cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

If you could start over what would you do different?

tag
namvet
Established Contributor

If you could start over what would you do different?

They say hind site is 20/20 so with what you have learned what would you differently now in establishing a credit history? 

Message 1 of 40
39 REPLIES 39
FrugalRican
Blogger

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?

Brush my teeth more and floss at least once a day.

 

Because that rung me up about $6000 in credit card bills, plus a 14.24% interest for that.

 

That and I would have apped for at least another credit card.

And maybe NOT bought one car with cash, get a loan just to have that in the history and then pay it off quickly.

Many things... many things indeed.

Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com


EQ FICO (01/16/2012): 656 - EQ FICO (02/16/2012): 743 - EQ (02/24/2012): 760 - EX (04/28/2012): 739 - GOAL 2013: 800+

AMEX BCE (0/10K) --- BOA 1-2-3 (0/15.9K) --- Discover More (0/6K) --- Chase Freedom Visa (0/1.4K) -- Hyatt Visa Sign. (0/5.8K) -- Barclay's NFL Card (0/7.5K) -- Chase Sapphire Preferred (0/5K)

Message 2 of 40
afbar1114
Valued Contributor

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?

pay my bills on time not run up credit.. dont put my  mom and sisters on my cell plan... 

AMEX PRG; AMEX EveryDay $14,800; Freedom $6k; Sapphire $7k; IHG Select $5k; Discover $2,400; BofA Better Balance $9,100; Bank Americard $5,900; Citi DC $2,700; Citi Diamond $2,500; BestBuy $20,000; Amazon Prime $5k, United Club $15,000; Home Depot $20,000; Barclays $7,500

Total Credit Limits: $122,650
Message 3 of 40
currentlywinning
Frequent Contributor

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?

I would know that bills dont just MAGICALLY disappear! And pay in a timely manner!

Just keep swimming...just keep swimming...just keep swimming, swimming, swimming....
Message 4 of 40
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?

Select comfort beds suck.  I wish I never bought that bed.

I didn't need a new fridge, I should have bought one off Craigslist instead.

I don't know why I didn't make the payments on the suit DH had to have, ugh.  That one will cost me for another 3 yrs.

Dad bailed me out of debt once, and I don't have anyone to help me if there is a next tiime.  So I'm making sure there isn't a next time.

It's easy to have crap credit.  It's hard to go from crap to grand.

Message 5 of 40
drkaje
Senior Contributor

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?

Keep track of things better, don't trust a financially irresponsible person with AU privileges, and distinguish wants from needs.


Starting Score: 675
Current Score: EX 753 FICO, EQ 737FICO, TU 738
Goal Score: 776 FICO


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 6 of 40
AFreshStart
Regular Contributor

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?

I would've created an emergency fund from the first day I gained employment. Prosecuted the girls who went on a shopping spree with my credit card. I would have went my gut instinct and NEVER bought anything from Aarons. Automated drafted for all my bills and educated myself on credit much sooner.
Starting Scores Nov 17: 581(EQ) 571(TU) 563(EX)
Cap One VentureOne 5k, Discover 2k, Amex Delta Gold 1k, Amex SPG 1k, Capital One 500,
Message 7 of 40
Repo-ed
Senior Contributor

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?

Never run up my first 5k CLI visa at 18 y/o.

 

Never closed my Mutual Fund I started right when I went into the Army.

5/2012: 560 credit scores across the board
12/2014: 750+
3/2017: 780+
11/2019: 833
2/2023: Experian via Chase United Explorer CC pull - 891
Message 8 of 40
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?

I would have made sure that every time I moved, that even though the last bill -- even though it may have been labled "FINAL BILL" -- I would have made sure that there was NO more money owing whatsoever!!!! 

 

I hate those sneaky utilities that tag on more charges after the "FINAL BILL" so that those charges will go into collections.

Message 9 of 40
izzesparks
Frequent Contributor

Re: If you could start over what would you do different?


@afbar1114 wrote:

pay my bills on time not run up credit.. dont put my  mom and sisters on my cell plan... 


DITTO!!!


Starting Score: TU-470 4/11/19, EQ-482 4/11/19, EX-486 4/11/19
Current Score: TU-507 7/18/19, EQ-517 7/18/19, EX-508 7/18/19
Goal Score: TU-700, EQ-700, EX-700


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 10 of 40
Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party advertisers from whom FICO receives compensation.