Can you improve your credit score? Yes indeed. Your credit score is based on your credit report, which is a compilation of several kinds of information about you. From those facts (and often errors!) your credit score is calculated. You can improve your credit report and credit score in several ways. Some are obvious – others not so much.1. DO pay all bills on time, every time. Every bill you do not pay on time can affect your credit score, while every bill you do pay on time builds your standing.2. DO keep all financial documents. That includes bills, bank and credit card statements, receipts, cancelled checks and so on for the last several years. This documentation will help you dispute errors on your credit report, including unauthorized charges. If you ever have to deal with identity theft this information will help as well.3. DO get your credit reports. You need a credit report from each of the major credit bureaus, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. They are different companies and their credit reports often contain different information. Creditors often check all three and average the credit scores they provide. To comply with US law, the three sites have set up a website giving you access to your credit reports once each 12 months at no charge. Credit reports do not include your credit score but they will offer to sell you your score when you request your free report, probably charging $8-12 each. Requesting your own credit report does not affect your credit score.4. DO clean up your credit report. Once you have your credit reports disputing negative items is the fastest, easiest way to remove them and directly increase your credit score. How does that work? Credit reporting agencies have 30 days to confirm disputed items with the original source or they have to remove them from your credit report. If the item is in error (and there are many errors in credit reports), they remove it. If the paperwork is not completed in time (and this often happens) they remove it as well5. DO reduce your level of debt. Focus on paying off credit cards both because they have high interest rates and because they affect your score a lot. If you have memberships or other expenses you can drop to lower your bills, consider doing that and applying that money to paying down debt. One good strategy is to put everything you can into paying off the smallest debt while paying the minimum on all the others. When the smallest is gone, use the money you were paying on that one to add to the minimum you were putting into the next smallest debt and pay it off completely. When that is gone you have freed up more money so you can make bigger payments on the next smallest debt. With each debt cleared you have more to put into paying off the next one. When they are all gone you will have wads of money left over each month. This is called the snowball effect and it is powerful. As you pay down your debts bear in mind that credit agencies like it when you use your credit, but not too much. So as you pay off what you owe, continue using the cards a little bit, but only if you can avoid going over 30% of your credit line.6. DO minimize the number of inquiries on your credit report. Single inquiries (as from new credit applications you make) will not have a big impact, but a number of inquiries in a short time period can damage your credit score. Your own inquiry does not count. You can also get inquiries removed from your credit report.7. DO request a credit limit increase from your credit card company. To avoid another inquiry on your credit report (not big but still a negative) ask for the largest increase they can do without an inquiry. If there have been not inquiries for a long time (as you know from your credit report) if you could get a big increase it could be worthwhile. An increase in your credit limit will improve your ratio of available to used credit, but only if you do not use it. If you are maxed out, get more credit and then charge against it, you are hurting yourself, so be careful with this one. Get the increase, then let it sit there as available, unused credit. That is how to get a higher credit score.8. DO keep open but unused credit card accounts, especially older ones. The longer your average account age and credit history the better, so keeping old but unused accounts open can improve your report in both of those ways. Unused credit also improves your ratio of used to available credit. You can destroy the card itself or put it somewhere safe. If the card is not secure then of course close the account, and likewise if you have too many cards.9. DON’T apply for or take on new revolving credit unless you really have to. If you are already maxing out your available credit then new applications and owing more will only hurt your credit score.10. DON’T go bankrupt if there is any possible way. Bankruptcy can take hundreds of points off your credit score and years to overcome. It may be the only way out of a bad situation, but be very sure before you do it.

In the past, there were times when people were forced to struggle hard to arrange for immediate sources of cash supply, so that they could solve their emergency financial situations. People mostly used to take help from their friends and family members to come out from any sort of financial trouble. However, with the change in time and with the advancement of finance market, today people can have the advantage of solving their financial problems in a much easier manner. With the coming up of various kinds of loan schemes and financial plans, people all across the globe are finding it easy to solve their financial problems. But sometimes, due to lack of information and other reasons like CCJs, late repayments, immediate bankruptcy, defaults and etc, people often get trapped in the vicious circle of debts. Hence, taking a loan becomes quite problematic, as no lender would be interested in offering money to bad credit scorers. Therefore, for such people, the lucrative range of bad credit history unsecured loans has been introduced by intelligent financial planners.No human being is blessed with the power of foreseeing things and thus, we barely get to know what might hit us the very next moment. In such circumstances, when anyone faces a financial challenge, it is that very person who knows what he or she is going through. Bad credit history unsecured loans are a great option for people who wish to take up a loan on immediate basis. The complete array of bad credit history unsecured loans is smartly designed with lucid terms and conditions. Moreover, these loans are free from the elementary pre requisite of collateral submission, which in turn, further facilitates the convenience of those borrowers, who are not favored with the provision of home, property or any valuable asset.We all acknowledge the fact that good monetary resources are very essential for a fine survival. Everyone needs money to meet his or her responsibilities and to fulfill the expectations of their loved one’s. Even though most of us have a definite source of income, it still gets pretty tricky to manage all our expenses in that limited supply of funds. Therefore, any individual wishing for some extra cash to to settle his requirement can now have the option of bad credit history unsecured loans. These loans are widely served by countless lenders of the finance market. Any interested applicant can search for a good finance company dealing in this option through the medium of internet.Loan amount received from the provision of bad credit history unsecured loans, can be used for any kind of purpose. You can clear your pending medical bills, purchase a new car or can get your home renovated with this loan range. As far as repayment of the borrowed amount is concerned, stay assured with the convenient repayment module that has been intelligently crafted according to the suitability of the borrowers. Hence, now there is no need to get worried over the trivial issues of monetary problems because this loan range is exclusively available at your service.

