You really try to be responsible with your money.
But, no matter what you do, your credit score never seems to make it over that 700 hump.
Yup â€" you've got some algorithm spitting out a three-digit number that's basically controlling your entire life. We get it: It's frustrating.
Don't give up just yet, though! These six moves just might be the kickstart you need to finally get your credit score moving in the right direction.
Best of all? You can do all these things by the end of this week.
1. Write a Love Letter
…to your creditors.
If you generally have a pretty solid credit history, save for a few missteps, then sending a well-executed goodwill letter to those you owe could help get you back in good graces with them and improve your credit score.
You'll want your letter to cover the following bases:
- Explain why and how long you've been a loyal customer of the creditor.
- Take responsibility for the mistakes that led to the blemishes on your credit history.
- Describe the steps you're taking to ensure these mistakes don't happen again.
- Appeal to their sense of empathy. Show that you want forgiveness but also that you are determined to do better going forward. Show them you deserve this!
- Keep your letter clear and to the point.
Don't forget to include important information, like your account number and the date and amount of the missed payment you want removed from your credit history. Once you've written your goodwill letter, address it using the information on the creditor's website.
2. Let This Site Show You Exactly How to Improve Your Score
Your credit score is like your financial fingerprint. Everyone's is different and for different reasons. One person's credit score might be under 700 because they have an error on their report. Another person's credit score might be under 700 because they have a bill in collections.
That means everyone's strategy to improve their credit score will look different… but how in the world are you supposed to know where to start?
Thankfully, a free website called Credit Sesame will take a look at your credit report and let you know exactly what you need to do to improve your score.
Take, for example, James Cooper. He didn't know anything about credit, but Credit Sesame showed him the exact steps he needed to take to improve his score â€" from a 524 to 801.*
Then there are people like Salome Buitureria, a working mom in Louisiana who, in using Credit Sesame, found a major error on her report. The site helped her fix the mistake and take additional steps to raise her credit score nearly 200 points.*
Want Credit Sesame to show you exactly how to finally get your score over that 700 hump? It takes 90 seconds to sign up and get started.
3. Ask This Website to Pay Your Credit Card Bills This Month
If you have credit card debt, you know. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you're never going to escape…
Your credit card is getting rich by ripping you off with insane rates, but there are other, nicer companies that'll help you out. A website called Credible knows the best ones and could pair you up as soon as tomorrow.
Here's how it works: Credible will match you with a loan that'll cover your credit card tab. Use that loan to pay off your debt, then make monthly payments to repay the loan.
It could lower your monthly payments and help you pay off that debt a lot faster. Plus, no credit card payment this month. Credible won't make you stand in line or call a bank. And if you're worried you won't qualify, it's free to check online.
It takes just two minutes, and it could save you thousands of dollars. Totally worth it.
4. Stop Wasting Thousands Because of Your Bad Credit Score
Between higher interest on your car loan and credit card balance, your bad credit score could be costing you thousands of dollars each year.
But there's a debit card called Extra that can help build your credit without any of the hassle.
It's the only debit card that can positively impact your credit score without any of the risks that come with a regular credit card â€" there's no credit check, no interest and no deposit required to use it.
But there are rewards: When you sign up for an Extra debit card, you'll connect your existing bank account and get a credit limit based on your real-time cash balance. Then Extra will report your purchases as credit-worthy payments to the credit bureaus, just like a credit card company would, and give you points to spend on everything from beauty products to Apple Airpods.It takes just a few minutes to get started. Click here to apply. It could save you thousands of dollars.
5. Build Your Credit Score Without Getting a Credit Card
Do you know how much money your bad credit score has cost you? Between higher interest rates on car loans or interest fees on your credit card balance, it could be thousands of dollars each year.
You know you need to fix it, but you don't have the time, money or energy. But there's a debit card called Extra that can help raise your credit without any of the hassle. And you could get rewards, too.
The Extra debit card is the first debit card that can positively impact your credit score without any of the risks from a regular credit card â€" there's no credit check, no interest rates and no deposit required to use it. Plus, you get to keep your money in the bank account you've always used.
Sign up for an Extra debit card by securely connecting your bank account. You'll get a credit limit based on your real-time cash balance. Every time you make a purchase with your Extra card, they'll spot you the cash now and pay themselves back the next day.
At the end of the month, all of your purchases are reported to the credit bureaus as credit-worthy payments â€" just like a credit card company would. But you won't be paying any interest fees since it's your money you're spending. You will earn rewards though!
It takes just a few minutes to sign up for an Extra debit card, and you can get all the perks of a credit card without the risks of a credit card. You can save thousands of dollars in interest, build your credit score and quite literally reap the rewards.
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* Like Cooper and Buitureria, 60% of Credit Sesame members see an increase in their credit score; 50% see at least a 10-point increase, and 20% see at least a 50-point increase after 180 days.
Credit Sesame does not guarantee any of these results, and some may even see a decrease in their credit score. Any score improvement is the result of many factors, including paying bills on time, keeping credit balances low, avoiding unnecessary inquiries, appropriate financial planning and developing better credit habits.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
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