Various denominations of American currency scattered.

Show Me the Money
Make your money — and your credit — work for you with inside advice from financial experts.
Host Leanza Cornett turns to Laura DeSoto, Senior VP of Marketing at credit report company Experian, for tips on deciphering a credit report and fixing any errors that appear. Money magazine writer Ellen McGirt also weighs in.

Next up: Robert McKinley, President of Cardweb.com, a "news and views" web site for payments cards. He tells how to use credit cards wisely, even if that means cutting up a few of them.

And finally, you'll learn how to find the financial planner who can show you that you don't have to be rich to save and plan wisely. On hand to give pointers are financial planner Laura Tarbox and Consumer Reports associate editor Mandy Walker.

Choosing a Financial Planner

• Meet with at least three planners before choosing one.
  
• Ask detailed questions about how each financial planner does business.
  
• Be wary of financial planners who work exclusively on commission.
  
• Make sure your planner is a certified financial planner.

Resources

Consumer Reports
www.consumerreports.org

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Credit Reports

• Request a copy of your credit report from TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. If you've been turned down for credit in the past 30 days, the reports are free.
  
• Dispute any errors you find in writing.
  
• Negotiate a payment schedule with your creditors.

Resources

Experian
www.experian.com
Online credit-report services including free trials.

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Credit Cards

• Do not carry more than three credit cards — one for big purchases, one for convenience and one for emergencies.
  
• Beware of credit-card offers with low interest rates. They may expire after only a few months, and then your entire balance is charged at the higher rate.
  
• Don't be afraid to ask your creditors to lower your interest rate.
  
• Do not use credit cards for cash advances — the interest rate is just too high, and the cash purchase usually disappears long before it's paid for.

Resources

Cardweb.com
www.cardweb.com
News, commentary and lots of credit card applications directed at the credit card industry, but available to consumers

Go to the Money IQ quiz.