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What is it with this recent obsession with our credit score!  I bet it’s because of the recent onslaught of commercials that tell us how important – and easy – it is to check on it.  But is that true?  Companies that encourage us to check our score regularly and often make money every time we check.  So they want us to believe that it’s important.  But it’s not, really.  Credit scores are only a record of where we’re at.  If we meet our financial obligations regularly and on time, our score will be good.  If we don’t, it won’t be.  It’s that simple.  No need to check all the time.  Annually (or even less often) should be enough.  It’s like worrying about our reputation.  If we’re kind and helpful and reliable and – you get the point – chances are, our reputation will be good.  Same thing financially. Financial institutions have been offering lines of credit (“LOCs”) for a long time.  It used to be they were only offered to business owners who needed access to funds to be able to order stock on a regular basis without having to run to their lender every time they needed to place an order.  But then lenders figured out that they could offer LOCs to just about anyone.  It’s the “if you build it, they will come” principle.  So more and more of us have given in to the temptation to easy access to other peoples’ money.  And that comes with a hefty price tag.  Easy access has meant more and more individuals and families have fallen deeper into debt. Just because someone tells us we need to check our credit score, doesn’t mean we do.  And just because someone offers us an easy loan, doesn’t mean we should take it.  Set financial priorities.  Meet needs before wants.  Save money and earn interest, rather than getting a loan and having to pay interest. A little truth can save us a whole lot of anguish and sleepless nights.  The next time you’re offered a line of credit, say no thanks.  And the next time you hear that you need to check your credit score, say who cares.