Monitor Your Financial Health Online

It’s always a good idea to know where your credit stands and to have a grasp on your overall financial health. Using free resources online, you can get your finances on track. This is especially helpful if you're wrapping up a Bankruptcy here in St. Louis. We've compiled a short list of resources that could helpful to monitor your financial life.

One app that gives you free weekly updates to your Equifax and TransUnion credit reports is Credit Karma. The app displays every financial account the bureaus have on file for you – home auto, and student loans; credit cards; and more. Credit Karma will also provide advice for how to improve your scores and make suggestions for new credit cards or financial services that may benefit you. If there are major changes or red flags in your reports, Credit Karma will immediately notify you – helpful for spotting fraudulent activity or identity theft. If you see something amiss with your Transunion report, use the Direct Dispute feature to flag errors with the accuracy or ownership of the accounts listed. (To dispute something on your Equifax report, contact the credit bureau directly.) Find them online or in the app store.

Another great resource, especially around tax time, is the IRS2Go Mobile app. Use the IRS's own app to check your refund status, make a payment, find tax preparation assistance, sign up for helpful tax tips, and more. Check out their website to find out all the places you can download IRS2Go at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp​ .

Finally, the makers of TurboTax and Quickbooks have a free, web-based personal financial management service that allows you to manage your money, pay your bills, and track your credit score. Using their tools, you can create a budget and see where your money is going. Set financial goals and keep track of how you're doing in one place. Their mobile app lets you monitor your finances from your phone. Check them out at https://www.mint.com/.

Whatever website or app you use, just make sure to stick with it so you can get your finances under control. Whether you are coming out of a bankruptcy and wanting to start fresh, or finding yourself getting under water with overwhelming bills and debts, you have to start somewhere to understand your situation.

Since 1997, the St. Louis attorneys at The Law Office of Tracy A. Brown, P.C., have helped thousands in Saint Louis stop creditors from harassing, garnishing, and threatening clients through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings that alleviate excessive debt. Contact us today to free your future from your past.