Adult's Corner

Things Adults did not know before they had children:

1.   How many seconds it takes to microwave 4 fish sticks perfectly.

2.   How to change a diaper in the dark, in a parked car, on a standing child and

      all of the above simultaneously.

3.   Locations of all public restrooms across town.

4.   How to spell amoxicillin.

5.   The distinctive sounds of Cheerios crunching underfoot.

6.   That the more my kids learn, the less I seem to know.

7.   How bright a 3 a.m. full moon is.

8.   How little sleep a human body truly needs to function.

Truths adults have learned:

1.     Raising teenagers is like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree.

2.     Middle age is when you choose cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

3.     If you can remain calm, you don't have all the facts.

4.     You're getting old when you stoop top to tie your shoes and wonder

         what else you can do while you're down there.

5.     You appreciate the fact that wrinkles don't hurt.

6.     You're getting old when the new music is just plain noise.

                                    Self-acceptance

                              Have patience will all things but first

                                       with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes  

                                                with your value as a human being.

                                             You're a perfectly valuable, creative,

                                       worthwhile person simply because you exist.

                                     And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever

                                           change that. Unconditional self-acceptance is

                                                            core of a peaceful mind.

                                                                                              - St. Francis de Sales

         FICO Scores - What is it and understanding it

About 35% of your FICO score is based on payment history, are you making payment on time, all the time or are your payments delinquent. More weight is given to current pay history. A total of 30% is based on capacity, for example comparing outstanding balances to credit limits. About 15% is based on the length of your credit history. 10% is based on the mix of credit, installment debt ( auto and mortgage loans) compared to revolving credit (charge card accounts), and 10% is based on accumulation of debt (number of accounts opened) in the last 12 to 18 months.

There are several actions that will affect your FICO score. Such things as delinquent payments, judgments, and/or collection accounts, regardless of the amount, will have a negative affect on your score. A payment of $ 10 on a small charge card account will still affect the score. It takes about 24 months to repair one late payment. A current payment history is a must. A charge card account the has a balance close too or at the credit limit will also adversely affect the score. Closing out credit cards or opening numerous accounts in a short period of time will again hurt your score. Closing out accounts affect the length of credit history on open accounts and opening numerous accounts in a short period of time may be viewed as taking on debt that could result in payment delinquency in the future.

You can improve your FICO score by making payment on time, this is one of the most important issues with FICO scores. Paying down or paying off your charge card balances, but don't close them. Remember credit history, the longer credit history the better. Slow down opening new accounts, use your long time accounts to finance your current purchases if at all possible.

FICO scores range from 850 defined as low risk down to 300 meaning very high risk. The FICO score relates to lenders as the amount of risk (possibility of loss). So remember the higher the FICO score, the lower the risk to the lender, which means credit approval and low interest to you. For most lenders low risk is 690 or higher, medium risk is 620 -689, and high risk or "sub-prime" is 620 or less. You have control over your own credit score, it is a score card on how you have handled credit in the past, how you are handling it at present time, and also gives the lender an indication of how you will handle it in the future.

Adult Links

Consumer Information -- http//www.pueblo.gsa.gov/

Green Path Solution -- http://www.greenpath.com/

USA Today -- http://www.usatoday.com/