5 Tactics to Improve Your Credit Score This Year

Published on: 03 February 2022 Last Updated on: 12 September 2024

Inflation is up, money is tight, and your credit score is in the gutter. What a way to start the year!

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, it’s time to finally do something about your unfortunate credit score. This January, kick-off an improvement plan to improve your credit score by the time the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31.

5 Lucrative Ways Improve Your Credit Score:

1. Know What You’re Working With

You can’t fix a problem you can’t see. If you’ve been avoiding checking your credit score for fear of what you’ll find, get over yourself. Now is the time to set aside your pride and review the damage. Your credit score impacts nearly every financial move you make. Working to improve it now, before you consider shopping for a major purchase, can make your life easier.

Pull up your free annual credit report to review the data that’s been reported to the credit bureaus. If you’ve got missed payments, high credit utilization, or too many accounts, take note. Then consider your overall score. Anything under 700 should be seen as an opportunity to improve. Now you’re ready to create your action plan.

2. Take Action Daily

You can make measured improvements on your credit score just by being mindful of your daily actions. If you struggle with overspending, pause before you swipe your card. Consider whether the purchase you’re about to make meets your goals and if you’ve got the money to repay the balance.

If the answer to either is no, resist the urge to buy. Instead, save up for want-based purchases so you can treat yourself without sacrificing financial security.

In an e-commerce age, you probably can’t eliminate plastic from your purchasing repertoire entirely, but you can be smarter about it. Familiarize yourself with different payment options like a credit builder card. These cards are secured by a funds transfer or initial deposit. Every time you pay your bill, your good payment history is reported to the credit bureaus. Over time, this great track record can improve your score.

3. Get Your Budget on Point

The way you spend often dictates how well you can keep up with the demands of your bills. While everyone has core expenses across housing, food, and transportation, it’s essential to manage one’s variable expenses. Sit down with the last two months of your spending history to identify budget busters and trends you’d like to address.

If dining out is a sore spot for your budget, create a system to help you indulge with purpose. Set a dollar amount that you can spend without dipping into cash reserves dedicated for other expenses. Think about why you like to spend in this category and whether there’s another way to fill your cup.

If your real desire is to spend time with friends, pivot to hosting a small potluck dinner once a month. Adjust your spending toward this event, and you just may find you like the results better than gathering at restaurants.

4. Dispute Inaccuracies

Your comprehensive credit report may be telling lies about you. If your careful review identifies inaccuracies in your report, it’s in your best interest to dispute them. Late payments are one of the biggest dings on your credit report. If you’re a reliable payer, it’s only fair to fix any errors in your report.

First, reach out to the company reporting the information to the bureaus to dispute your account status. Then report the error to the credit reporting bureaus. You’ll need to include a dispute form and documentation supporting your case.

This process can take months to resolve, so stay the course on other credit-boosting activities while you wait. Inaccurate reports happen, so it’s important to review your credit report regularly so you can quickly address them.

5. Attack the Two Most Impactful Credit Factors

Put your energy into the most impactful parts of your credit score: on-time payments and credit utilization. Your payment history drives 35% of your credit score. If you have a history of late payments, you’re killing your score. Catch up on missed payments and create a system to help you manage your bills. Set up autopay for your core bills (rent/mortgage, utilities, insurance, etc.) so you can ensure that your obligations are covered.

The second most impactful area of your financial behavior is credit utilization, which makes up 30% of your score. Credit utilization — the percentage of your available credit that you’re using at any given time — signifies how well you manage money. Work to keep your utilization below 30% to earn a good mark from the credit bureaus.

If you can, request a credit limit increase to improve that percentage, but resist the urge to tap into it. Consider making payments toward your balance as you make changes to keep your utilization low.

Creating the Accountability to Stay on Track

Any goal is more achievable when you breathe life into it. So create a vision board of your credit score goals and post it where you can see it daily. Talk about your plan with your friends and family to create an accountability team for your new credit-building habits. Monitor your progress regularly and course-correct if you need to.

The more you interact with your plan and assess your behavior, the more likely you are to be successful. Who knows? After a year of hard work, sacrifice, and intentional effort, your score could even climb from poor to exceptional.

