Many students do not recognize the importance of maintaining a good credit (FICO) score. A bad credit score can lead to, at least, two problems which should concern you. First, a low FICO score can be used by employers. Employers do not want to hire employees in financial difficulties. Financial difficulties cause stress and inattention at work, thus reducing employee productivity. Secondly, for similar reasons, credit scores are often used by insurance companies to set rates on insurance, especially automobile insurance. The conclusion, if you want a job and want the costs of driving to be the least expensive it can be, you need to work to increase your FICO score. Here are five credit behaviors that can take you to “the bad place” (where credit scores are low).
1) Make your payments late. Don’t be a slacker. Make sure your payment reaches the credit card company before the due date.
2) You are young and eager to establish your credit. That is, you are too young and too eager. Each credit application can lower your credit score, as you are potentially able to borrow more each time you apply. Remember, responsible use of a credit card you’ve had for a long period of time can increase your FICO score.
3) Destroying old credit cards too soon. When you open a new credit account, one is tempted to cancel the old credit account as soon as possible. While this may be best for you, if you’ve a spending problem, cancelling the old account actually will increase the percentage amount of your total potential credit you currently have outstanding.
4) Your spending is poorly timed. You make very large credit purchases too close in time to your job, insurance, or other applications. This increases the percentage of the total credit you have the right to use that you have already borrowed.
5) You do not check your credit score and correct errors. Errors in your credit report hurt you. Check your credit score at least twice per year. Check out http://annualcreditreport.com to see your personal credit history. Correct errors, if any.
Of course, a surefire way to avoid a low credit score is to only borrow for convenience or for an investment in yourself, a business, or a home. Use the credit cards you use responsibly and try your best to not incur finance charges. To my knowledge, few find Financial Success with a negative net-worth.
For those of you in the Columbia, Missouri area: Next Tuesday (9 September 2008) at 9:30 a.m., we are hosting Dan Iannicola, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Education at the United States Department of the Treasury. The talk will be held in 22 Tate Hall on the beautiful University of Missouri campus. His talk is named, “Don’t let your credit put you in a bad place”. (Yeah, I borrowed his title as the “take-off” for this week’s Financial Tip.)
- Robert O. Weagley, Ph.D., CFP(r)
Chair, Personal Financial Planning
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
2 comments:
It is prudent to understand the importance of maintaining good credit score even as a student because in later life if you are looking for a secure future. The easiest way to improve your credit score is to know how to maintain a credit score chart
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