Credit Advice

A secured credit card would be a good start.

First off, get into the habit of checking your credit report for free annually, as well as the credit information on credikarma.com and quizzle.com. You could do that when you do your taxes -- it gives you a good picture of your finances and you will be less tempted to spend your tax refund. Make a budget and stick to it.  Set out a date -- say first Sunday of every month to go over budget and bills and pay the bills asap. Open a bank  (or preferrably a credit union) checking and savings account. Set up direct deposit to your checking account. Get a secured card -- again after you have set up your checking/savings accounts check with the bank what they can offer you. Pay yourself first -- set up automated payments to your savings with the direct deposit. Do not touch the savings except for dire emergencies or for house downpayment. Determine the list of your needs; make sure they are not wants. You need food, shelter, health insurance, transportation to/from work, clothes for work, and a small small amount for entertainment (think internet or netflix). You may want to go out but you don't need to go out. You may want to watch movies on the big screen but don't need to.  Stick to this kind of plan for a few years... accept credit card offers without annual fees and with reasonable terms as they come -- use them once a year and pay them off as soon as the statement comes. Afte that every year you can ask them to lower your interest rate/increase your credit limit.   Best of luck

Hi dirteered! I'm sorry you've been through a tough financial period, but that's a great question and hopefully we'll be able to help you re-establish your credit history. Our Public Savings Bank secured Visa credit card is meant to help those with no credit to establish their credit and also to help those with damaged credit to rebuild and re-establish this credit history. As long as you can verify the following 4 pieces of information, you'll be approved for our secured Visa credit card and as long as you pay your minimum monthly payments, you'll be on your way to re-establishing you credit history. 1. Be able to successfully verify your identity 2. Be able to successfully fund your security deposit with a minimum of $300 3. Be at least 18 4. Must meet minimum disposable income requirements Concerning your disposable income, our application requires information about your monthly expenses. However, you don't need to confirm a minimum monthly income. We just need to know that you have enough money to pay your bills. We report to all 3 major credit bureaus each month and we're accepted wherever Visa is. If our card sounds like something you'd be interested in, our application is right here: https://www.publicbankcard.com/PSBFrontEnd/Pages/ApplicationScreen1.aspx?NID=0028 I hope this information helps, dirteered and best credit rebuilding wishes to you!