Name some ways you life has changed since you started rebuilding your credit.

[lg8302ch]

I guess I started at the building part in 2012 and skipped the (re-) thankfully. With only 1 card I managed to avoid  baddies.  For many  years I  only  had 1 credit card and was happy with it...  lol... then I came across MyFico and learnt way too much on credit cards, got fascinated  and changed my debit card purchases to credit cards and started to collect rewards for something I had to pay anyhow. I love that now I get rewards where with my debit cards I did not get me a dime.  I just  wish I had come across this forum way before because I could only imagine where my credit could be if I did not start soooooo  late in my life.

Oh well... better late than never 

[Anonymous]

This journey has enabled me to GROW UP, and greater appreciate:

• the IMPORTANCE of self (financial) preservation...
• the significance of fiscal action plans (+ patience/gardening)

I now embrace my financial life, wholeheartedly, not in part*.

Still trying to figure out this "balance" thing though (^o^)

*I'd made some efforts during college, and then promptly walked away from the table, lol. Thankfully it didn't result in any damages, only missed opportunities!

[Anonymous]

Great thread! Thanks to the OP. My responses will mimic those of many others but....

I don't feel like I'm hiding and that includes hiding from myself! I was afraid to look and to know what was in my file because I'd been so irresponsible. I had no one to teach me and so I made every credit mistake imaginable. But finding this forum has been wonderful! I started rebuilding in January and have learned lots.

I'm not accepting just ANY offer. I evaluate and toss. Before it was more like "you want me to have a credit card even though there an annual fee of $99 and other random fees that will only leave me an available credit of $20 before I even swipe the card?....ok! Let's do it!" Yeah...not anymore. Lol

I actually use the cards I have instead of abusing them. I make them work for me (hello QS1 card with nearly $30 in rewards after my first month)

I have a greater financial awareness. At this stage, I know better, so I'm doing better. (And enjoying the score climb with each new triumph!)

I'm also an official score stalker now. Lol

[Anonymous]

1. I can travel for business and not worry about things like CC holds at hotels
2. I have money saved up for emergencies, the water heater is no longer an evil entity waiting to eat me
3. I can just 'do' things... wife and I are stressed? A nice weekend out of town is doable. Always a little money set aside for things like this, and always a CC open with high limit and 0% APR intro period.
4. Confidence.... nothing more precious than confidence.

[tiger_uppercut]

• I am fully informed on my financial picture/health
• I can rent a car or book a hotel without worry about having no credit cards
• I know my rights with regards to debts and won't be bullied
• I can earn rewards on all my purchases
• I answer my phone without worry
• I have educated myself on other financial things in the process - Roth IRAs and investments
• I feel good about having a solid rebuilding plan in place