As a financial counselor, I have always felt there is a strong correlation between a grateful attitude and financial health. In fact, I have taught students for years that one of the first steps to financial health is being grateful for what we presently have.

There is no easy fix for having bad credit. It takes time to create a bad credit history, and it takes time to create a good one. But do not despair! With a bit of patience and a thought-out plan, it is indeed possible to turn your credit around.

Good credit is all about having a good credit “history.” Lenders look at our past history as a predictor of how we will use credit in the future. Our past credit record is the basis for our “credit score,” which calibrates our degree of risk to the lender. The lower the credit score, the higher the risk.

That’s what the young man asked me as we began our counseling session. I was a bit surprised at his question, but once he explained, it made sense to me. He was a recent college graduate, now working a job and a half, but was having problems getting a loan to buy a different car.

As a veteran financial counselor I have counseled multiple hundreds of smart people with serious financial problems. These people had different incomes, different occupations, and were from different social status. Yet their financial problems seemed to be the results of making very similar money mistakes.

I appreciate a good magic trick! But frankly, I am always a bit frustrated at the end of the show. The frustration results from the conflict between what appeared to be true and what I know to be true.

I heard a news commentator say recently, “America’s credit card is maxed out at $16.4 trillion. Congress will soon be voting to raise the debt ceiling so we can have the ability to pay our bills.”

There is a very real sense in which Thanksgiving can have a direct bearing on our financial health. What is the link between the two? Being thankful for what we have is an attitude that results in living within our means.

Is it better to buy a home or rent? The “right” answer for you depends entirely on your individual circumstances. That being said, here are 7 reasons to buy vs. 7 reasons to rent that will help you think through the situation.

I remember vividly the 76 year-old grandfather who wept in my office after co-signing for his grandson’s first car. The grandson had lost his job and defaulted on the loan after only three payments, leaving the grandfather stuck for the entire debt.