Submitted by [deleted] t3_119k129 in personalfinance
[deleted]
Comments
iranisculpable t1_j9o8opa wrote
Why do you care about a higher credit score? I’ve had an 850 score. The promised dancers, marching band, ponies, and magicians didn’t show up. And I waited all day.
You should be less concerned about your credit score and more concerned about preventing a reoccurrence of problems that resulted from going into debt when you lost your job. You didn’t have a sufficient emergency fund. It took you 6 months to replace your income in an economy with low unemployment rates.
After you pay off your debts, you should focus on a 12 month emergency fund.
Pay all your credit card balances in full and your score will recover over time.
Relevant_Feeling5188 t1_j9onmvp wrote
A credit score in the low 500s definitely needs to be addressed. It's not going to fix itself overnight and it's not worth obsessing over in the short term for that reason but it's a real problem with consequences that OP is justified in being worried about.
iranisculpable t1_j9ooczp wrote
> A credit score in the low 500s definitely needs to be addressed. It's not going to fix itself overnight
Where did I say it would fix itself over night?
Don’t put words in my mouth that I didn’t say.
Relevant_Feeling5188 t1_j9otbkj wrote
I didn't quote you, those are my words.
Glum_Restaurant6303 t1_j9pois8 wrote
Thank you both for your inputs, its helping me put things into perspective
TyrconnellFL t1_j9mksi0 wrote
You rebuild credit by paying your debts on time. That’s the biggest part, and it makes sense because the score is about how safe you are to lend to. Lenders want to get paid back.
Paying off your credit cards frees you from crippling interest on debt. That doesn’t help your credit directly, but it’s important to do. But also speak to your loan lenders and make sure to do what you can to get back into their good graces. Being behind and then catching up with a payment plan is better than debt sent to collections.
Credit score is also a weird fixation. Unless you plan to buy a house or a car or need a new home lease and have an obnoxious landlord, it really has no effect on your life. If you have a newish cad, a solid place to live, and no plans for the next seven years, your credit score basically doesn’t matter and will fix itself with time and reasonably good financial behavior.
AutoModerator t1_j9mj2ac wrote
You may find these links helpful:
- Leaving a Job (resigning, quitting, fired, laid off, etc.)
- Job Loss Megathread: unemployment resources, state-specific information, and help
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
alwayslookingout t1_j9mw8a1 wrote
I’d worry about rebuilding your emergency fund after getting current so you wouldn’t be put in such a predicament should anything like this happens again.