A credit score is a measurement to determine your credit worthiness, and we should all strive to keep ours as HIGH as possible.
This means managing our payments, watching our credit card balances, and not frivolously applying for new credit.
However, certain seemingly innocent actions can result in credit score decreases.
Do you recognize yourself as having any of these "conditions"? The "I gotta have it-ache".
A new fishing rod, a great pair of heels, a beach vacation.
We all have the budget breaking Achilles heel.
While splurging every now and then won't be detrimental, a habit of treating yourself to everything that catches your eye can damage your credit score.
Overspending can result in maxed out credit cards, which can lower your credit score (remember, credit utilization accounts for 30% of your score).
Another result of over-extending can be not being able to pay your bills on time.
If you begin paying bills late, your credit score will definitely pay the price.
The "I'll worry about it tomorrow-itis".
Procrastinating on making a budget or delaying facing your mounting bills is a sure fire way to sink your credit score.
A few missed payments along with a few bad purchases can cause a mess that will take you months (or YEARS) to recover from.
The "I can't miss a deal-phobia".
20% off if you open a credit card! Ends today! If either of these speaks to you, this may be a problem.
Department stores often offer discounts for opening a new credit card, and these show up on your credit report as an inquiry.
Too many of these can have a very negative effect on your credit score.
The "It will work itself out-flu".
Collection calls, liens, lates, OH MY! These are credit score tankers and they need to be dealt with this very minute! There is a chance that they are erroneous, and could be removed from your credit report with a little effort on your part.
Letting them linger on your credit report will send you straight out of 700 and 800land into 600 or 500ville.
And nobody wants to live there.
The best remedies to get and keep a high credit score? Think about your purchases.
Being impulsive with money is going to lead you down a debt-ridden path.
If the object of your desire costs more than 1% of your monthly income, think about it for at least 24 hours and figure out how you are going to pay for it.
Always keep your budget on your mind.
Write out a monthly budget so that you know how much extra money you can spend every month.
This will keep you making your payments on time and your debt manageable.
Just say no to marketing.
Don't be swayed to buy something or open credit lines you don't need because of a great sale or discount.
If you weren't looking for it before you walked into the store, chances are you can live without it, no matter how great the 'deal'.
Your financial future is more important than saving a few bucks.
Keep your head out of the sand.
Big credit problems such as collections and liens will not vanish by themselves.
Make sure you are checking your credit report regularly.
Never assume that creditors will realize they have made a mistake and then take steps to correct it on their own.
Jump in and get any erroneous information handled immediately.
The health of your credit score depends largely on your ability to control your impulses when shopping.
Keeping a handle on spending and seeing your big financial picture will help keep your credit score healthy and in top form.
This means managing our payments, watching our credit card balances, and not frivolously applying for new credit.
However, certain seemingly innocent actions can result in credit score decreases.
Do you recognize yourself as having any of these "conditions"? The "I gotta have it-ache".
A new fishing rod, a great pair of heels, a beach vacation.
We all have the budget breaking Achilles heel.
While splurging every now and then won't be detrimental, a habit of treating yourself to everything that catches your eye can damage your credit score.
Overspending can result in maxed out credit cards, which can lower your credit score (remember, credit utilization accounts for 30% of your score).
Another result of over-extending can be not being able to pay your bills on time.
If you begin paying bills late, your credit score will definitely pay the price.
The "I'll worry about it tomorrow-itis".
Procrastinating on making a budget or delaying facing your mounting bills is a sure fire way to sink your credit score.
A few missed payments along with a few bad purchases can cause a mess that will take you months (or YEARS) to recover from.
The "I can't miss a deal-phobia".
20% off if you open a credit card! Ends today! If either of these speaks to you, this may be a problem.
Department stores often offer discounts for opening a new credit card, and these show up on your credit report as an inquiry.
Too many of these can have a very negative effect on your credit score.
The "It will work itself out-flu".
Collection calls, liens, lates, OH MY! These are credit score tankers and they need to be dealt with this very minute! There is a chance that they are erroneous, and could be removed from your credit report with a little effort on your part.
Letting them linger on your credit report will send you straight out of 700 and 800land into 600 or 500ville.
And nobody wants to live there.
The best remedies to get and keep a high credit score? Think about your purchases.
Being impulsive with money is going to lead you down a debt-ridden path.
If the object of your desire costs more than 1% of your monthly income, think about it for at least 24 hours and figure out how you are going to pay for it.
Always keep your budget on your mind.
Write out a monthly budget so that you know how much extra money you can spend every month.
This will keep you making your payments on time and your debt manageable.
Just say no to marketing.
Don't be swayed to buy something or open credit lines you don't need because of a great sale or discount.
If you weren't looking for it before you walked into the store, chances are you can live without it, no matter how great the 'deal'.
Your financial future is more important than saving a few bucks.
Keep your head out of the sand.
Big credit problems such as collections and liens will not vanish by themselves.
Make sure you are checking your credit report regularly.
Never assume that creditors will realize they have made a mistake and then take steps to correct it on their own.
Jump in and get any erroneous information handled immediately.
The health of your credit score depends largely on your ability to control your impulses when shopping.
Keeping a handle on spending and seeing your big financial picture will help keep your credit score healthy and in top form.
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