Taking Control of my Finances

On my list to accomplish within the next year financially, aside from getting a job: credit repair.

At one time, I was a proud owner of a high credit score. I was on the ‘A’ list. I’m a responsible person. I borrowed what I knew I could pay back and did my best to pay on time. And then the economy busted. I faced a period of more than 6 months where we were barely bringing in any income at all. Bills, whether I liked it or not, went unpaid. I was pregnant with our third son and had no insurance. I can remember a day when I had to scrounge up money to pay the electric and water bills – fending off the reluctant men at my doorstep, who I can tell didn’t want to be the guy to turn off the utilities of a pregnant woman with two children running at her feet. The credit card companies were the first to not get paid. As much as I hated to do it, I thought the time for bad credit repair would come later.

Over the last few years, we have slowly paid off various bills. Each time I pay a different bill off, the load on my shoulders gets a little lighter. I recently paid off a major bill and in the next few days, will be able to pay off a second. I have a few more to go. It’s not over yet. But the end is in sight. The gleam of clean credit is just ahead.

My credit is my name. It’s what the banks use to judge whether I’m worthy of loaning money for a house or car and at what rate, employers, insurance companies and rental management companies use it to see if I’m reliable. I know I am. I’m going to make sure my credit just backs that up.