A Message from Melissa
Hello, friend,
Melissa Hobgood, Hobgood Credit Repair
November is a time to reflect on the things we're thankful for, including the progress we've made this year.
Maybe you haven't reached every financial goal yet. That's okay! Every small step matters.
I'm grateful for everyone who has trusted Hobgood Credit Repair, supported our business, or shared our mission of financial education. Let's finish the year making smart financial decisions!
With gratitude,
Melissa Hobgood
Credit Tip of the Month
Don't Let Holiday Shopping Hurt Your Credit!
Those holiday credit card offers can look tempting! Before applying for new credit, consider how another account or inquiry might affect your financial goals.
Keep your balances manageable, make payments on time, and remember that holiday purchases shouldn't create financial stress for months afterward.
Tip: On a $1,000 credit limit, a $100 balance is 10% utilization. Keeping utilization low can support your credit scores.
Budgeting Tip of the Month
Holiday Credit Card Offers: Are They Really Worth It?
The holiday season is here, and those credit card offers can be tempting! Especially when retailers offer 15% or 20% off your purchase just for opening a new credit card.
But before you apply, there are a few things I want you to consider.
- 1
That discount could cost you more in the long run.
Saving 20% at checkout sounds great, but what happens if you carry that balance for several months? Depending on the interest rate, you could end up paying more in interest than you originally saved.
- 2
Opening a new credit card can affect your credit profile.
When you apply for new credit, the lender may perform a hard inquiry, which can temporarily lower your credit score. Opening a new account can also reduce the average age of your credit accounts. If you're preparing to purchase a home or make another major financial decision, timing is especially important.
- 3
Making payments on time isn't the only thing that matters.
You can make every payment on time and still experience a decrease in your credit score if your credit card balances are too high. This is where understanding credit utilization becomes important.
Let's Break Down Credit Utilization
Let's say you have a credit card with a $1,000 limit.
- $900 balance = 90% utilization
- $500 balance = 50% utilization
- $300 balance = 30% utilization
- $100 balance = 10% utilization
The lower your reported utilization, the better it can be for your credit scores. While keeping utilization below 30% is a common guideline, below 10% can often be more favorable. There is no single percentage that guarantees a particular score.
Here's something many consumers don't realize:
Your credit card company generally reports your account balance around your statement closing date, not necessarily your payment due date.
For example, if your statement closes on the 15th and your payment is due on the 10th of the following month, the balance reported to the credit bureaus may reflect what you owed on the 15th.
Even if you pay your statement balance in full by the due date, a higher balance may have already been reported. Understanding both dates can help you manage your reported utilization more effectively.
Also, remember that your credit scores can consider utilization on individual credit cards as well as your overall revolving credit utilization.
Make Smart Financial Decisions This Holiday Season
I'm not telling you not to enjoy the holidays or take advantage of a good sale. I'm encouraging you to think about how today's financial decisions may affect your goals tomorrow.
Before opening another credit card, ask yourself:
Is this helping me move closer to my financial goals, or am I simply getting excited about a discount?
At The Credit Keys Academy, we believe understanding credit is just as important as improving it. Through Melissa's company, Hobgood Credit Repair, our goal is to help you make informed financial decisions that support your future.
Rebuild • Restore • Rise
The Credit Keys Academy
Hobgood Credit Repair, Melissa's company
See It in Action
Move the balance, watch your utilization
Enter your own credit limit, then move the balance to see how utilization changes.
Between $100 and $100,000
Type a balance or drag the slider below.
Calculated Utilization
25%
Lower reported utilization can be better for your credit scores. No single percentage guarantees a particular score.
This is an example only. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere, and it does not predict your credit score.
What Better Credit Can Open Doors For
Possibilities worth working toward
Homeownership
A stronger credit file can open the door to mortgage pre-approval.
Auto Financing
Better terms on a car loan can mean a lower monthly payment.
Business Funding
Lenders often review personal credit when you apply for business capital.
Potential Savings
Lower rates on loans and cards can free up money each month.
Approval and financing terms depend on more than credit, including income, debt, and lender requirements.
NOVEMBER BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Meet Nefetari “Tari” Bladen
Broker & Owner | JNB Realty
Supporting Businesses. Building Connections.
Meet Nefetari “Tari” Bladen
REAL ESTATE BROKER • ENTREPRENEUR • AUTHOR • PODCAST HOST
Nefetari “Tari” Bladen is a real estate broker, entrepreneur, author, and podcast host whose passion is helping people build meaningful connections and lasting legacies. With nearly 20 years of real estate experience, she is the Broker and Owner of JNB Realty, a family-owned, Texas-based brokerage serving San Antonio and surrounding communities.
Guided by People, Passion, and Legacy, Tari helps families navigate homeownership with education, advocacy, and personal support. Her specialties include military relocation, first-time homebuyers, move-up buyers, and new construction. She believes real estate is about more than buying or selling a house—it’s about creating opportunities and building wealth for future generations.
Tari is also the author of The Promise: A Journey from Faith to Manifestation, sharing her testimony of faith and perseverance. As the host of Unmasked with Tari, a faith-centered podcast, she creates space for honest conversations about family, identity, and embracing who we are beyond the roles we fulfill.
A wife, mother of three, and woman of faith, Tari leads with a heart for service and purpose. For her, success is measured not just by accomplishments, but by the lives we impact along the way.
Connect with Tari and JNB Realty
COMING SOON ON YOUTUBE
Coffee & Credit — Videos Coming Soon!
I'm excited to share that Coffee & Credit videos will be uploaded soon! We'll be talking about credit, budgeting, debt management, and practical money habits in a way that's easy to understand. Stay connected for more tips and financial education from Hobgood Credit Repair.
A Thanksgiving Message from Our Family to Yours
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to personally thank everyone who has supported Hobgood Credit Repair.
Whether you've been a client, referred a friend, attended an event, or simply shared our educational content, we appreciate you!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and gratitude.
— Melissa Hobgood
More Than Credit Repair
How Melissa can help
- Credit repair
- Debt management & paydown
- Student loan guidance
- Business funding
- On-site speaking & education
A Little About Me
Meet Melissa Hobgood
My passion for credit education comes from personal experience. Years ago, I worked to rebuild my own credit and learned firsthand how much education, discipline, and better financial habits can change the opportunities available to you.
I also bring more than 15 years of banking experience in fraud prevention and risk management. Today, through Hobgood Credit Repair, I use that experience to help individuals and families better understand their credit, address reporting inaccuracies, manage debt, and prepare for their financial goals.
I'm especially passionate about teaching financial literacy in our community, including first-time homebuyer education and credit and budgeting workshops. I believe knowledge builds confidence and can create opportunities for generations to come.
Let's Keep Learning & Growing Together
Explore credit repair, debt paydown, student loan options, business funding guidance, and financial education with our team.
We Fix Credit. We Teach Credit.
Rebuild • Restore • Rise