Getting started late, but its better than never! My husband and I have been avid avoiders of our credit for the last 6 or 7 years. We are income-wise golden to buy a house but credit report tells another story. 
Have some old collection accounts (which we get conflicting info from people on as far as paying off or letting them fall off), and we let one auto payment go to 45 days past due for a few months consecutively this past fall (stupid stupid stupid!). We have two auto loans as active accounts only so we just opened the cap1 secured m/c ($200 CL) and started a Self Lender yesterday. Hoping to get a decent enough jump in the next few months to trade-in one car (21% APR!) this summer for lower interest loan and then just build most of the year so we can buy a house next summer. Maybe add a couple unsecured cards in the second half of the year. Excited to learn and finally do some adulting!
Hello everyone. I've been lurking on and off several months and have learned so much. I was laid off in '09 after the crash. I held on for about 4 years but never got close to earning my original income. I have always been frugal and lived below my means. I sold everything and cashed out my savings to offset my income. I could barely pay my mortgage (let alone student loans, home, health and auto insurance, groceries, etc.). It felt hopeless. I was so overwhelmed and probably on the verge of some kind of breakdown. In 2013 I walked away from everything and my score tanked but the weight lifted off my shoulders. I didn't file for BK. Have been paying everything in cash and waiting out the clock. Not the best plan in hindsight.
This time last year my score was in the low 500's. I disputed a few negatives and the rest finally aged off my cr. Last week my final negative cc aged off and my score jumped from 604 to 700. The only neg left is a student loan that should age off in Jan 2020. I applied for a secured cc in August. After my score increased last week I was approved for 2 cards with decent sl's. My goal is to just let these accounts age and increase my score, hopefully into the 740-760 range. I need to save a down payment for a newer used car. Hoping to purchase in the next year or so once I have a big enough down payment and score. I bought my last car in '02. Since it broke down for the last time I've been driving a family members old car. So it's time.
I am I'm very grateful for all the information shared here 
I'm a bit late to start, but I am in! I straightened out quite a few problems last year and now I'm committed to establishing financial stability. This is a great way to keep me on track.
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