that. not sure if you have decent credit and wanting to improve it; or if you have a lot of debt and are looking to pay off/get rid of it and improve your score.
since our foreclosure last year, we've paid off 2 credit cards, and i paid off my car last month.
this time next year, I should have my motorcycle sold, and probably another credit card gone.
by August of 2012, we shoudl only have 1 credit card left (hers); which, using all the money freed up from the other 'payments' should be paid off in 5-8 months. Looking at 100% debt free by end of 2012/early 2013.
at that point, I won't care what my credit score is. the only time I"ll pay attention to it is in probably 12 months leading up to buying anoter house in 7-10 years; on a 15 year note as R8Rrs said. then...back to not giving a F what my credit score is.
but...to answer your question; start by making your payments on time.
Get to the point where you have at least 12 months of on-time payments.
Pay attention to the amount of debt vs. credit limit on a card etc. I can’t remember the exact number, but you obviously want it low; like 20%. (that seems to ring a bell with me, but not sure)
If you’re having problems making monthly payments to your creditors, CALL THEM to see if they'll work with you. We're currently in 2 payment plans with credit card companies; they've dismissed a ton of interest and fees as long as we continue to make X payment each month for the agreed upon time. One plan lowers our interest rate incrementally as we make our way through the plan.
we spoke with several 'debt' repair places/consolidation etc...never got the impression that what they were offering was of any real benefit. Most of them stated they would take a monthly payment; pool the money and try to negotiate a lump sum payout to a creditor, then build up the money pool again/repeat etc. meanwhile, you're not making payments to any of the creditors, therefore incurring more fees - and depending on how long this goes on, it's possible to end up in a scenario where you're getting sued/garnished...even though you’re still in the ‘debt recovery program’; while the debt company has been getting all your money. Not to mention most of them had large 'fees' as part of their program etc.
The fees/interest on the unsecured stuff got so large we couldn’t afford the minimum, therefore more fees etc…
It got to the point where I told the credit companies “Look, I don’t have the money; I have $X, but I don’t have what you’re asking. If that isn’t good enough, then I’ll use it to pay someone else; you’ll get nothing. I’ll file for bankruptcy” etc.
Not long after that we got into a payment plan. It’s a little painful because of the monthly amount, but the amount they forgave in fees and interest is more than worth the temporary cash flow hit.
…sorry for the rant.
