Get a Fresh Start on Your Credit this Year!

What better time to get a fresh start on your credit than the first of the year?  Every January, we begin anew… we start diets, we start exercise programs, and we start planning our taxes. But, as you’re digging through those hundreds of receipts, copies of bills paid, and those credit card statements, take a look at the interest rates you’re paying…are they in line with the national average for your credit bracket?  Not sure?

If you don’t know how the interest rate on your credit cards compares to other cards that you’re eligible for (based on your credit rating), then the first thing you’ll want to do is to compare your rate to other available credit cards.

Once you’ve compared your rate to everyone elses, then you’re ready to look at what other credit cards have to offer in terms of interest rates, balance transfer deals, and rewards. You can easily do that by checking out the categories on the left side of the page and choosing the one that fits your financial circumstances. Compare your current cards to the ones offered and see if you can save money by switching – if so, simply apply online and you’re on your way to saving money on interest in 2016.

Another option that is worth considering is to consolidate ALL of your credit cards into one easy monthly payment with a personal loan. Not only will you save money on interest, you’ll also save on your monthly payment amounts, which can really make a difference when you’re on a budget. Not sure if this is the option for you?

Check out our personal loan options:


Of course, it isn’t always that easy – with the lingering effects of the past few years’ economy, there are millions of people with credit problems. Jobs lost, the high cost of health care, and other unexpected expenses can really wreck your credit! Getting your credit back on track after a financial setback is an uphill battle, and unless you’re a professional, it can take years of writing letters, getting proof of payments you’ve made, and disputing inaccuracies before you’ll be able to raise your score alone… if that’s the case, then it may be time to hire a professional to help you improve your credit score.

Do you know your credit score? You’d be surprised how many people can’t tell you their credit score…even worse, they have no idea what’s on their credit report. And if you don’t know what’s on your credit report, you can’t fix it – if you don’t know what’s on your report, the best place to start is one of these credit monitoring services.

 

Still not sure where to start?  Trust me, the first step to improving your financial situation and getting that fresh start on your credit is to simply START somewhere!   Go on, what are you waiting for?  A fresh start on your credit is just around the corner!

Get A Credit Card to help build Your Credit score

Have you had poor credit in the past? Made a few mistakes, wish you’d done things a bit differently?

Well, all is not lost — you can rebuild your credit just like you lost it. It’s simple, and if you’re disciplined, it’s quick and almost painless.

First, what is a Credit Card? The normal procedure is that you deposit an amount of money into a savings account which is in turn security for the Credit Card you apply for. Then, you can use the credit card just as though it were a “normal” (unsecured) card, and when you make your payments on time, you are building your new credit history. It’s a good idea to use this card for regular expenses that you’d normally pay cash for; then using that cash to pay the credit card bill. This shows the credit card issuer that you are responsible and can pay your bills on time. It obviously takes a bit of self-discipline to do this, however; if you’re not good with handling money that may present a problem for you. But practise, as in all things, makes perfect.

Generally, you will find there are application fees and other fees not usually associated with regular credit cards when you try to get a secured credit card.

Some secured credit card programs will allow you to deposit additional monies into your security savings account, thereby increasing your credit limit. Check before applying for a credit card on this. Again, read the fine print! It’s important.

Many institutions, after a period of having made all your payments on time, will release your security deposit to you, thus graduating your card to an unsecured status. Congratulations if this happens to you!

You can build your credit even faster by getting more than one secured card at a time; just make sure that you stagger your opening of these accounts by a month or so each, otherwise you may run the risk of being rejected, and thus harming your credit score again.

After you’ve established credit using a credit card, you will most likely start to notice the amount of low APR credit card deals being offered to you. Make sure you read the fine print, as always, and carefully choose which offers you sign up for.

Different banks and credit card companies have differing amounts that they are willing to allow you to secure; and they all have different procedures, get the one most suited to you.

About the Author: Peter Carville
“You can rebuild your credit just like you lost it. It’s simple, and if you’re disciplined, it’s quick and almost painless. ”

Review & Apply for a Credit Card designed to improve your credit score through one of our secure links!