Friday, October 10, 2008

Ways to Improve Your Credit

By Michael Geoffrey

Some people feel that once they are in financial trouble the situation is hopeless and there is no way out. That is simply not the case. If you have a low credit rating there are things you can do to turn things around. Now we will discuss a few ways to do so.

Timely Monthly Payments

Paying your monthly expenses in a timely manner is extremely important. When you pay your bills late it has a negative affect on your finances and your credit report. If you have to pay late charges you will have more difficulty paying your debt off and that will put a continuous strain on your finances. In addition, late payments, even to small companies, will be reported on your credit and will bring your credit rating down.

Pay More Than the Minimum Due

Paying the minimum on your balances will not improve your credit in a short time. Yes you will keep your credit in good standing, but you will never pay off the high interest rate credit cards this way. The less you pay, the more interest you will have charged to your account. This means that you will have more to pay and it will take longer to get it paid off. Pay as much as you can without interfering with the other payments that you must make. Make sure that you will have enough for other bills and necessities before you pay extra. When you figure out what you have, pay as much as you can each month. You will see the balance decrease in a short time with this method.

Control Your Spending

Having self control with your spending is very helpful. Learn to purchase only the things you absolutely need and make a promise to yourself that you will not charge anything until you pay off the debt you have already accumulated. Make a concentrated effort to reduce your debt and not increase it.

Consider Balance Transfer

Balance transfers have no negative affect on your credit but can have a really positive affect on your finances and start you off in improving your credit. If you can transfer balances from higher interest rate cards to a credit card with a low interest rate you will save money on interest charges each month and be able to pay down your debt much quicker.

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