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Should I Use a Discover Secured Card to Build My Credit After Bankruptcy?

Question: Dear Steve, I’m 2 years out from Chapter 7 discharge and I have $170,000 in student loan debt (I’m under IBR). I got a new job and I’m now making 3 times my income in rent. My current credit score is just under 700. I’ve been getting offers for Discover It card offers. I’ve …

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What is Your Opinion on Lending Yourself Money to Rebuild Credit?

“Dear Steve, Hi, I have a question about the finer points of manipulating your credit score. I’m a pretty financially savvy guy and I was doing great until the great recession hit right after I had financed an expansion to double the size of my small business. Although I fought hard, it was no longer …

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Ways to Build Credit Without Relying Solely on Credit Cards

For those who prefer to pay with cash and avoid the credit card debt cycle altogether, building a solid credit history and high FICO score can be a challenge – but it doesn’t have to be. Only a small portion of your FICO score is based on having and using revolving credit. The first step …

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Should I Wait to Rebuild My Credit or Start Now? – Renee

“Dear Steve, I’m 36 and I got credit cards for the first time at age 27 in 2004. I had pretty low limits, 1,000 or less on the 3. I lost the security of my job and got behind on payments, then eventually stopped paying and everything went to collections in 2007. I’ve managed to …

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Life After Bankruptcy: How to Quickly Have Great Credit and Dumb Mistakes to Avoid

So you filed bankruptcy. Congratulations on taking steps necessary to deal with your old debt and get the legal protection and fresh start you are entitled to under the law. Your journey isn’t over though. The best days are now ahead of you but you will need to take action to rebuild a better financial …

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We Got Rejected for a Credit Card Because We Had Been in Credit Counseling. – Lyna

“Dear Steve, I just finished paying off my credit cards thru credit counseling, bought a house. I then applied for credit card, got denied due to being in credit couseling. How long should I wait to re-apply again? In the mean time, what could i do to erased the credit counseling on my report? Lyna” …

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My Past Credit is Dragging Down My Credit Score. I Want to Buy a House.

“Dear Steve, I went through a bad health crisis several years ago (2005-2007/2008) at which time I was in and out of hospitals for periods of up to 15-30 days at a time, on disability and struggling to keep all the bills straight and paid, especially all the different Dr. and medical bills that kept …

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