Sense & Centsibility Blog

You Can Afford Your Bills, But is Your Credit Still Suffering?

There are many different types of people that come to LSS for financial counseling. One particular group is working, keeping up on bills, but getting nowhere on their debt.

The balances are not going down... and the frustration and stress is real.

If you're in the same boat, do you have savings to cover a $1000 or even $400 emergency? It's a good thing you can pay your bills, but just being able to do that is survival. And surviving is not thriving. Plus, your credit score may be suffering. 

Your score is based on five key categories:

  1. Payment History: (35% of your score) Paying your bills on time is the most important part of your score...but keep reading.
  2. Amounts Currently Owed: (30% of your score) The amount of debt you owe creditors is the second largest credit score factor. Keep your balances in relation to your credit limits as low as possible and keep in mind maxing out cards is trouble.
  3. Length of History: (15% of your score) The longer you have had credit, the more points you will earn in this section.
  4. Types: (10% of your score) Having a variety of credit such as mortgages, car loans, student loans, and credit cards makes up 10% of your score. However, don't take out new credit just to build credit unless you can afford to and you have money saved for emergencies.
  5. New Inquiries: (10% of your score) Too many inquiries for new credit, especially in a short period of time, will decrease your score.

Take a peek at your report today by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. This site is FREE and SAFE

Does the description in the first paragraph sound familiar? If so, give us a call today at 888.577.2227, or visit our website to get your support online.

We can help. A counselor can look at your whole financial picture including your income, expenses, and debts. Then, you will receive and action plan with concrete steps to take control of your finances.

If you'd rather just get started right now, start your free online counseling session.