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Medical Debts And The Military: The Overlooked Burden Of Service

In the realm of military service, it's evident that our personnel demonstrate exceptional dedication. Countless individuals are on the frontlines daily, showcasing unwavering commitment and making significant sacrifices for our nation's safety and security. Their courage is consistently acknowledged and appreciated. However, beneath this commendation lies a less-discussed challenge that many face. A substantial concern, often overshadowed, is the burgeoning issue of medical debts incurred due to their service. This is a pressing matter that merits our attention and understanding. Understanding The Nature Of Military Service And Health Risks Within the domain of military service, a spectrum of inherent challenges exists. Daily operations, particularly in high-risk zones, subject our military personnel to many potential hazards. It's worth noting that these risks extend beyond the apparent combat-related injuries. The consistent stress and demands of their roles can manifest in severe long-term mental health complications, PTSD being a notable concern. As many seasoned veterans have articulated, the repercussions of their service, both visible and latent, often extend far more profound than the casual observer might discern. Such complexities underline the deep nature of military service. Deciphering Military Health Coverage TRICARE stands out prominently in the discourse on military health coverage. As our military personnel's primary healthcare program, TRICARE offers a comprehensive suite of benefits. Yet, akin to many insurance packages, it possesses certain complexities. While encompassing an extensive range of medical services, it has coverage gaps. When juxtaposed with civilian insurance packages, these disparities become markedly evident. For several individuals within the military community, navigating these nuances proves intricate, occasionally culminating in unexpected financial expenditures. This presents a nuanced landscape that warrants closer examination. Debt Relief Programs: A Beacon Of Hope There is a beacon of hope in the intricate landscape of medical debt for military personnel and veterans. Active-duty members and veterans can take solace because numerous debt relief initiatives are tailored specifically for them. These programs, including those focused on veteran debt relief, have garnered significant acclaim, each boasting multiple success narratives. By measures such as reducing the principal debt or formulating structured payment plans, these initiatives serve as instrumental lifelines. For any military member, veteran, or acquaintance grappling with medical debt, a diligent exploration of these avenues is strongly recommended, offering a pathway to potentially mitigate substantial financial challenges. By The Numbers: Grasping The Scale Of Medical Debt Among Military Families Assessing the prevalence of medical debt among military families prompts a deeper inquiry into the available data. This investigation reveals a somewhat concerning scenario. A considerable proportion of military families indeed face the brunt of medical debt. When juxtaposing this reality with civilian families, the disparity becomes conspicuously evident. Notably, despite the immense sacrifices rendered by military personnel, they frequently encounter more pronounced financial challenges related to health care than many civilians. Such observations underscore the need for a comprehensive examination of the underlying factors. The Ripple Effect: Beyond Monetary Concerns Delving into the broader implications of medical debt reveals a multifaceted impact beyond the evident financial strain. Beyond the fiscal ramifications, there is a significant emotional toll. Manifestations include heightened anxiety levels, pervasive stress, and potential feelings of despair. Additionally, the familial dynamic is not immune to this burden. Once centered on daily life's pleasantries, conversations may shift toward the pressing concerns of impending bills. Future aspirations, such as the procurement of a home or the anticipation of a vacation, often become overshadowed by the immediacy of financial obligations. This illustrates the profound reach of medical debt on an individual's holistic well-being. Global Insights: International Best Practices Upon broadening our perspective to a global scale, a distinctive narrative emerges. Numerous countries have instituted comprehensive medical benefits for their military personnel. These established systems, characterized by their proactive strategies and extensive coverage, set benchmarks of excellence. Given these international precedents, it may be prudent for the U.S. to evaluate and discern applicable lessons from these best practices. Such a comparative analysis is valuable for refining domestic approaches to military medical benefits. Marching Forward: Advocacy And Initiatives For Change Significant developments are underway in the evolving landscape of the medical debt crisis for military families. Current legislative agendas feature multiple proposals aimed directly at alleviating this pressing concern. Concurrently, grassroots movements and dedicated organizations fervently mobilize and advocate for systemic changes and reforms. For individuals and entities deeply vested in this issue, ample opportunities exist to engage, support, and drive impactful transformations in this crucial arena. The confluence of these efforts underscores a proactive approach toward addressing the challenge at hand. Conclusion In conclusion, it is imperative to underscore our shared responsibility. Addressing the challenge of medical debts within the military goes beyond mere policy adjustments. It is a matter of ensuring that those who have dedicated their lives in service to the nation are not disproportionately burdened upon their return. As a cohesive society, extending our unwavering support and commitment to these individuals is commendable and an essential duty. Read More: How To Choose A Funeral Director? How to Get Low Cost Life Insurance for Seniors? 5 Factors to Consider in Choosing the Right Floor Colors

