50, In 50, In 50…Illinois
Also known as “the Prairie State” will be our next stop on our tour!
Trivia Questions:
What were the two other state capitals prior to Springfield?
What year was the first skyscraper built?
What city is home to the first McDonalds?
What animal was the first to be purchased for the Lincoln Park Zoo?
What was the Chicago Bears’ original name in 1920 when they were organized?
The Prairie State
IL is my home away from home (I have adapted to the weather in the southeast a bit too much to handle the winters of the midwest anymore). There are so many things this great state has to offer that it will be hard to keep this review short. The food scene is unmatched. From Giordano’s to Portillo’s, Chicago has some of the best food out of all the states I have visited. In addition to the wide variety of food, there is also a ton of sites to see. Lake Michigan, The Willis Tower, The Bean, etc. Chicago truly is a must-stop destination.
Outside of Chicago, there are plenty of other cities to consider visiting. Morton, IL is known as the “pumpkin capital of the world”. Over 85% of all packaged pumpkins come from this city. Gurnee, IL is home to Six Flags Great America and KeyLime Cove. If you’re like Patrick Mahomes and love catsup, the world’s largest bottle lives in Collinsville, IL. Now, although Illinois has all of these legendary landmarks, fine cuisines, and attractions, the prairie state still lost almost 80,000 residents in 2020 NOT including pandemic-related incidences (NY had almost 127,000 leave).
This marks the largest decline Illinois has seen since WWII (read that again). Whatever your political views, it is pretty clear that residents are moving to states that aren’t taxed so heavily. This is Illinois’ seventh year in a row with a declining population. This number has increased dramatically since 2014. The decrease began with 10,000 residents leaving in 2014 and that number has increased significantly each and every year. The funny part is, the average credit score increased last year. Albeit slightly, still an increase from 709 to 716. Let’s take a look at few credit unions.
Credit Unions:
Great Lakes Credit Union (https://www.glcu.org)
Eligibility: Basically anyone is accepted just fill out the form and pay the fee. They have their “immediately approved” and then if you don’t fit one of their preset options then just select “let us help” and you’re ready to roll.
Perks
- Offer both secured & unsecured credit cards
- The secured card does become unsecured with proper use.
- Only pulls from TransUnion
- Limits as high as $25,000 for RewardsVisa CC
Consumers Credit Union (https://www.myconsumers.org/home)
Eligibility: Anyone can join by simply becoming a member of The Consumers Cooperative Association via a one-time payment of $5.00.
Perks
- The website promotes “Generous Limits” on their CCU Platinum Visa Credit Cards.
- Pulls only from TransUnion
- Limits as high as $25,000
- Secured does convert to unsecured
This concludes day two! As you can see, a lot of credit unions only pull from one credit bureau. This definitely helps if you still want to hit the high limits and let’s say the other two credit bureaus are in duress.
Let us know in the comment section what else you would like to see added to these. Our next stop on our journey will be a surprise. We won’t be going in alphabetical order though. That’s no fun!
Answers:
- Kaskaskia and Vandalia
- 1885
- Des Plaines
- Bear Cub for $10
- Staley Bears
Disclaimer
Any research, reviews, analysis, or other information contained in this book is provided as general credit commentary, does not constitute investment advice, and may change from time to time. Carrying high limits on credit cards may not be suitable for all consumers. The high level of debt can work against you as well as in your favor. MatsuokaManagement LLC, its owner, employees, or affiliates assumes no liability for any loss or damage which may be suffered directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on such information. We strongly encourage consultation with a credit union representative before applying for any products they offer.
Resources
http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Kids/IL_Hist/default.asp
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/25-fun-facts-about-illino_b_5076872
https://www.50states.com/facts/illinois.htm
https://www.cnbc.com/select/average-credit-score-by-state/
