Your Credit Score is Your Weapon.

In the grown up world, your credit score is your weapon...

So, are you fighting with an AK 47, or a slingshot? Many of us have messed around in our youth muddying up our credit (GUILTYYY!) - we didn't really understand the implications or the importance, it didn't seem real! It felt like a play number, and it was boring to think about. Then BAM, all of a sudden you grow up and before you can do ANYTHING, before you can even buy a cell phone, they are asking for your credit score - and running credit checks.

When I woke up one day and realized that my credit score was my responsibility, I was horrified. It was true - I had some repair work to do. With some diligence and some effort, and some RELUCTANT changes in my behavior I achieved a good score. You can do the same.

Pay your bills on time. A good trade reference, meaning proof that you follow your payment schedule and pay your bills on time is HUGE. Often times when I am writing lease deals - and the credit is borderline and the lender may go either way, I can eek out an approval by showing history of on time payment. I live by my online bank auto bill pay, you simly set it and forget it.

Get a credit card, do your research for the low interest rates - if you have the abilty to do so join a credit union. With your credit card start making little purchases that you KNOW you can pay off in full the next month. This aids in building your credit history, as lenders see having NO credit equally as bad as having poor credit.

Check your own credit report. Dont be surprised by the number when a professional tells you, know where your score lands. Also, go through your credit reports with a fine tooth comb, because recent studies show that over 80% of us have mistakes on our credit report! That's a huge number of us that are walking around suffering for crimes that we didn't commit!

It might even be worthwhile to sign up with a "credit mending" professional. For a small fee, and over the period of a few months they work to PERMANENTLY erase black marks from your credit and elevate your score. I have a few companies that I have had good experiences with in this vein, and would be happy to recommend them to anyone in need (I can also try to work a discount on services for you).

My last tip is: Be as mean as a prison guard when it comes to unnecesary checks of your credit (NO offense meant to kindly prison guards)! Everytime your credit is checked it does weaken your score a smidge - and often times companies are careless and because of poor communication within the company, they will check your credit multiple times for ONE transaction. It is YOUR business, make sure you ask the right questions and show them that you are vigilant and these types of mistakes are less likely to affect you.

Good Luck, and here's to EXCELLENT credit for all of us!