Every year on my birthday along with treating myself to a fine dining experience, I make sure I get a free credit report.

Financial advisors recommend you check your credit report at least once a year, if not more. There really is no reason not to check. It is free and it could save you thousands of dollars and help you maintain your good credit rating.

Mistakes happen. Once a clerk mistakenly typed the wrong zip code onto my information and a hospital bill fell by the wayside. I only learned about it from checking my credit report and was able to correct it and have my credit rating amended.

If you are considering buying a home or a car or anything else on credit in the future, it is also worth getting your free credit score.

This shows you the number that creditors look at when deciding whether to approve your for a loan.

It helps to know if this number is low and work to bring it up higher before you need it.