
You should freeze your credit. Here’s why
Freezing your credit is powerful protection.
Courtney Mihocik is a senior credit cards editor for Bankrate. She specializes in helping people with limited or no credit understand their options for improving their credit scores. She focuses on the subprime category and provides guidance to people on their credit-building journeys.
Courtney is passionate about creating a space where people can learn more about managing their personal finances, specifically helping her peers achieve their credit card and credit score goals. She believes that public education fails to teach the essentials of personal finance to students and wants to make up for it in her editorial work.
Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar, where she produced daily personal finance articles from founder Trent Hamm in addition to student, personal, business and bad credit loan articles. Before entering the digital media space, Courtney worked in hyper-local print journalism, covering arts, culture, food, news and more for publications in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Courtney wants you to know
Courtney graduated college with a 750 credit score, which quickly plummeted to the 500s when she nearly defaulted on her high student loan payments she couldn’t afford. After applying for an income-driven repayment plan and six years of careful budgeting, hustling and responsible credit use, she’s happy to report her credit score is back hovering around 720 and she can qualify for better financial products.
Make your credit cards work for you in your overall financial health. Don’t let them become an interest-generating burden.
— Courtney Mihocik
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With the Discover it® Balance Transfer card, you’ll receive a generous rewards structure, first-year cash back matching and a long introductory low-interest rate for balance transfers, but its short intro purchase APR doesn't suit its rewards edge.
Self’s credit card is easily accessible, but the fees and restrictions with the added credit-builder loan might make traditional secured cards better choices.
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard is a solid option for choice hotel travelers who want to maximize the benefits they can earn.
Any business owner who spends heavily on gas and office supplies can benefit from owning this card.
American Express has updated the card details to include expanded bonus categories that help you earn even more on everyday spending.
While not as flexible as its bigger sibling, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers strong, year-round cash back on crucial bonus categories like groceries and gas.
The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa card for fair credit could be a great fit if you’re eager to earn rewards and avoid putting down a security deposit or paying a high annual fee.