It’s not just you. Credit scores are confusing as hell. Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO This video is presented by Secret. Secret doesn’t have a say in our editorial decisions, but they make videos like this possible. When credit scores were invented just a few decades ago, they were hailed as a way to democratize lending. Today, they’ve become so essential that not having one can essentially lock you out of daily life. Having a low score can make life challenging, too. These scores have a long history — and a lot of problems. In this video, we’ll show you where they came from, how they’ve changed over the years, and actually explain what that three-digit number means for you. Sources and further reading: Check out Frederick Wherry’s book, Credit Where It’s Due: Rethinking Financial Citizenship, which he co-authored with Kristin S. Seefeldt Anthony S. Alvarez: https://www.russellsage.org/publications/credit-where-its-due Here’s Josh Lauer’s book on consumer credit bureaus: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/creditworthy/9780231168083 Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com/. Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H