Trying to stick to your household budget during summer vacation can seem like an insurmountable task. But never fear, Credit Bloopers is here, with some tips to help you stay on track with your travel budget this year:

Consider cheap, alternative travel ideas to get where you need to go this year. You can stay on track with your vacation budget and still have a fun family trip when you ride the rails this summer. Travel by train is something everyone should experience at least once. With gas prices eating away at our vacation budgets, it’s a cheap travel idea that can make your family’s summer vacation affordable- and memorable- this year.

Vacations on a budget are still feasible when you get creative with your travel plans. Camping is a cheap travel idea, and a perennial family favorite- kids of all ages love to explore nature. And parents love getting back to nature, too. It can offer a new perspective upon arriving home and a new appreciation for the basics, like bathtubs and cable TV.

A rewards credit card or a cash back credit card can help you stick to your vacation budget. The cards provide cash back, gift certificates and discounts on products and services your family uses every day. 

In some cities, you have to be able to put down one year’s rent in order to get an apartment when you have bad credit. You may also have to put down a larger security deposit in order to get approved for the apartment you want when you have poor credit. Other ways to rent an apartment when you have bad credit:

• You can often tell from the apartment listing whether the landlord runs a credit report. If the property is owned and managed by an individual instead of a property management company, they are more likely to approve your application even if you have poor credit.
• A co-signer can help you rent an apartment when you have bad credit.
• If at all possible, have negative items removed from your credit report by working with the collections agency or reporting company. Applying for a low interest credit card or a balance transfer credit card might also help you rent an apartment when you have bad credit. Moving high interest debts to low interest or zero percent interest credit cards can help you pay off your debt more quickly.

If you can’t get approved for a traditional credit card due to poor credit, a prepaid debit card that reports to the credit bureaus might be the right choice for you.

In a recent study released by Experian’s UK Victims of Fraud offices, identity theft is said to be on the rise across the pond. The study provides insights into frequent identity theft crime types as well as victims’ profiles. From the Experian identity fraud study:

• There was a 66% in identity theft crimes reported to Experian in 2007 over 2006. Experian identity fraud crimes reported numbered more than 6,000 in 2007 and just over 3,500 in 2006.
• London is the identity theft capital of the UK. City residents are twice as likely to become victims of identity theft crimes in London, even when compared to anywhere else in the UK.
• According to Experian’s analysis, typical identity theft victims in the UK will be between the ages of 26 and 45. UK residents who earn more than £50,000 a year are almost three times as likely as other residents to become identity fraud victims. The people who are most at-risk are company directors and business owners.
• People who rent apartments are more at risk than other UK residents for identity theft crimes. Shared mailboxes and frequent change of addresses, both attractive to identity fraud criminals, are thought to be the culprit.

Get identity theft protection tips to protect your family on the Credit blog. 

If you are in the market to get a new home loan, refinance your existing home loan or get a credit card, you need to review your credit report for errors before you start completing applications. It’s easy enough to get mistakes fixed on your credit report, but it takes time to get it done. Before you apply for loans or credit cards, order a copy of your credit report to check it over for errors.

Review Your Credit Report to Look for Problems and Common Mistakes

Common mistakes found on credit reports include duplicate information, where a loan or line of credit is listed more than once; outdated or incorrect personal information; important loans or lines of credit not listed at all and closed accounts still listed as open. The credit bureaus let you update information about your credit report and request that errors be corrected online when you review your credit history. Look for the common mistakes listed here when you review your credit report and if you find anything out of the ordinary, immediately let the credit bureau know. 

You can compare credit cards and read the pros and cons of popular credit cards before you apply. Reading consumer reviews and comparing credit cards can help you decide which one is right for you.