Do you feel your credit stands in the way of getting approved for financing a home or a new car?

Having bad credit can do more than prevent your from getting approved for a loan; you may also have to pay more for insurance and provide a security deposit on utilities if you move.  Financial challenges can occur to anyone, any time.  The good news is you can begin to improve your credit immediately.  While repairing your credit does take time, it's possible to improve it as long as you're dedicated to positive financial habits.

• Pay bills on time:
• Create a budget:   A budget tells you where your money is going and helps you plan to spend it wisely.  Start by calculating how much income you have each month.  Then add up all your expenses (ALL OF THEM).   This will give you a clear picture of your financial state and help you see where you can save money.
• Reduce non-essential expenses: We don't usually think about those coffee runs as non-essential, but they are.  Try making coffee at home or the office.  You may also want to restrict lunch out to once or twice a week.  This should cut down on restaurant expenses.  While it may not seem like much, making small cuts will help save money, pay down debt and live well within your means.
• Track your spending:  Creating a budget is only half the battle; the other half is tracking your expenses.  Write it down in a notebook or input them in an app; either way, if you take the time to track your spending you will always know where your money is going.

This is just enough information to get you going.  More to come.........