improve my credit score

It’s high time I did something about this. For the most part not a problem but it’s beginning to be.

I’ve decided to work harder on paying my credit cards off by paying a lot more then the minimum balance every month. My goal is to pay then off within one year.

A few steps toward improving my credit score:

1) Realize that a credit score isn’t an end-all-be-all.

2) Don’t get credit cards just to inflate the score

3) Pay off my debt completely in 23 months.

4) Pay my bills on time.

As I get older, I feel like time is running out on this goal. I always underestimated how important a credit score was, but now I constantly see a hundred reasons why mine needs to be better. I want to buy a new car. I want a credit card with a lower interest rate. And in a few years, I will probably want to buy a house. My credit score right now is hovering in the 500s, but I’d like to increase my score to at least 650 in the recent future. Right now, I am working on keeping my balances low to non-existent. I am planning on taking out a secured loan with my bank to add more good payment history. We will see where my score ends up in 6 months or a year.

Yay I finally opened an account on Mint!!! It was super easy and it is nice to see where my money is going. Super depressing to see how I have negative net worth (ugh student loan debt!).

I did get my free credit report from experian. It said everything was good! No defaults on any of my accounts which was a relief to see. I really need to buy my credit score but I’m a little worried to find out how low it probably is. My credit cards are basically maxxed out from living off them junior year. Paid my first federal student loan payment, my first citibank student loan payment is coming up soon- yay for not missing those! I had really been neglecting paying attention to due dates/etc and kind of hoping they would magically disappear/i could magically disappear. Also paid off my hospital bill about a month ago, such a relief to not have to worry about that anymore. My goal is try and budget better, cut down on going out/general consumption so I can put the extra money towards paying off my credit cards, bills. As much as I love being able to go have fun with my friends it gets soooo ridiculously expensive and I hate the thought of having to hit my parents up for cash.

Well it did improve however it’s not that great still, but it won’t be dramatically different for years down the road. Compulsively checking my score won’t help it. ;) oh well.

I’ll just have to save up and pay cash.

I think my credit score is decent, but I want it to be bettah!

736 as of Dec. 2008.

According to freecreditreport.com my credit rating has improved from “poor” to “fair”. This is probably the first time its been above poor in 13 years! Nex level ratings are “good” and finally, “excellent”. Right now my credit is above 35% of Americans. My goal is for it to be above 90% of Americans.

Also, the 1st third of my student loans should be paid off by my employer pretty soon. I got a confirming email to that effect. (Within 1-2 months it should be 1/3 paid off).