6 Sure Fire Ways To Get Upside Down in Debt! - (Con't.)

4. Ignore your credit report and credit score.

Ignoring your credit report is the same thing as saying that you totally trust the folks issuing your credit -  what the heck, let them run the show  -  they certainly have your best interests in mind!  WRONG!

Here's the truth of the matter.   The FTC believes that over 25% of all credit reports contain errors... that's 1 in 4.  Gather 4 friends together.. one of you has an error on their credit report.

Not only do things go wrong, but sometimes there are way past due bills you have legitimately forgotten about, maybe someone gets ahold of your credit card... Not knowing your credit value puts you at a huge disadvantage.

A very rational strategy is to get your free credit report - you are entitled by law to a free report every year.

Take a look at it, and dispute any mistakes.  Then one by one, find the items on that report that hurt you the most and go to work on them.  What you will find is that as your credit score improves, you will be able to negotiate for cheaper credit.   Move your score in the right direction, and next thing you know, you get offered a cheaper credit card.  Pay off the expensive card, and use the cheap card, and instantly you have saved money!   Hold off on major purchases like a house or a car until your score is stronger, and save more money over a long period of time.

Of course, if you don't know what your credit looks like, you are flying blind - and are easy prey to predatory lenders... Get your free credit report - its easy.  Manage your credit and start having more money available to you at the end of ever month.

6 Sure Fire Ways To Get Upside Down in Debt! - (Con't.)

3. Overspend or simply spend spending future earnings that haven't been banked yet.

That contract is going to come in next month with a big fat commission, so I can afford to buy the television today... right?

One of life's little realities are that the money doesn't always come, or come when you expect it, but the credit card bill is always on time.

Another trap is that the money comes, but before the credit card bill arrives, and gets spent on a celebratory trip, and then the credit card comes, and there's no extra money to pay it.

One of the best strategies is to spend when the money gets there, don't spend ahead.

7 Credit Falacies!

So much misinformation about what impacts your credit score.

We'd like to set the record straight on 7 Credit Fallacies.

Bottom Line, as much as possible, be responsible, don't run up debt you can't afford, and live up to your obligations.

Fallacies

1.  The feds own credit bureaus.

HOOEY - the 3 major credit bureaus Experion Equfax and TransUnion are for profit public companies.

2.  Your Education Impacts your Credit Score.

As if someone would downgrade Bill Gates' credit because he didn't finish Harvard!   Credit scores are a measurement of your credit risk, and does not look at your education, race, bender or nationality.

3.  Multiple Inquiries Hurt your Credit Score

This used to be the case, but when you shop for a major purchase, it is normal to have a brief period with multiple inquiries as you find .. say.. financing for a car.   Multiple requests in a short period are often treated as as single inquiry, and have nearly no impact on your score.

4.  Checking your own credit report hurts your score.

FALSE!  In fact, savvy credit management dictates that you DO check your credit reports to be sure that everything there is accurate!

5.  It costs to see your credit history.

NOPE - you get - by law - a free credit report every year by going ot http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com

6.  Credit Counseling hurst credit scores

Getting help does not impact your score, and a good credit counselor can help you budget, get your finances under control, and improve your score.

7.  It Takes Years to change your credit score.

Your FICO score is updated monthly, and can be continuously and constantly improved and updated.  manage your credit wisely, and watch that score climb.