Easy Ways To Make Free Money Without Doing Much

Being in need of extra cash and not having the time to do something about it can put you in a pretty tough position. Luckily there are some things you can do to make free money without putting in much effort as well as save free money without even knowing it. Check out the tips below to grab that extras cash ASAP. Easy Ways To Make Free Money Without Doing Much: Fill out online surveys There are tons of websites out there that will pay you to take surveys or answer just a couple of questions. Some of these websites include Swagbucks Toluna Vivatic MySurvey YouGov Panel Opinion These surveys usually don’t take too long and definitely don’t take too much brainpower to complete. Check out one of these sites if you’re bored and make a few extra bucks in the process Sell your old clothes Everyone has clothes still hanging in their closet or folded in their drawers that they either forgot they had or haven’t worn in years. If this is the case, sell them! You can either physically bring them to a spot like Plato’s Closet where they’ll assess the value of your clothes or then hand you cash, or you can post them online. One great online clothing selling platform is Poshmark. All you have to do is upload a picture of your clothing item, answer a few questions, set a price, and wait for it to sell. Once it’s sold, Poshmark will provide you with a pre-paid shipping label so that all you have to do is pack the box and send it on its way. Sell your things So maybe you don’t have a ton of clothes you’re willing to sell. In that case, check out some of the old stuff you have hiding away in your basement or attic. As they say, one mans garbage is another man's treasure. Check out sites like eBay or LetGo for a platform with a huge audience. Sell your old gift cards Sites like GiftCash make it easy to check the balance of your gift cards and then sell them on their site. You can check any gift card balance from Abercrombie to a second cup gift card balance. This is a great way to make some quick cash if you’re not going to use the gift cards. Stop buying coffee If you’re tight for cash, you need to make those trips to Dunkin or Starbucks a treat rather than a necessity. Not that coffee is particularly expensive, but if it’s an everyday expense, it’s definitely adding up over time. Try cutting this down or out completely and watch your bank account grow slowly but surely. Cut back on subscriptions There’s going to be some things where you’re just not willing to budge, but do you really need Netflix, Hulu, and HBOGO? Maybe it’s time to pick and choose which subscriptions are really a priority for you. Or maybe you should stop watching TV altogether and get another job. Write online This might not be a gig for everyone, but you have any ability to write, it’s not too tough to find a job online. Websites like Upwork and Freelancer offer platforms for you to advertise yourself as a blog writer, article writer, or any other professional talents you may have. You can sell photography, design websites, or just about anything else you can think of through these sites, and get paid for it! When you’re in a pinch for free money, things can get pretty frustrating. No matter what though, there’s always something you can do about it. Even if you’re not working some fancy job, for the time being, there are totally ways to get that extra cash into your pocket. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box in order for it to work. Read More : Top Apps to Help You Manage Your Money. Substantial Tips On How To Invest Your Money Responsibly.

Forex Trading Wisdom: Talk Yourself Out of Bad Trades

Once you have your trading strategy set up, your charts are in place, you’ve looked over the news and you’re ready to roll into today’s trading, what can you do to keep yourself on the right track? One answer is your broker. A good working relationship with your broker can help you stay in line with your trades. But once in a while, you just get an urge to go above and beyond your own trading style and strategy and throw money into a bad trade. Why would you want to do that and how can you stop yourself? Even though it’s contrary to any strain of trading wisdom, it happens. Here are some of the reasons it might happen to you. Complete Boredom: One of the biggest pitfalls of trading in forex is the boredom that you can experience between trades. As you’ve experienced, it can be painfully boring to sit at your computer waiting for a breakout or for some news event that will trigger some action. Patience is your friend here. Try talking yourself out of making a stupid trade by thinking about what you can do with the money that you’ll most likely be losing. Think of ways you can profit from that money rather than throwing it away on a bad trade that does not fit into your trading style. Since at this point you realize it’s a bad trade, you can think through the consequences and decide against it. Financial Pressure: Many a rotten deal has been the result of some sort of pressure. Pressure to bring in a quick buck due to increasing financial needs is one of those pressures. Keep in mind that trading forex is not like buying a lottery ticket where you throw your money into a cause that is surely going to lose. The odds are against you in either case. This is not a toss the dice game to find out if you win or lose. There is specific logic that goes along with trading to win. You’ve done your homework, developed your strategy and even tested it now. Don’t throw it all to the wind in one dumb trade. Trust yourself, have confidence in your trading strategy and continue to have a winning attitude rather than one of defeat. Goals Out of Reach: If you have set your goals for trading too high, you could be feeling frustrated. Don’t let that frustration lead you to take on a bad trade in hopes of winning. You have the experience under your belt to know that it is very unlikely that you will gain anything from a bad trade. Besides the actual loss in your trading account, it will cost you money in commissions to your broker. Lower your goals so that they are realistic enough that you can meet them, and then gradually increase the bar. In short, trust the hard work you have put into getting this far and don’t throw it away on a bad trade! Read Also: What To Expect When You Become A Forex Trader Top 9 Forex Trading Tips For Beginners That Save You Money

5 Tactics to Improve Your Credit Score This Year