It’s true, you can survive on bad credit. But why would you want to when there is a roadmap we are providing which will direct you to not only how to get good credit but the great benefits you receive once you have it. We will start with how to get good credit.
ROADMAP DIRECTIONS
Contents
First and foremost, you must understand there is a formula used to assign a credit score. If you don’t understand how they assign credit scores to you, then creating and building a healthy and positive credit score will be next to impossible.
The formula is based on the information in your credit history which assigns a 3-digit score to your creditworthiness. The FICO credit score is the most common and it ranges from 300 – 850. It is these factors you must be cognizant of and implement to build your credit. They are – payment history at 35%, debt utilization at 30%, how old your accounts are comes in at 15%, how many inquiries have been made by entities (i.e. credit card applications, mortgages, car loans, etc.) to ascertain your credit score is 10% and what is your credit mix (i.e. student loans, auto loans, personal loans, etc. – is assigned the last 10%.
After you understand your FICO and how to gauge your creditworthiness, there are ways you can build your score by obtaining credit through one or more of the below options.
- Credit cards
- Secured credit cards
- Personal loans
- Student loans
- Utility bills
- Rent
However, if you need to improve your FICO credit score, the last thing you want to do is get more credit already difficult for you to keep up with, so to help you get there, we are listing some handy tips.
- Be timely in paying your bills. Timing is everything and when you are late, it is recorded as a negative on your credit record.
- Do not charge more than you can pay off which sounds like common sense but in reality is hard to practice. However, keeping your credit card balances low increases your credit rating almost monthly.
- If you can help it, do NOT open new credit accounts no matter how few credit cards and accounts are in your name or what you have overall in your credit mix. It will not help your credit score.
- Pay off as many credit accounts as you can but do not close unused credit cards because having fewer cards can lower your credit score.
WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF A GOOD CREDIT SCORE
There are so many benefits to good credit scores, it is hard to figure out where to begin. However, to keep our roadmap promise to you we have put together a list of some of the best benefits that are well worth the effort of creating or improving your credit scores. They include, but are not limited to;
- Low-interest rates on credit cards and loans – we cannot stress enough how important low-interest rates are every time you borrow money. The less money you have tagged on as loan and credit card interest, the quicker you can pay them off. This results in higher credit approval rates and dollar amounts being pre-approved.
- When you need to go to rent or purchase a house you have the leverage to try to lower the monthly rent or get lower interest rates for your mortgage loan. Good credit gives you all the control you need for both and this clout can also be applied to new credit cards, car insurance rates, or personal loans.
- Speaking of car insurance rates you will be pleased and a bit richer when you realize how much you saved on your car insurance because the car insurance industry will use a bad credit score against buyers by penalizing them with higher insurance premiums.
- Need a new cell phone? Bad credit can prevent you from getting a cell phone and service with a reputable provider as well as hundreds of dollars in discounts on the latest and greatest phones. Instead, you may have to use one of the pay as you go plans.
- Finally, next time a utility company asks you for a deposit to turn on your electric, gas or water be aware that good credit scores mean you won’t have to pay that deposit when you establish utility service in your name or transfer your current service to another location.
ROADMAP TO CREDIT SUCCESS
Finally know that all the hard work, time and effort it will take to create or even fix your credit score – is always worth it. The value you receive in lower interest and insurance rates, higher credit dollar amounts, and deposits you will never have to pay have unlimited worth that has no price except it provides you peace of mind while you travel the road of credit success.
Raj Kumar is a qualified business/finance writer expert in investment, debt, credit cards, Passive income, financial updates. He advises in his blog finance clap.
