For most Americans that live paycheck to paycheck, it doesn’t take long to get in a financial hole. If you lose a job, get sick or injured, go through a divorce or just have bad luck, it can take a toll on your credit score.
When you are tight on money, it’s easy to look to your credit cards to help you get by. The problem comes when your situation is slow to recover and you end up with a mountain of debt. Many people also struggle with being able to live inside their means.
If you are looking to develop better spending habits for 2020 the first place to start is to get your credit score in better shape. The next step is to take a good look at your spending habits and your budget. Once you can see where all your money is going it can be easier to make changes that can last.
By following these tips from reviewing your credit report to find out about bad credit installment loans that can help you consolidate your debt you can clean up your credit rating faster than you might think.
Get A Full Credit Report
You will need to get yourself a free credit report so you can take a look at your current situation. You need to know where you are starting from so that you can make a proactive financial plan.
Make sure that you review all of the information on your report is accurate. Fraudulent charges or other mistakes can keep your score low. Dispute all errors and make sure that your score is accurate.
Pay Bills On Time
One of the worst habits to negatively affect your credit score is paying your bills late. Keeping up on your payments can help you to get back on track. It’s a good idea to set up an automatic payment on all your regular bills.
Pay Down Your Debt
Once you have confirmed all valid issues with your credit score it’s time to address your debts. Contact your lenders and let them know that you are eager to make a reasonable payment plan to pay down what you owe.
Lenders are more likely to work with you when they can expect at least some payment. If you aren’t sure how to prioritize your payments you can get advice from a debt consultant.
Don’t Apply For Credit
When you apply for any kind of financial credit, your report goes through a formal check. While you are repairing your credit score, it’s not a good idea to request new credit from anywhere. Keep only your currently active cards going even once they are paid off.
Your score will rise faster if you have a better debt ratio, so keep your paid down credit cards open but, try not to use them too often.
Conclusion A poor credit score can make your financial dreams feel more like nightmares. Once you make the decision to take charge of your finances, you can commit to working towards a better credit score. By making sure you are starting with a fair report by challenging false entries and starting your debt repayment schedule, you can start to slowly improve your own credit