Let’s face it — navigating the financial world can be downright terrifying sometimes.
Whether you’re right out of college and looking to sign up for your first credit card, or you’re applying for a mortgage for the first time, the path to achieving financial independence isn’t always a cake walk. For example, maybe you’ve amounted some debt, or you haven’t built up your credit profile yet. Those realities can leave you feeling like you’re in the dark, and have no idea what steps to take next.
Don’t hit the panic button just yet. It is possible to navigate any financial endeavor you’re looking to embark on, whether it’s securing your first mortgage, or getting approved for your first credit card.
However, before you do, let’s see how much you already know about the main pillars of finance — like credit, savings, debt, and investments.
Ready to test your financial knowhow? Then jump on in and choose what you think are the best answers!
<section><h2>How well do you understand the financial world? Test your knowledge to find out.</h2></section><section><h2>You’ve just landed your first job and want to apply for your first credit card, but you have no credit history. What do you believe is your best first step?</h2></section><section><h3>You applied and were approved for a credit card from Capital One! Now how do you plan to go about building credit responsibly?</h3></section><section><h3>There’s an awesome house in your neighborhood that’s perfect for you, and you’re pretty sure it’s within your budget, but your credit’s on the low end. Do you think you will still be approved for a mortgage?</h3></section><section><h3>How should you prepare to apply for a traditional mortgage in the first place?</h3></section><section><h3>You’ve found yourself in mounting credit card debt. How would you dig yourself out?</h3></section><section><h3>You’ve accrued some savings and you want to start investing, but you have no clue where to start. What do you think is the best way to start your investment journey?</h3></section><section><h3>Congrats! You’ve just had a baby, and want to take some time off work. What do you think is the best way to prevent a dip in your retirement savings?</h3></section><section><h3>You’ve seen friends get in serious debt by using a credit card. Do you believe having a credit card can be beneficial?</h3></section><section><h3>Several late payments have lead to your FICO score dropping below 600. How do you get it back up?</h3></section><section><h2>New to Money Town</h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You may have dabbled in financial endeavors like opening up a new bank account or applying for a student loan, but you’re still relatively green when it comes to more complex things like applying for a mortgage or setting up investments. That’s totally okay! Thankfully there are so many people out there who can help guide you to make excellent financial decisions, and assist you if and when problems arise.</span></p><p><br/></p><p class="ql-align-center">—</p><p class="ql-align-center"><br/></p><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Getting a credit card can open doors for you financially that you may not have thought were possible, but it has to be one that fits your needs and your life, and you have to use your credit card responsibly. Find out more card basics, dos and don’ts, and what it means to use credit cards responsibly on Capital One’s </em><a href="https://goo.gl/Kg3ocD" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;" target="_blank"><em>website</em></a><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.</em></p><p><br/></p><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">You can also use the handy </em><a href="https://creditwise.capitalone.com/home?external_id=USCARD_PL001_CNP_GMGI_NNN_WEB_CWSE_L99_ZZZ_ZZZZZ" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;" target="_blank"><em>CreditWise</em></a><a href="https://creditwise.capitalone.com/home" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" target="_blank">®</a><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> app from Capital One®, which is free for everyone and provides 100% free weekly credit score updates. </em></p></section><section><h3>Somewhat Savvy Saver</h3><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">You’ve obviously been around the financial block at least once, and may have even learned some hard lessons along the way. However, that’s made you that much smarter when it comes to making important, financial decisions today. That said, you’re not on the highest ground you could be just yet. You probably see the way there, but you’ve got a lot going on in your life, so it might feel like your bigger financial goals aren’t quite attainable. Don’t let yourself off the hook! There are so many ways to get where you want to go in the financial world, many of which just require adopting some better spending habits and/or some simple budgeting. </span></p><p><br/></p><p class="ql-align-center">—</p><p class="ql-align-center"><br/></p><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Getting a credit card can open doors for you financially that you may not have thought were possible, but it has to be one that fits your needs and your life, and you have to use your credit card responsibly. Find out more card basics, dos and don’ts, and what it means to use credit cards responsibly on Capital One’s </em><a href="https://goo.gl/Kg3ocD" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank"><em>website</em></a><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.</em></p><p><br/></p><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You can also use the handy </em><a href="https://creditwise.capitalone.com/home?external_id=USCARD_PL001_CNP_GMGI_NNN_WEB_CWSE_L99_ZZZ_ZZZZZ" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank"><em>CreditWise</em></a><a href="https://creditwise.capitalone.com/home" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" target="_blank">®</a><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> app from Capital One®, which is free for everyone and provides 100% free weekly credit score updates. </em></p></section><section><h3>Financial Wizard</h3><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Well hey there, you money maven! You’re no stranger to the ins and outs, and ebbs and flows of the financial world, and what’s more, you’ve navigated them with aplomb and probably come out on top most of the time. Bravo — you’re far ahead of the game!</span></p><p><br/></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">That said, we’re living in a time when technology is changing how we handle our finances, and, in some cases, altering processes to be more efficient. So, keep up the good work and continue staying on top of financial trends and changes.</span></p><p><br/></p><p class="ql-align-center">—</p><p class="ql-align-center"><br/></p><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Getting a credit card can open doors for you financially that you may not have thought were possible, but it has to be one that fits your needs and your life, and you have to use your credit card responsibly. Find out more card basics, dos and don’ts, and what it means to use credit cards responsibly on Capital One’s </em><a href="https://goo.gl/Kg3ocD" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank"><em>website</em></a><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.</em></p><p><br/></p><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You can also use the handy </em><a href="https://creditwise.capitalone.com/home?external_id=USCARD_PL001_CNP_GMGI_NNN_WEB_CWSE_L99_ZZZ_ZZZZZ" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank"><em>CreditWise</em></a><a href="https://creditwise.capitalone.com/home" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" target="_blank">®</a><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> app from Capital One®, which is free for everyone and provides 100% free weekly credit score updates. </em></p></section>