Setting Goals That May Help Your Credit
Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us all that may sometimes cause our finances to take a hit and impact our credit score. People don’t plan to have bad credit, but it happens to the best of us. That’s why it’s important to set financial goals and take the necessary steps to stay on track towards maintaining or improving your credit.
Here are some ideas as to how you might improve your credit:
- Decide what’s important to you.
What do you want to achieve financially? Once you figure it out, take a good look at your current financial situation so you can come up with a solid game plan for your finances. - Determine your short-term, mid-term and long-term financial goals.
When putting together a financial plan, it may be a good idea to section off your goals by what’s within reach (i.e. making home improvements, saving for a car or family trip), what will take more time to accomplish (i.e. saving for a down payment on a house, paying off student loans or starting a business) and what’s more long-term (i.e. retirement, paying off your mortgage, living debt-free). - Follow the SMART goal model.
Make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely (SMART). - Set a feasible budget.
Evaluate your income and expenses, then map out a realistic budget that will help keep you on track to reach your financial goals. - Build a savings account.
Whatever money is left over from your budget, put that to the side in an account for your financial goals. - Stay committed.
Reaching your financial goals is a process that takes time and discipline. Stay the course and monitor your progress.
Building or rebuilding your credit history is a good way to improve your finances. If you’re someone with bad credit or no credit who’s looking to get approved for vehicle financing, a dealer enrolled in the Credit Acceptance program can help you get started on your credit approval today!