Whether we like it or not, it’s a fact: our credit score matters; if we want to buy stuff, it matters a lot.  But if you don’t have great credit, take heart: there are 8 very real steps you can take to clean it up.

1.  If you’re currently missing payments or paying late, start paying your bills on time, every time.

2.  If you have debts outstanding – including debts that have been sent to collections but remain unpaid – pay them.  While paying a debt that has been sent to collections won’t erase the collections mark, it will replace the “unpaid” mark with a “paid” mark, which will improve your credit.

3.  If you have debts that you’re currently struggling to pay, you will need to get back on track before your credit score will improve.  There are a number of good non-profit debt counselors who can help you – free of charge – figure out how to get back on top of your debt obligations.

4.  Consider debt consolidation, which can help you reduce your monthly debt expenses so that you can get back on top of your debt obligations more quickly.  If you can, roll over your high-interest debt (from credit cards, for example) into a lower-interest loan. 

. . . To read about 4 more steps to building good credit, visit http://bobstahl.topproducerblogs.com/?p=104