Improving your credit score can sometimes seem like a foreign concept, not just because of the length of time it can take to pay off debts, but also because of the extra baggage that comes with it. However, with the right planning, paying off your debts and improving your credit score might be somewhat more simple than you might imagine. Here’s how:
Start Saving
As one of the most important financial tools you have regardless, being able to save money will be crucial to your financial success long term. Not only will this prepare you with the ability to pay off debts very quickly, but you’ll additionally have the ability to loan money with liquid cash against your name, which is an essential factor to consider when looking to borrow. According to GoBankingRates, 69 percent of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings account. It should go without saying that this is a bad practice, and if this describes you, you’ll have to pay closer attention to where your money goes if you’re going to get (and keep) your credit score up.
Set out to establish a budget that you can work with your monthly income. No matter if it’s five, ten, or twenty percent of your current finances, having a savings plan in place that can help you pay off your debts while setting aside enough to make major purchases is crucial. A good rule of thumb to remember in this instance is that everything you loan is going to have interest, so the more that you can prioritize your current and future debts into favorable rates, the better off you’ll be long term.
Don’t Forget About How You Compare To The Average
Another crucial thing to examine when it comes to your finances is how you compare to the general status of things. For example, as noted by Forbes, with the average person having $37,172 in student debt, anything slightly more or less than that is most likely in the range of normal. And although that might be quite a bit, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in a bad position with your credit score.
A big thing with your credit score is acknowledging the debt, or how much you’re willing to pay off based on your income. As noted by ValuePenguin, with the average credit score around 695, it makes sense that if you want to get to that level quickly, that paying off the debt in larger chunks will create the most impact. See what type of payments you can increase in comparison to the average, as well as how soon that will reduce your debt utilization rate. Remember, a big thing with your credit score is how much you can pay down in an efficient manner, which the more you can knock out, the better chance you have of boosting your standings.
Be Mindful Of How Your Credit Card Debt Stacks Up
Although it might seem obvious, your credit card debt can mean quite a bit in comparison to how your credit score stacks up. As noted by NerdWallet, the average credit card debt hovers around $15,654, but the amount can vary depending on the age of your credit accounts as well as your current income. Check and see how your debt to income ratio looks, as well as how you can improve that number moving forward.
Another item people put on their hierarchy is how much they can knock out in big chunks that while wouldn’t be the average, will help them maintain getting out of high-interest situations. All-in-all, as credit card debt is something that can play quite a direct role to your credit score, don’t be afraid of tackling this first and moving down, freeing up the majority of your credit limit.
See Where Debt Is Building You Equity
Finally, as one of the most important aspects of debt, being able to build equity off of it is a must to move forward. This includes things like buying a house and then the property value increases in the period that you’re paying it off. As noted by USA Today, with the average household in around $137,063 of debt, it’s not to say that you too can’t structure your debt into a more favorable package. All you need to do is look at how what you put in will have long-term growth, as well as how that will increase your cash flow later on. Overall, as debt can be a great way to build yourself equity in yourself, always try to see what type of ROI you can get out of a deal, as well as what factors play into that in the future.
What are some strategies you look forward to implementing for your credit score? Comment with your answers below!