Do it yourself Credit Repair
One day you realize that you are in a serious personal financial disaster situation. If you want to avoid a situation that is so out of control there is no way out, you need to make the effort and take the time to get your money management and credit use habits back on track. You don't need to rush into "debt consolidation" or "home equity loan." You can work out a strategic repair plan for yourself.
You will start by collecting all your credit reports, bill payment statements, and credit card statements, mortgage and insurance records. Locate debt worksheets on the internet to help you work. All of these steps will be taking place at the same time.
Be meticulous about ensuring that your credit reports (there are 3 major credit reporting agencies) are accurate and truly reflect your credit status. To complete this project may take some written communications with one or all of the credit reporting agencies. Stay with the process.
Put in writing all of your financial obligations. You will be particularly concerned with credit cards and perhaps small loans. List the cards with highest to lowest interest rates in order, and the minimum payment for each card.
After this, you are going to look at the picture of "disposable income" and "discretionary income." What are these? You have a certain amount of your salary that pays for your necessary expenses such as loans, utilities, mortgages, insurances, and credit cards. This is disposable income. Subtract the total from salary and this is discretionary income which is the amount you have to assign to reducing debt.
Determine which credit cards and loans you can pay down in order. For the first on the list, pay as much over minimum as possible. Pay minimum on the others. When the first is completed, apply that payment to the next in line and so on. This will be an ongoing money management strategy for a long time.
To immerse yourself in this change of pattern of handling money, you need commitment and will not feel comfortable for awhile. Lifestyle changes are needed. You will need to cease unnecessary spending, buy only essentials, avoid travel, eat at home, pay bills on time and stop charging.
The bottom line of the situation is that you are responsible for creating it. There is no credit angel. You need to fix it and use smart money management techniques to maintain your repairs.
You will start by collecting all your credit reports, bill payment statements, and credit card statements, mortgage and insurance records. Locate debt worksheets on the internet to help you work. All of these steps will be taking place at the same time.
Be meticulous about ensuring that your credit reports (there are 3 major credit reporting agencies) are accurate and truly reflect your credit status. To complete this project may take some written communications with one or all of the credit reporting agencies. Stay with the process.
Put in writing all of your financial obligations. You will be particularly concerned with credit cards and perhaps small loans. List the cards with highest to lowest interest rates in order, and the minimum payment for each card.
After this, you are going to look at the picture of "disposable income" and "discretionary income." What are these? You have a certain amount of your salary that pays for your necessary expenses such as loans, utilities, mortgages, insurances, and credit cards. This is disposable income. Subtract the total from salary and this is discretionary income which is the amount you have to assign to reducing debt.
Determine which credit cards and loans you can pay down in order. For the first on the list, pay as much over minimum as possible. Pay minimum on the others. When the first is completed, apply that payment to the next in line and so on. This will be an ongoing money management strategy for a long time.
To immerse yourself in this change of pattern of handling money, you need commitment and will not feel comfortable for awhile. Lifestyle changes are needed. You will need to cease unnecessary spending, buy only essentials, avoid travel, eat at home, pay bills on time and stop charging.
The bottom line of the situation is that you are responsible for creating it. There is no credit angel. You need to fix it and use smart money management techniques to maintain your repairs.
About the Author:
With unprecedented problems in the credit markets it?s more important than ever to have excellent credit. For more information check out Rob Kosbergs' Detailed FREE Guide on Maintaining and Repairing your Credit Score by going to Bad Credit Repair for your FREE information.
posted by Credit Counseling at
2:55 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home