When you are faced with bad credit, you often feel defeated and stuck. Is there ever going to be a way out of it? If you don’t have access to credit it may seem like you can’t move forward. Big ticket items like homes, car, rent seem like a thing that may never be attained. By doing some further research we found some ways you can improve your credit score on your own. Start with these little steps and it may take your score a long way.
Be in the Know
It is important to start from scratch to know what you are dealing with. If you are able to get a copy of your credit report then you will be able to review it and come up with a plan of attache. The 3 major credit bureaus owe you an annual copy for free so it is always a good place to start.
Look for Errors
Once you receive the report, be sure to review it for errors. Even a small error or discrepancy can effect your score. It doesn’t matter if it is small or significant, they need to be identified and can help you move in the right direction. Another issue could be fraudulent behavior or activity on your report. Do you see credit cards that you never even had? You could potentially be a victim of fraud and it could be hurting your credit score. Be sure to identify these so you can be on the first step to cleaning out your report.
Time is Essential
One thing you will realize when it comes to repairing your credit is that you need time. There is not a quick fix for bad credit. Fixing your credit can take months and even years so it is best to plan ahead if you know you will be using credit in the future.
Be responsible
Credit reflects your past actions. If you pay your bills on time and keep a low balance it shows creditors that you are responsible and can be trusted with their credit. Be sure to fix your behavior so it is corrected going forward and it will be reflected in your score. Your behavior includes your payment timeliness but also your spending. A budget is key for keeping credit under control. If you can’t afford things then you should be buying them. It is important to be consistent. Negative behavior can affect your score for years.
Make a Plan
Review your credit report and come up with a plan and strategy. You should pay off your debt with an intentional method. The best and most common methods are the debt snowball or debt avalanche methods. You either start with the smallest debt or start with the highest interest rate debt. Either way you have to come up with a plan that works best for you. Once it is decided upon then be consistent so lenders will recognize it.
Tradelines
If you are looking for a little extra boost than you may want to consider buying tradelines. Tradelines allow you to add authorized items to your credit report to boost your score. One well known professional company for doing this is coast tradelines.
All of these steps should have some positive effect on your credit score.
