The beginning of the year is a time of resolutions and renewal.  Even if you're not the kind of person who hits the gym with renewed vigor come January, getting those post-holiday credit card statements can get your heart racing. That's why the beginning of the year is a great time to check in on your financial standing and make sure you weren't the victim of holiday fraud and that your credit is in good shape.  

Have you checked your credit report lately? If you have, good for you. If you haven’t, you should. Today. Right now. Just go to annualcreditreport.com. It’s free! And if you need help understanding your report, you can contact Accel, Catholic Federal's financial counseling partner. They’ll explain your report and how to fix it, for free.

It’s an important document. Your credit report contains a history of how you’ve handled the money you’ve borrowed, either through loans or credit cards. You’re also assigned a credit score  - a number between 300-850 - that reflects how well you’ve handled the money you’ve borrowed. The more responsible you’ve been, the better your score.