The prospect of starting a small business may strike people as exciting, intimidating, or both. This is for good reason; the appeal of being your own boss and launching a lucrative business is tempered by the high failure rate of small businesses. A quick internet search reveals no shortage of studies providing causes and statistics regarding small business failure rates. While the exact rate of each study varies by industry and timeframe, most studies indicate that roughly half of small businesses remain in operation within a few years of opening.This reality invites the question of what makes the survivors successful? I recently had the opportunity to speak with a few small business owners, each of which owns a retail storefront. The purpose of my inquiry was simply to learn a bit about the challenges of being a small business owner, and even more so, to learn what has contributed to their survival and success.Factory Direct Trains is an Asheville, North Carolina-based online and storefront retailer of scale model trains. Factory Direct Trains specializes in HO scale trains, and has been in business for six years. The Music Shoppe is a music store located in Harrison, Ohio, a suburb on the west side of Cincinnati. The Music Shoppe, which has been in business for 21 years, sells musical instruments and offers instrument repair service and music lessons. Originally founded by three partners, the Music Shoppe is now solely owned and operated by one of the original three. The Practical Outdoorsman, which is also located in Asheville, North Carolina, has been in business for two years, and sells retail and consignment outdoor goods for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, biking and paddling.In speaking with the owners of each of these three businesses, a few consistent themes emerged that were attributed to their success: conservative financing and the general avoidance of debt, a priority on customer service, business differentiation, and the service of an identified market void or opportunity.All three businesses started small, slow and deliberate, and did not go into debt to launch their business. Often small retail operations with comparatively little overhead can avoid business loans with proper planning. Each business owner interviewed began with his own money, and in one case, also the money of two partners. Launching with savings as opposed to financing carries the benefits of a heightened personal commitment, as well as the absence of the burden of third party debt. Business loans or some manner of external funding are often unavoidable in other businesses with higher overhead and fixed costs, but retail can offer more flexibility in this area, depending on the scale of the launch.A contributing factor to the low overhead of these businesses is the small number of employees, the largest of which employs four people including the owner. The absence of debt facilitated a business growth pace for all three, which was directly linked to the growth in sales and revenues. Conversely, some of the interviewees cited the opposite scenario in which a business owner, typically a rival, borrowed money to build a business that was of a scale larger than the market it served, and as such, the business was then unable to both service the debt and generate enough money to cover operating expenses.Commitment to customer service was emphasized by each business. The age of internet retailing and large discount box stores makes it imperative for smaller businesses to offer value through other means, as they generally cannot compete on price and selection. This is where the human element becomes critical. A personal selling effort and cultivated relationships with return customers, if managed properly, are able to win out over the appeal of larger retail options. Some people are willing to pay a higher price for a more personalized buying experience.Differentiation was another key factor identified by all three businesses. Something needs to set your business apart to draw customers through the door. As previously discussed, customer service is one area of differentiation when competing with box stores and online retailers. Customer service is the primary differentiating factor between The Music Shoppe and larger, national chain music stores.Other differentiation criteria were also cited. Factory Direct Trains competes in the scale model train industry. This business, which maintains a physical storefront but is primarily an online retailer, differentiates itself from its competitors by having a sophisticated web presence. Integral to this web presence is a robust and growing degree of social media connectivity. This is a relatively modern model in an aging hobby business. The social media participation makes a small company in North Carolina highly accessible to online customers all over the country and internationally and as such, social media is a key component of Factory Direct Trains’ customer service efforts.The Practical Outdoorsman is unique in that it offers retail and consignment outdoor gear under one roof. Additionally, this business carries local, handmade outdoor items such as hunting knives, fishing lures and flies, and hunting calls. Such products give The Practical Outdoorsman the appeal of local authenticity that is not found in the larger chain outdoor goods stores.Each of the three businesses has remained viable by serving a market demand that was either growing or previously under-served. Two market opportunities were dictated primarily by geography. The Music Shoppe opened in a suburb on the west side of Cincinnati that is roughly 20 miles outside of the city. Since the store’s opening, this suburb has grown significantly, and the Music Shoppe has grown along with the population and economy. The Music Shoppe secured dealer status for large music brands such as Guild, Taylor and Martin guitars, and thus serves as the nearest dealer for such brands for the west side of Cincinnati as well as southeastern Indiana.Research prior to opening revealed to the owner of The Practical Outdoorsman that the nearest similar consignment and retail outdoor goods store was located over 150 miles away. Additionally, this store is located in the northwest quadrant of Buncombe County where there are very few outdoor goods stores. The Practical Outdoorsman is also the only North Carolina Wildlife Agent in this quadrant of the county, which provides such services as selling hunting and fishing licenses. Serving as a Wildlife Agent generates significant customer traffic.Factory Direct Trains found its market niche by establishing a strong web presence in a hobby industry that has been comparatively slow to embrace online retailing and social media usage. In doing so, Factory Direct Trains has been able to reach out and expand its customer base in areas under-served by local hobby shops with more limited selections.Of the four elements discussed common to these three successful small businesses, all seem intuitive from an outside perspective. However, small business start-ups have a high failure rate, and even these seemingly obvious attributes escape some small business owners, who ultimately close their doors as a result. These four elements, debt management, customer service, business differentiation and proper market opportunities, are by no means a comprehensive list of the requirements for business success. The formula for business success contains many more variables than those covered in this article. However, the consistency throughout the three cited examples of debt management, customer service, business differentiation and proper market opportunities, underscores their importance as contributors to business success.

