David Thacker
No one ever expects to have bad credit until they lose a job or can no longer pay their mortgage payments or car payments. And if you charge your expenses onto credit cards, then you are just burying yourself into even deeper financial debt.
Bad credit can do a lot of damage to your mental as well as your financial well-being. It will make it impossible for you to get approved for another home loan, car loan, personal loan, or credit card.
In some cases, it may impact your ability to get a job or rent an apartment.
So, what do you do when you have bad credit? How can you turn all of this around for the better? It might seem hopeless when no one will approve you for a loan, credit card, job, or apartment because of a bad credit report.
But there are ways you can get past this ordeal and restore your credit once and for all. Below are the top 5 ways to deal with bad credit.
Get a Secured Credit Card
A secured credit card is a special type of credit card that anyone can get approved for. The borrower is not actually borrowing anything because they are only allowed to spend the security deposit that they put on the card initially. In other words, the borrower cannot spend more money than they deposit onto the credit card.
Someone with bad credit can benefit from a secured credit card because they will get approved for it and be able to make monthly payments on the card. These payments get reported to the major credit bureaus and help improve their credit.
Pay Outstanding Bills
This is easier said than done, but it is the first big step in improving your credit score. It never looks good on your credit report when you have outstanding bills which are not paid. Once you pay off these bills, you can start fresh again toward rebuilding your credit.
Depending on your income, try to make bigger payments toward your outstanding bills that are more than your required minimum monthly payments. The faster you clear out the debt, the better it will look on your profile.
Consolidation Loan
The more outstanding bills you have, the worse it will be for your credit score. One way to reduce your number of outstanding bills is by taking out a consolidation loan.
This is a loan which pays off all your other loans and leaves you with one bigger loan to make payments on. The monthly payment amount is usually cheaper than the combination of all your other monthly payments. That means it will be easier for you to pay on time and not miss any payments.
Check Your Credit Report
You must regularly check your credit report when dealing with bad credit. Then you will know the status of your credit and the progress you are making toward improving it.
You will want to make sure that your creditors are actually reporting your payments to the major credit bureaus. If they are not, then you must request to update your credit profile by providing the credit bureaus with proof that you have made those payments.
Make a Budget
One reason people end up with massive credit card debt is that they do not watch their spending. Do not get in the habit of making random purchases with your credit card because the debt will add up quickly.
You must plan for every purchase that you make so that every dollar you spend is accounted for. Make a monthly budget which outlines your common income and expenses. This will help ensure that you do not overspend on anything and that you stick to your pre-planned budget.
Author:
I’m Jaylin: SEO Expert of Leelija. and full time blogger. Favourite things include my camera, traveling, business, caring my fitness, food and my fashion. Email id: editor@leelija.com
