While both those sites are a great way for you to get a sense of your money, it’s also important to know how companies view your financial situation. By law you are entitled to a free credit report every 12 months. You can get this report from each of the three credit reporting bureaus at sites like annualcreditreport.com. What is lacking from this report however, is what most people are really interested in; that is the actual credit score. A site i found (via the Mint blog), is CreditKarma. Upon (free) registration, you will have access to your actual credit score and see how it compares to other demographics. They also provide a bunch of tools to help you calculate how different factors (such as taking out a loan or applying for another credit card) would immediately impact your score.

Having good credit will only make things easier down the road so these sites are definitely worth a look. For more information on all the credit report and credit rating business along with tons of other useful personal finance information, be sure to check out the Mint blog!

Koyono Slimmy Wallet

I’ve had mine for several months now and I love it. It really is a sleek looking wallet. Koyono also has some of the coolest accessories in their collection as well. Be sure to check them out.

The adventurers of the urban wilderness, globetrotting jetsetters and new business thrill seekers have lifestyles that demand high-performance. These people are on their own mission in the world and must maintain a high level of effectiveness with style, ease and fun.

That being said, I instantly became fascinated with the Slimmy and after doing extensive research, I found only good things being said about this little wallet. One thing that sets the Slimmy apart from traditional bi-fold or tri-fold wallets is that the Slimmy is meant to be carried in your front pocket as opposed to your back pocket. This way, you’re not reaching for your butt every time you need your wallet or more importantly, sitting on an uneven surface resulting in damage to your spine. While some people opt for a card carrier, I liked the Slimmy because it had room for cash and other miscellaneous items.

Satisfied with what the Slimmy had to offer, I opted to purchased a Special Edition Slimmy for some extra flair. Because I ordered from Amazon, processing my order took a few extra days but shipping was quick. An added benefit from ordering off Amazon came in the form of a free magazine offer in which you can sign up for a free year subscription Lucky, Teen Vogue or GQ. The subscription is totally free, in fact the publishers don’t even get your credit card information and the subscription does not auto-renew. If you’re not a fan of any of those magazines, you can also opt for a $12 credit to your account.

As soon as I received my Slimmy, I transferred contents from my old wallet to it to see how it fared. Koyono claims the Slimmy can hold 8 cards, 5 bills and a few receipts. I was able to fit 7 cards and a decent mix of receipts and business cards with no problem. It is important to keep in mind that the Slimmy is not designed to carry all of your stuff; it forces you to reconsider what is and is not essential for your wallet which is a big part of reducing your wallet’s size. For those of you who think you’ll have a hard time dealing with the reduced payload of the Slimmy, printing yourself a card from Just One Club Card may do the trick; it allows you to consolidate up to 8 store rewards cards on to just one. With all my essentials tucked in my new Slimmy, it was the same thickness as my old bi-fold wallet when it is empty and roughly the same thickness as my 80GB iPod. The quality of the leather and the construction of the wallet are both top-notch however I do find the price tag a bit high considering how simplistic the Slimmy is.

In the short time that I’ve had it, I already know that I (and my back) will throughly enjoy using the Slimmy. The Slimmy also comes in a few varieties as well as other stylish wallets and money clips. I find Koyono’s product line very tempting (espescially the Cableyoyo) as they blend equal amounts of design and functionality.

I think only Art Lebedev rivals Koyono in terms of shiny things I will likely waste my money on. Any other cool stuff you think I should know about?