Sometimes we all need a little lift. Whether you’ve had a recent knock to your confidence, have been going through stress in your personal or professional life, or have always struggled with your self-esteem, music is an essential tool for lifting your spirits and making you feel better about yourself.

According to a study by Heriot-Watt University, the type of music you listen to not only influences your mood, but also your personality, with indie and rock/heavy metal fans reporting the lowest levels of self-esteem, while fans of jazz, blues, opera, classical, pop, rap and soul all reported high levels of self-confidence.

So if you’re having a ‘down day’, why not boost your spirits by listening to some powerful, uplifting tracks? Here are five perfect confidence boosters.

Britney Spears – Toxic

Britney’s own struggles with her mental health and conservatorship have made her an inspiration for many people across the world.

This classic song is timelessly sensual, and the heavy beats throughout make it impossible not to dance to. A welcome blast of nostalgia, this tune has filled dance floors across the globe with fans old and new.

The video features Britney as a female spy playing the sexy flight attendant, seducing her passenger before she makes her escape on a motorbike and breaks into a high-security facility guarded by a laser security system.

This track and video is a guaranteed way to feel invincible, and deserves a place on your playlist no matter your mood.

Kelis – Milkshake

A cheesy classic that is guaranteed to make you feel all warm and gooey inside, Kelis pumps up the heat in this 00’s RnB track. Underpinned by intricate drum beats and electric elements, Kelis’ self-confidence is infectious, and it’s hard not to find yourself smiling at the lyrics.

This track is a great way to get into a flirtatious mindset, making it a great choice before going on a date or heading out for the evening.

And if you’re staying in? It’s a great mood lift. But beware! You may find yourself craving a sweet treat.

Eve (ft. Gwen Stefani) – Let Me Blow Your Mind

This RnB classic will capture your attention with its assertive rhythm and powerful vocals from 00’s icons Eve and Gwen Stefani. Featuring a laid-back – yet self-assured – beat, and catchy guitar riff, this is a great track for driving, and its empowering feel is sure to help you feel motivated.

Got a job interview lined up, or thinking of asking for a raise? This anthemic number is a quick way to feel positive and more assertive.

The video features Eve and Gwen Stefani crashing an exclusive event on quad bikes, causing a stir among the privileged attendants, and shoving the performer off stage to perform their own music, before finally being arrested and taken to the station in a police van.

This ‘baddie’ track helps you to tap into the hidden ‘bold’ side of your personality, and lifts your mood while keeping you feeling calm and cool.

Fergie – MILF$

If you have kids, it can be difficult to feel sexy. When you’re running around cleaning the house, changing nappies, or up to your elbows in dishwater, you can easily forget your sensual side – leaving you feeling frumpy and lacking in confidence and motivation.

Thankfully, Fergie’s comeback track is a quick remedy to your low mood and lethargy.

Featuring attractive mothers dressed in curve-hugging latex and silky lingerie going about their daily life in a dreamy, colourful suburbia, this track is a quick way to transform your self-esteem and transport you to a world where you are not just a mother, but a goddess too.

Why not shake off the day and tap into your feminine energy with Fergie, your sexiest PJs, and a bottle of your favourite wine?

Marina And The Diamonds – How To Be A Heartbreaker

Low confidence after a breakup? You’re not alone. Having your heart broken can leave you feeling depressed, undesirable, and unmotivated. So flip the tables on your ex and become a heartbreaker with Marina’s catchy club classic.

This empowering dance track will make you want to move your body and get in touch with your bad girl side, with its heavy beat and pounding rhythms.

Plus, if your libido has suffered as a result of your low mood, take a sneaky peek at the video – it will get your blood pumping with its steamy shower shots and smoking hot male models.