How to Rebuild Good Credit
Four-Part Financial Literacy Series Offers Consumers Free Education
(ARA) - In today's uncertain economy, the ability to manage one's finances can mean the difference
between fiscal stability and barely getting by. Acquiring the knowledge needed to stay on top
of your personal financial management is vital. But harried consumers find it difficult to
get the financial information they need.
Two organizations have formed a partnership to provide a convenient, accessible option for
improving consumers' financial literacy. National consumer advocacy group Consumer Action
and credit card provider Capital One are offering a series of free educational materials
that teach responsible personal finance skills entitled Money Wi$e. The series presents
in simple, straightforward terms the building blocks for developing and honing skills
such as saving, budgeting and balancing a checkbook.
"We kicked off the program a year ago by addressing how credit works and we've now come
full circle to provide guidelines for improving one's credit," says Diana Don, Capital
One's director of financial education.
The final educational topic in the Money Wi$e series, "Rebuilding Your Credit," brings to
light the significance of having a solid credit history and the impact one's credit has
on securing loans and renting apartments -- even obtaining employment. For those with
damaged credit, it covers ways to start afresh and rebuild a positive credit record.
Tips from the "Rebuilding Good Credit" brochure include:
Q: What can I do to keep my credit in good standing?
A: Avoiding late payments is a great place to start. If you are unable to pay your bills in full,
make the required minimum payments due on credit accounts and arrange payments on other bills.
Keeping a calendar of when your credit card payments and other bills are due can help you
track your finances.
Q: I've seen advertisements for companies that claim they can repair my credit. Are
they legitimate?
A: Legally, credit repair companies can only take the same steps you can. Save your
money -- only time, discipline and patience will repair damaged credit.
"With fewer than 30 percent of lower-income adults aware that there are free resources
available to help them to better manage their finances, it is important to prevent
language and income level from becoming hindrances to understanding one's personal
finances," adds Ken McEldowney, Consumer Action's executive director. "We believe
that everyone has the right to free resources to help them help themselves and we
want to help provide them."
The multilingual Money Wise Materials are available at more than 6,500 community
organizations nationwide, as well as online
at consumer-action.org or by sending a self-addressed, legal-sized stamped
envelope to: Consumer Action Money Wise,
717 Market Street, Suite 310, San Francisco, CA 94103
In addition to the written materials, the Money Wi$e program offers training
events in which Consumer Action representatives conduct one-on-one training
on how to counsel community groups on the basics of the Money Wi$e program.
The Money Wi$e Train-the-Trainer events are open to participating
community-based organizations.
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