OMG! I broke 800!

[Epcot]

That's great, Congrats!

[webhopper]

Congratulations!

[Cloudlb]

that's right-- thanks, people!

[Irisa]

Congratulations!

[Kratos-TM]

Congratulations! I am so close to 800 I can taste it! According to my calculations, all I have to do is garden a few more months!

[paramed3]

You are right all you have to do it garden a few more. Trust me I know first hand like you if you do the right things you still have to wait and wait and wait and finally FRUIT. I love this but I hate myself because back in the 80's my fico never dropped even in high 700 range I kept it in the 800 range. How being so reckless can do so much long term damage. Like jarroldharrell1 I started back on it serious again back in 2010. Its been a long road but I hope my next stop is a mortage. Then I will do everything I can to keep this score right. It's sort of a pride thing but then again it's a refection of who you are but people fall on hard times and get into trouble. I hope I never go there again if I have to work 3 jobs.

Congrats man and keep it up. You should see 840 soon you have all the pieces there to see it. You Fico will probably flucuate 10 points at the most just by using your credit cards but what the heck you have it outstanding now. When you get an 840 - 850 it will mean nothing to you.

[Cloudlb]

so ironic; like money, it's only important if you don't have it (the good scores).

I think part of the reason for my long road is the fact that my parents never mentioned money except in vague terms.  We had it, you're supposed to take care of it, marry a guy who had it or had good prospects for it . . . and that was it.  Never mentioned anything about taxes, credit cards, consequences of not paying your bills -- nada. 
Parental or societal failure perhaps, along with my own indifference -- at the time. 

very painful lessons, these are.

[paramed3]

My mom and Dad especialy my dad mention money all the time and taught us your credit is who you are. He failed to mention if you don't work non stop and have little life and God help you if you fall on hard times you will lose it all. Oh you will get it back if you have 3-5 years. So I dont have the excuse like you wish I did I was just reckless and then had a health problem that made it worse. I got better and better now than ever but it cost me a lot. 

[paramed3]

So now that you understand it all Cloud you might want to check into that marry a man with money motto they set back then. Might come on handy. My ex just got an amazing inheritance and a beach house from her daddy to boot. She has it made.

[Cloudlb]

ha! too late for that, I'm afraid.  My point was that women of a certain age were not given financial education, because it was expected that their husbands would take care of everything.

phooey!

and yes, poor decisions and hard times can make fools (or at least financial fools) of us all