Dream Big: How to Make Educated Credit Choices

Credit Education is the one thing that is SEVERLY lacking in financial education...as if there is a such thing. Most people have to find out
for themselves, after they have ruined their credit, how to boost it back up!
Well, now, there are a ton of great resources to help us make educated credit choices, fix our credit, and maintain a good credit rating.

First, you can easily go to sites such as crediteducation.org to find classes
in your area that are geared towards teaching people, in plain language, about
credit and how to maintain it. At this site, you can even take online courses,
and become certified. Even the credit bureaus have credit education centers online
that teach you about credit scores, how they are determined, and what you can do
to keep yours at a satisfactory level.

Second, you can sign up for tools that watch your credit, and alert you everytime
a change is made or your credit file is updated. This way, you will stay abreast of
each and every thing that happens, and will be notified immediately so you can take
action if you need to.

Third, TAKE ACTION. If there is something going on that you did not authorize, then
you need to get a fraud alert placed on your credit file, and you can do this with
most bureaus online. Then, you can enroll in such programs as Credit Trax through FDI that will help you take action on those inaccurate cases in your file and get them deleted or updated, thus increasing your credit score.

Lastly, once you have educated yourself and taken some small steps to getting your credit file in order. You need to look at the bigger picture of HOW you are using credit. It is important when you have large purchases like a car or a house. However, you should refrain from accumulating large balances on credit cards that usually have very high interest rates. These should only be used in an emergency OR if you are going to pay off the balance each month. Otherwise, you are paying the credit card company to borrow its money, and the longer and the more money you borrow, the more it is going to cost you!!!!