As people dive into married life, they sometimes begin to merge all aspects of their single lives into one. Joint things may sound like a great idea, but if one or both partners have bad credit, this may not be the best course of action. Here are some points to consider before financing with your spouse.

Yes, your credit rating is important. However, it may be easier than you think to build and maintain the kind of credit you want to have.

Establishing your credit in the United States as a new resident will not be that difficult. If you had a good credit history in your home country, then you already possess the good habits and discipline required to build the kind of credit you want.

If you're in your 20s and already have bad credit, the time to start fixing it is now. Good credit is within reach, but getting it will take some time and effort.

Many of us know very little about our own credit. Knowing this, the three national credit bureaus set out to educate the public in a recent Twitter chat they dubbed What to Know About Credit.

Even something as routine as swiping a card at a gas station pump can lead to identity theft. In an act known as skimming, identity thieves will install hardware to a card reader (like at a gas pump or ATM) that captures all card and PIN information. Luckily, there are a few precautions you can take to prevent this from happening to you.

Both renters and home owners with damaged credit can be approved for auto financing, but owning a home will give you an advantage.

Having no credit (or being a “credit ghost”) can be just as problematic has having bad credit. Luckily, there are actions you can take to help you build a good credit history.