Having bad credit can be like a stone tied to your ankles. The sensation of drowning in debt is not fun for anyone. When your credit rating is good, it allows you to lead the kind of life that you want to lead. Whether it’s getting that dream house you’ve always longed for or owning that beautiful classic car that you had on your bedroom wall as a teenager. There are a number of ways that you better your credit rating and here are five things to get you started on your road to credit success.
- Set a regular date. It’s extremely important, when trying to better your credit score, to set a regular date to sit down and review your rating and your methods to improve said rating. If you don’t, you most likely lose track of what you’re doing and a bad debt will find itself working its way into your credit report. All you need to do is set aside one or two nights a month. It could make all the difference to your credit score.
- Get regular credit reports. As a part of your monthly review, be sure to get a regular credit report. Credit Sesame is a fantastic online resource for this and could help you to dramatically raise your credit score. So get online and get clicking because the more you know about your rating the better it will become.
- Consider a secure card. Signing yourself up for a secure credit card is a safe and efficient way to up your credit rating. Basically, you set the amount of money you wish to spend based on the security deposit that you put down. It means you’ll be less likely to overspend, and if you do, there will be a buffer in place if necessary. Once you’ve made a couple of years of successful payments on your secure credit card, you’ll notice that your credit score will be soaring like never before.
- Cut down on your spending. This one might seem a little obvious, but to some of us it’s not. Start making a clear budget and sticking to it. Live within your means and spend accordingly. Find cheaper alternatives to your otherwise excessive lifestyle. Change the brands that you use, seek out bargains carefully and consider your options more frugally and you’ll eventually see a change in how much money you owe.
- Argue your point. Beware of the credit-reporting agency. Sometimes they get information wrong, and in the case that something is erroneous, be sure to make a dispute in writing as well as online if that platform is provided. There are a number of credit reporting agencies out there so be sure that your information is correct across the board and make sure you’re not being penalized for things that have already been resolved. Things can find themselves stuck on old computer systems for a long time if you don’t do something to eliminate them.