Your credit score affects your borrowing capability and interest rate. You must work hard to eliminate any negative information, such as late payments, to have an advantage when it comes to borrowing.
However, building your credit is not something you’re going to wake up one day and achieve. You need to do it step by step. In this article, we provide you with valuable tips on how to build your credit rating the right way.
1. Get a Secured Credit Card
Negative credit history can deter you from getting a regular credit card. But don’t lose hope because a secured credit card still comes in handy for you. These cards are tied to your savings account, putting your limit to a percentage of the money you have in the account.
Many lenders do not report secured credit cards to reporting companies. This means you’re better positioned to get a no credit check loan whenever you need some money urgently.
If you’re lucky, your secured credit card may get converted to a regular credit card within a certain period.
2. Monitor Your Credit
Once you have an active credit card, you don’t want to make any mistakes that can affect your history. However, errors are unavoidable, and the only way to identify them is to check them regularly.
You can identify any inaccuracies and open a dispute before things get out of hand. Knowing where you stand can also help you strive to build a better report.
3. Borrow What You Can Afford
Just because you qualify for a higher loan amount doesn’t mean that that’s the amount you need to borrow. Ensure you can comfortably afford the amount you’re borrowing so that you don’t get into a debt trap.
This is also a good way to show your lenders that you’re responsible with your finances and will be confident enough to give you a higher loan the next time you need to borrow.
4. Make Your Payments on Time
Loan defaults are one of the factors that can put your credit history in jeopardy. If you’re working on building your credit, you should ensure you pay back all the money you owe on time.
Well, not all your payments are reported on your credit report, but when you pay late, they might end up getting to your credit information, especially if it’s sent to a collection agency.
Paying on time is the best way to prevent such things from affecting your credit report.
5. Be Careful When Applying for a New Credit
Usually, starting with one credit card, do you good as far as building a good history is concerned. But when you must apply for a new one, be very careful about it as this can end up with your credit report being heavily scrutinized. The hard inquiries are likely to bring down your good credit score within a short time.
Building credit means improving your financial history so that you’re better positioned in terms of borrowing. While you work on ensuring you have a good credit history, be careful about making mistakes that can bring you back to where you started from.
