These days, so many things in life are tied to your credit score. If you want to buy a house or a car, get a credit card, or even insurance, that three digit number becomes critical. But what do you do if you are just establishing a credit history, or are rebuilding your credit after a bankruptcy or foreclosure?

So in this episode I spoke with credit counselor Alex Frees to get answers to those questions and tips on how to build or repair your credit for a better financial future.

With a new President in office, many student loan borrowers are hoping for a change for the better. There has been quite a bit of discussion in the past years about the national “student loan bubble” and what to do about it, and people are looking to Donald Trump to take action.

He has made some statements in the campaign last Fall, but has not taken any action on it so far in his first 100 days. But I thought it would be interesting to discuss in this episode what he has said to give an idea of what he might do in the future if and when he takes action.

Michelle Singletary, a personal finance columnist for the Washington Post, is the author of   The Power to Prosper: 21 Days to Financial Freedom and The 21 Day Financial Fast, in which she lays out what she calls the 21-Day Financial Fast. The fast is about curbing the need to consume because, in her view, we all consume more than we need. I read about this Fast when I came across an article she wrote in the Post describing it, and I thought it would be a good idea to do an episode on it. It might just be the thing for you!