The past couple of years my wife and I have been keeping close tabs on our credit. We purchased a house in late 2006 and making sure our credit was in good shape was important while we were looking for a home loan. (Yes, I know. We bought a house right before the bubble burst. Bad timing.)
Credit scores can run anywhere from a 300 to a 850 depending upon different factors. The higher your FICO score, the better. Last we checked we’re somewhere in the mid to high 700s.
You can now get a free annual credit report through the government’s website at annualcreditreport.com. There you can pull your free report every year from the top 3 credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, Transunion).
For another credit score option, Jonathan over at MyMoneyBlog.com has information about a daily credit score checking website called Credit Karma. The site is currently in beta, and you’ll need an invite to join the site, but basically the webpage will send you daily updates on your credit score – their scores range from 300-900. This can be compared to FICO’s own score watch program that can run $90 or so. Credit Karma is free, but is supported by advertisers. I’m waiting for my invite right now!
UPDATE: Jonathan at MyMoneyBlog.com reports that you can use invite code: CKFRND to join Credit Karma. I just checked my score today and surprisingly I am at 889! I guess that’s what happens when you never miss a payment – or even send one in late. 
LINKS:
annualcreditreport.com
Credit Karma
MyMoneyBlog.com
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