 610,000 yen (or $5,000 dollars,) he offered 610,000 shares for 1 yen. The disaster meant investors were buying out Mizuho's stock for an insanely low amount of money, costing the company around $225 million in damages.