Top Ten Ways to Clean Up Your Personal Credit

Having good credit is essential in today’s world. A good credit score can help you secure loans, rent an apartment, and even get a job. On the other hand, bad credit can limit your options and make life more difficult. If you’re looking to improve your credit score, there are a number of steps you can take to clean up your personal credit. In this blog post, we’ll cover the top 10 ways to clean up your credit and boost your credit score.

  1. Check Your Credit Report for Errors

The first step in cleaning up your credit is to check your credit report for errors. You’re entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once a year. Review each report carefully and look for errors, such as incorrect accounts, late payments, or other mistakes. If you find any errors, you can dispute them with the credit bureau and have them corrected.

  1. Pay Down High-Interest Debt

One of the biggest factors affecting your credit score is your debt-to-income ratio. If you have a high amount of debt, especially high-interest debt like credit card balances, it can be damaging to your credit score. Paying down this debt can improve your credit score over time. Focus on paying down the debt with the highest interest rate first and make the minimum payments on your other debts.

  1. Make All Payments on Time

Payment history is one of the most important factors in determining your credit score. Late or missed payments can have a significant impact on your credit score, so it’s important to make all payments on time. If you have trouble keeping track of due dates, consider setting up automatic payments or reminders to ensure you never miss a payment.

  1. Keep Old Credit Accounts Open

The length of your credit history is another important factor in determining your credit score. Keeping old credit accounts open can help improve your credit score over time by showing a long and consistent history of responsible credit use. So, even if you’re not using an old credit card, consider keeping it open to help improve your credit score.

  1. Limit New Credit Applications

Each time you apply for new credit, it triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report. Hard inquiries can temporarily lower your credit score, so it’s best to limit the number of new credit applications you make. If you’re shopping for a loan or credit card, try to do it all at once within a short time period so that multiple inquiries don’t hurt your credit score.

  1. Use Credit Cards Responsibly

Using credit cards responsibly can help improve your credit score. Make sure to keep your balances low and pay off the full balance each month to avoid high interest charges. Also, be sure to use your credit cards regularly, but don’t go overboard. Running up high balances can negatively impact your credit score.

  1. Seek Professional Help if Necessary

If you’re struggling to manage your debt, consider seeking professional help. A financial advisor can help you create a debt repayment plan and negotiate with creditors on your behalf. In some cases, debt settlement or credit counseling may also be options. Just be sure to do your research and choose a reputable provider.

  1. Avoid Debt Consolidation Scams

Debt consolidation can be a useful tool for managing debt, but be careful of scams. Some companies claim to be able to settle your debts for a fraction of what you owe, but often these companies are not legitimate and can leave you in even worse financial shape. If you’re considering debt consolidation, do your research and choose a reputable provider.

Top 10 tax write-offs for businesses that you should be aware of

As a business owner, it’s important to understand the tax write-offs available to you in order to minimize your tax liability and maximize your profits. Here are the top 10 tax write-offs for businesses that you should be aware of:

  1. Business Use of Home: If you have a dedicated workspace in your home that you use exclusively for business, you may be eligible for a home office tax deduction. This deduction allows you to claim a portion of your rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, and other expenses related to your home office.
  2. Start-Up Costs: If you are starting a new business, you can write off the costs of getting your business off the ground. This includes expenses such as incorporation fees, legal fees, and accounting fees.
  3. Equipment and Supplies: The cost of equipment and supplies used in your business can be written off as a business expense. This includes computers, furniture, office supplies, and other items used in the daily operation of your business.
  4. Advertising and Marketing: The cost of advertising and marketing your business, such as billboards, flyers, business cards, and web hosting, can be written off as a business expense.
  5. Employee Benefits: The cost of employee benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans, can be written off as a business expense. This includes contributions made by both you and your employees.
  6. Travel and Entertainment: If you travel for business, the cost of transportation, lodging, meals, and entertainment can be written off as a business expense. However, it is important to keep accurate records and receipts for these expenses.
  7. Vehicles: If you use a vehicle for business purposes, you can write off a portion of the cost of the vehicle, including gas, maintenance, and insurance.
  8. Legal and Professional Fees: The cost of legal and professional fees, such as accounting and tax preparation, can be written off as a business expense.
  9. Education and Training: If you or your employees need to attend seminars, conferences, or other training events, the cost of these events can be written off as a business expense.
  10. Rent: The cost of rent for a commercial space can be written off as a business expense. This includes the rent for both your office space and any storage space that you may use.

It’s important to keep in mind that these write-offs are subject to specific rules and regulations, so be sure to consult with a tax professional to ensure that you are taking advantage of all the tax benefits available to you.

In conclusion, these are the top 10 tax write-offs for businesses that you should be aware of. By taking advantage of these write-offs, you can minimize your tax liability and maximize your profits. If you have any questions or need help with your taxes, be sure to consult with a tax professional to ensure that you are taking advantage of all the tax benefits available to you.

