If your credit couldn’t get it in 2014, that’s okay. I had a chance to speak with Tiffany “The Bugdetnista” Aliche, creator of the Live Richer Challenge, to find out how a sistergirl could improve her credit score in the New Year. She explained a super simple process to credit repair that requires no more than 30 minutes of your time.
Here is the nitty-gritty of it all. Take heed if you are looking to apply to for a line of credit for a home loan, business loan, or car loan in 2015.
Step 1: Pay a credit card to zero every month. “So you’re going to take one of your current credit cards that you’ve already paid off or one that you’re close to paying off — and pay it off. If you don’t have either of those, then you’re going to go to GOBankingRates.com and find a credit card that suits you; maybe you get a travel one, or a student one, or one for gas or whatever. Open it up, it will already have a zero balance,” says Aliche.
If you can’t qualify for a regular credit card, Aliche says, “Go to your local bank or the bank that you use, and ask and apply for a secured credit card. It’s like a credit card with training wheels because with a secured card, you put the money up and that’s your limit.” The bottom line of this step is that you’re going to get a credit card that has a zero balance.
Step 2: Check your budget for a “baby” bill: According to Aliche, you will need to look at you budget and locate the smallest bill on your budget. “So maybe it’s Netflix $8 a month or maybe you have a $25 a month gym membership that you never use.” Identifying the smallest bill plays a big role in helping your credit score jump.
Step 3: Create a payment sandwich: Once you have identified a small bill like a gym membership, Aliche reminds us to move to action. “You’re going to put your credit card right in the middle and your gym membership is going to charge the credit card and your bank account is going to pay off the credit card.” In other words, you are creating a payment sandwich cycle: You will first automate the gym membership charge to the credit card and then you will schedule an automatic payment for that gym membership using your bank account. This will happen every month. Easy Peasy.
Step 4: Keep your hands off that credit card. To ensure that the temptation to charge your credit card is eliminated, Aliche says, “This is going to be this automatic cycle that you will not be a part of, and that card is going to stay at home, and your going to do that every single month. Pay that credit card balance to zero and your credit score is going to jump like Jordan.”
Connect with Kara @frugalfeminista. Learn more about The Frugal Feminista at www.thefrugalfeminista.com Download her free ebook The 5-Day Financial Reset Plan: Eliminate Debt, Know Your Worth, and Heal Your Relationship with Money in Just 5 Days. Join Kara’s closed $20 Cash Crash Diet Facebook Group to get some sistergirl support and accountability for reaching your savings goals.
