I asked for a review of my insurance after seeing that my credit score hit 820. Homeowners and auto both dropped about 15%. I refied the house to a 10 year loan for less than the 30 was per month. Having a high credit score was about the same as a 15% raise when it was all said and done.

And this can get into a few other discussions about poverty and how to escape it. Poor people, as a rule, have bad credit. So they pay more for banking, more for insurance, and more for credit cards. I've been there, done that and fought out of that hole by not buying anything that did not keep me alive (food, rent, utilities) for a few years. Can everyone do that? I'm not sure. If you can get a 16 year old to save up $500 and get a prepaid card and use it for bills like their phone. By the time they are 20 they have a credit history and are on their way. Now get that kid a job, build his ability to delay gratification, and give him the tools to see the long game/ big picture.

And if we can find a way to do that, we need to run for God.