Celebrate financial independence

COSTA MESA, Calif., July 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans are passionate about independence and financial independence is no exception. This Fourth of July, freecreditscore.com™ encourages consumers to be free of debt, break the cycle of risky credit behavior and work toward a financially sound future.

"Financial independence is a process, but getting started is the key," said Ken Chaplin, senior vice president at freecreditscore.com. "Managing expenses, ensuring payments are made on time and proactive credit monitoring all contribute to a life of financial freedom."

Here are five simple tips to get started:

• Save more than what you spend. After you pay bills, it feels nice to have a little spending cushion. However, opting to place extra funds into a savings account or building an emergency stash can only benefit and increase spending power in the long run.
• Create a budget — and stick to it. It's easy to lose track of expenses and allow charges to rack up, so consider creating a budget. Instead of paying the price at the end of the month, there will be more to celebrate.
• Know, understand and monitor your credit. Credit scores not only can indicate financial health, but they also greatly impact future financial decisions and buying power. Keeping tabs on your credit and avoiding slips can open doors and give you the power to explore additional financial options when faced with major life purchases.
• Be aware of payments. Staying on top of credit card payment dates avoids late fees and establishes good credit payment history. Making payments on time also can have a positive effect on your credit score.
• Pay down your credit card balance. Paying more than the minimum credit card balance helps to reduce debt and interest payments. A maxed-out credit card can take a long time to pay off and can raise your credit utilization ratio, which isn't good for your credit score.

Budgeting, consistent credit monitoring and minimizing risky financial behaviors are all keys to establishing financial independence. freecreditscore.com provides quick, easy access to personal credit scores, daily credit report monitoring, credit score alerts and educational materials. To learn more about saving and credit scores, visit http://www.freecreditscore.com.

About freecreditscore.com
freecreditscore.com is part of a family of online consumer credit monitoring sites belonging to ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company. ConsumerInfo.com, Inc. was founded in 1995 to give consumers quick, easy and inexpensive access to their credit profile. It is now the leading provider of online consumer credit reports, credit scores, credit monitoring and other credit-related information. ConsumerInfo.com, Inc. provides credit monitoring to its more than 3.1 million members and has delivered more than 20 million credit reports on the Web. As part of the Experian family, it continues to grow its membership base and develop innovative products to help consumers better understand and monitor their credit.

This press release is provided for general guidance and information. It is not intended as, nor should it be construed to be legal, financial or other professional advice. Please consult with your attorney or financial advisor to discuss any legal issues or financial issues involved with credit decisions.

About Experian
Experian^® is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2013, was US$4.7 billion. Experian employs approximately 17,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:

Matt Basta
Edelman PR
1 323 202 1045 (office)
1 310 292 1676 (cell)
[email protected]

Becky Frost
freecreditscore.com
1 949 202 7296 (cell)
[email protected]

SOURCE freecreditscore.com