The National Foundation for Credit Counseling reports that only four in 10 Americans know their credit score. A good reason to be among them: This number determines what interest rate you'll get on loans and credit cards.
How to check: Pony up $20 to get your score at myfico.com. The FICO scoring model, the one most commonly used by lenders, ranges from 300 to 850. A score of 740 or higher entitles you to the best rates; if yours is lower, see "Juice Your Score" for quick ways to raise it.
Parking your money under the mattress might seem like the only sensible move right now. But that's not the case. What follows are some good ideas for you to stash your cash.
