Over the past several years, more people than ever have found themselves in financial crisis. Property values have plummeted, and daily living expenses have skyrocketed. Compounding this problem is the fact that millions have lost their jobs. People who had for years maintained excellent credit found themselves falling into the slippery slope of debt. Many people wonder how to fix bad credit so that they can live more comfortably and debt-free.

With a low credit score, you may find it difficult to get assistance when you really need it – such as when the car breaks down or you have some emergency home repairs. With a higher score you have more choice in the terms and interest rate of any future loans. These days, a low score can even prevent you from getting an apartment or buying a home. Remember that as your scores did not fall overnight, it may take awhile to rebuild them.

The first thing to do is obtain a copy of your credit report from all three of the major credit reporting bureaus. If something is wrong, the agencies have procedures to follow to have the information corrected. Use the information on the report to see if you have any delinquent accounts or accounts in collections, and pay these first. Simply doing these two things will put you off to a great start.

Next, it is essential that you create a budget. You will need to know the amounts of all of your balances on all accounts, and also a record of how much income you bring in. Allot the amount you have as income to the debts you owe and your regular monthly expenses. Any extra can go into savings or put toward the amount you owe. This will make it plain to you just where your money goes, and where you can cut back.

At this point, you must make a firm commitment to stop using your charge cards. You will be amazed at how quickly the balances on your cards go down when you are not adding to the balance every month. You may have to make small changes such as eating out less, or bringing lunch to work. You will quickly become accustomed to the changes and you’ll start to see your financial situation turning around.

Examine the balances and interest rates on the cards you have balances on. Devise a system of paying the card with the highest interest rate first. Send more than the minimum payment each month on this card while continuing to make at least the minimum payment on your others. When this card is paid off, you move to the next account adding the payment you’d been making to the first card. You’ll be able to see progress quickly, which will keep you motivated to continue.

In the future, be very careful to use credit responsibly. Charge only what you can repay when the bill is due to avoid racking up interest again. Instead of using traditional cards, consider using secured cards or debit cards. This way your score will benefit from responsible use, without getting you into trouble again.

Although it may seem hopeless, it is possible to reverse a faltering financial situation. All it takes is a bit of determination and persistence. If you persevere, you could soon return to the feeling of financial freedom you once enjoyed. The answer to the question of how to fix bad credit is commitment.

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Category: Finances
Keywords: credit rating, finances, financial issues, business, bad credit, car loan, personal loans, mortgages