#BusinessTaxWrite-Offs, #HomeOfficeDeduction, #Start-UpCosts, #EquipmentAndSupplies, #AdvertisingAndMarketing, #EmployeeBenefits, #TravelAndEntertainment, #Vehicles, #LegalAndProfessionalFees, #EducationAndTraining, #Rent

From the desk of Iris Montgomery @MrsBossMBA

The Ultimate Guide to Fragrance Oils: Exploring the Differences Between Perfume Body Oil, Fragrance Oil, and Essential Oil

When it comes to choosing a fragrance, it can be confusing to navigate the different types of oils available on the market. From perfume body oil to fragrance oil to essential oil, each type has its own unique properties and uses. In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between these three types of oils and help you choose the best one for you.

Perfume Body Oil

Perfume body oils are typically used as a replacement for traditional perfumes. They are made by diluting fragrance oils in a carrier oil, such as sweet almond or jojoba oil. The carrier oil helps to moisturize the skin while the fragrance oils provide a long-lasting scent. Body oils are usually applied directly to the skin, making them a great alternative to traditional perfumes, which can contain alcohol and other chemicals that can dry out the skin. Additionally, because they are applied directly to the skin, they are typically more concentrated than traditional perfumes, meaning that a little goes a long way.

Fragrance Oil

Fragrance oils are synthetic scents that are used to make perfumes, candles, and other scented products. They are created by combining natural and synthetic ingredients to create a unique scent. While fragrance oils are not natural, they can be used to imitate the scents of essential oils, such as lavender or peppermint. They are also less expensive than essential oils, making them a popular choice for those who are looking for a budget-friendly option.

Essential Oil

Essential oils are the purest form of fragrance and are derived from plants, flowers, and other botanicals. They are used for their aromatherapy properties, as well as for their therapeutic benefits, such as reducing stress, improving sleep, and boosting immunity. Essential oils are not just used for fragrance, they also have therapeutic benefits and can be used for massage, in diffusers, and in skincare products. Unlike fragrance oils, essential oils are not created in a lab and contain only natural ingredients.

Choosing the Right Oil for You

So, which type of oil is right for you? The answer depends on your needs and preferences. If you are looking for a long-lasting fragrance that is easy to apply and affordable, a perfume body oil might be the best choice for you. If you are looking for a synthetic scent that can imitate the smell of essential oils, then a fragrance oil might be the right choice. If you are looking for natural and therapeutic benefits, then an essential oil is the way to go.

In conclusion, each type of oil has its own unique properties and uses. By understanding the differences between perfume body oil, fragrance oil, and essential oil, you can choose the best one for you. Whether you are looking for a long-lasting fragrance, a synthetic scent, or natural and therapeutic benefits, there is an oil out there that will meet your needs.

#fragranceoil #essentialoil #perfumebodyoil #carrieroil #aromatherapy #therapeuticbenefits #longlastingfragrance #syntheticscent #naturalingredients #budgetfriendlyoption

From the desk of the Unique Oils CEO:  Iris Montgomery

E-Commerce vs Retail

The debate between e-commerce and brick and mortar retail has been ongoing for years, and it’s clear that both have their pros and cons. Online shopping offers convenience, a wider selection of products, and the ability to easily compare prices. On the other hand, brick and mortar stores provide a more tactile and immersive shopping experience, the opportunity to see and try on products before purchasing, and the ability to build a personal relationship with local business owners.

It’s important to support both types of businesses, as each has its own unique value proposition. Online retailers help us save time and money, while brick and mortar stores offer a sense of community and the chance to support local economies. So next time you’re making a purchase, consider whether it’s worth the extra effort to support your local shops or if the convenience of e-commerce is worth the tradeoff.

#Retail #Ecommerce #SupportLocalBusinesses

Match Day!! – Dr. Tiffany Pleasent

My Daughter matched into Emergency Medicine at Tampa General Hospital after 4 years of hard work at Meharry Medical School in Nashville, TN. It was a very long road, we love you and we are very proud of you Tiffany!!

Pensacola Beach Wedding – June 21, 2019

It was a beautiful Summer day on June 21, 2019. My friend Nazaarah had her wedding last year and gave me an awesome idea to coordinate my own wedding by using Wedding Wire. My Daughter also mentioned searching for hashtags on Pinterest. Let me tell you, I was the best wedding ever and my Sister-in-Law stepped in to help with the final Wedding Planning touches and Wedding Day coordination!!

Welcome to my blog…

Home Quarantining Time…

Upon hearing about how Covid-19 is affecting the US and updates from my Daughter, Tiffany Pleasent, MD, we immediately moved to self-quarantining ourselves. We had shopped at Costco before it hit hard.

I have been a Remote Worker at my full-time job as a Database Architect / Database Administrator for the past 6-7 years. So I had gotten used to staying at home. I also keep very busy because I am working on my second masters degree in Information Technology Management.

My afternoons have also been full with watching some interesting television shows, taking care of our two dogs, cooking, and family time with my husband and Son, who is home from Kennesaw State University.

Instagram and Facebook have both been very entertaining during these times. There has been a lot of entertainment and sharing of entrepreneur information in the Instagram Live.