Get Smart: Free credit reports now available for general public

As reported by local metafeed site Chicagoist.com, Congress' Fair and Accurate Transaction Act of 2003 went into effect yesterday, giving all American citizens the right to request a free report once a year from the country's three major credit agencies. Think of it like you do your annual HIV test: it's not exactly the news you're thrilled about discovering, but incredibly important to a person's well-being nonetheless. Go to annualcreditreport.com to get started.