Recovery From Bankruptcy: 4 Tips To Get Back On Track

Your credit score will take a significant hit once you file for bankruptcy. This can make it difficult to obtain competitive rates on loans and credit cards for some time. However, it is possible to rebuild your credit score over time. Here are some steps you can take to improve your credit score. 

If you file for bankruptcy, you can recover from the financial setback and get back on your feet. Recovery from bankruptcy is possible with the right credit solutions.

Getting Your Credit Back On Track After Bankruptcy

There are a few things to keep in mind when you are trying to rebuild your credit after bankruptcy. Here are some tips that may help you:

• Don’t try to borrow money too quickly.
• Focus on making on-time payments.
• Build an emergency fund.
• Stick to a budget.
• Keep a close eye on your credit reports and scores.

Make Sure Your Existing Loans And Credit Cards Are Paid On Time

It can be difficult to obtain funding, but one of the best ways to improve your credit score is by making timely monthly payments on existing loans or credit cards. Payment history comprises 35 percent of your FICO score, so demonstrating financial responsibility in this way is crucial.

Why this matters: After you file for bankruptcy, it’s important to take steps to rebuild your credit. This will help improve your financial behaviors and show future lenders that you’re creditworthy.

How to get started: To get started, sign up for autopay and make timely payments. At the least, make the minimum payments. But ideally, you’ll make extra payments too.

Reminders can help you make sure you’re paying on time. Some credit cards can send you a reminder before the due date. Monitoring your spending can help you stay on track. You can set alerts for things like online or phone purchases, or when you’ve spent a certain amount of money.

Get A New Credit Line

Applying for a new line of credit can help improve your credit score by demonstrating your ability to make on-time payments. However, keep in mind that when you apply for new credit, the lender will do a hard pull on your credit report. This can temporarily lower your credit score.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re trying to build your credit after bankruptcy. One is that too many hard inquiries can ding your score, so try to apply for credit lines you know you can qualify for. Another is that you can also get prequalified for credit, which results in a soft pull of your credit. And finally, here are some types of credit to consider:

• Credit builder loans. This is a great way to improve your credit score. You deposit money into an account and the lender keeps that money while you make payments on the loan. These payments are reported to the consumer credit bureaus, so as you make progress on the loan, your credit score will gradually improve. Once you have paid off the loan, the money is released to you. Credit builder loans are typically offered by regional banks and community banks in small loan amounts.
• Secured credit cards. Different types of credit cards cater to different needs. For those with bad credit, or who are working to rebuild their credit, secured credit cards may be the best option. As the name suggests, these require you to put down a security deposit, which acts as collateral in case you can’t make your payments. The deposit is usually equal to your credit limit and can range from $200 to $2,500. Should you default on your payments, the issuer will use your deposit to cover the balance.
• Being an authorized user on a credit card. As an authorized user of someone else’s credit card, you are allowed to use the card when needed. However, since you are not the primary account holder, any missed or late payments on the card will appear on your credit file. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the financial behaviors of the primary account holder to maintain a good credit score.

Why this matters: Having good credit is important because it can help you get loans and other forms of financial assistance. You can start building your creditworthiness by getting a line of credit.

How to get started: There are many different types of lines of credit, so choose the one that best fits your needs and work on keeping it in good condition.

A Co-Signer Can Help You Get A Loan

Cosigning a loan can help you get approved for financing, even with poor credit. Lenders will take into account the co-signer’s credit score when making a decision, which can increase your chances of getting the loan. The co-signer does not have access to the money but is responsible for repayment if you are unable to make payments.

Why this matters: Rebuilding your credit after you’ve filed for bankruptcy is an important step in re-establishing your financial profile. There are different options available to help you boost your credit, and by understanding how these different forms of credit work, you can make the best choice for your needs.

How to get started: When you’re considering establishing a new line of credit, it’s important to compare your options and figure out which one will work best for you. A hard pull or soft pull on your credit may be required, and you’ll need to decide what you’ll use the line of credit for. You should also set limits on the line of credit and have a repayment plan in place so you don’t get deeper into debt.

Keep An Eye Out For Job Hopping

While your job history is certainly a factor that lenders take into account when approving a loan, having a stable job and consistent income are not the only things that will help you get a loan. Having gaps in your employment history might make you seem more like a risk to lenders.

Why this matters: After you’ve filed for bankruptcy, it can be tough to get approved for new financing. Lenders will often take a closer look at your finances to see how stable you are before making a decision. Having a consistent income and not switching jobs too often can help make you look more favorable in their eyes.

How to get started: Researching lenders can be tricky, especially trying to determine which factors they use in their decision-making process. For example, some lenders may take employment history into account while others may not. So, it’s important to be prepared with the appropriate documentation depending on your work situation.

Monitor Your Credit Reports And Scores Regularly

Do you know what’s on your credit report? You should check it regularly because it contains important information about your financial history.

You are entitled to one free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit-reporting institutions: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. So take advantage of this opportunity to examine your reports for errors or missing information.

It’s important to correct any inaccuracies you find, such as a delinquent account that doesn’t belong to you.

Why this matters: Your credit score can be negatively impacted by inaccuracies on your credit report.

How to get started: Make sure to keep tabs on your credit score by monitoring your credit reports regularly. You can access your reports for free from AnnualCreditReport.com. Taking advantage of this service will help you stay on top of your credit health and avoid any surprises down the road.

You Should Think Twice Before Working With A Credit Repair Agency

By taking the time to understand the habits and circumstances that led to your bankruptcy, you can begin to make changes that will help improve your financial situation. One way to do this is to focus on increasing your emergency fund and savings.

Why this matters: Building your good credits takes time and effort but is worth it in the long run. You can save a lot of money by doing it yourself instead of paying for a professional service.

How to get started: It’s a good idea to get an understanding of your budget and credit situation before considering working with a credit repair agency. Requesting copies of your credit report is a good first step.

Recovery From Bankruptcy

Build An Emergency Fund

Now that you’re free from the weight of debt, it’s time to start saving. By setting aside some of your income and cutting back on unnecessary expenses, you can avoid taking out loans – which could put you right back into debt. So start building up your savings and enjoy a bright financial future.

Why this matters: It can be easy to fall into the same debt pitfalls that caused bankruptcy, especially when there is no emergency reserve. To avoid this, be mindful of your spending and create a budget to stick to.

How to get started: As you move through the bankruptcy process, one of the first things you’ll want to do is create a new budget. This budget should be based on your income and remaining expenses, and it’s also important to include an emergency fund. Having a plan in place will help you stay on track financially as you move forward.

Stick To A Budget

You may have dug yourself into a deep debt hole due to mismanaging your finances. Closely monitoring your spending habits can help you stay within your means and avoid overspending. Overspending can lead to accumulating more debt than you can manage.

Why this matters: Money management is the key to financial success. By tracking your spending and sticking to a budget, you can avoid debt and stay on top of your finances. While income is important, it’s only a small part of the equation – money management is what will help you achieve financial well-being.

How to get started: There are many money management apps available that can make it easy to see where your money is going. These apps can help track your spending and save for a rainy day.

For those who are old school, you can track your spending by jotting down your purchases in a journal. Checking your bank balance daily can help you stay on top of your finances, and checking in at least once a month on your budget will allow you to make any necessary tweaks.

Be Mindful Of Your Credit Habits

When you are trying to improve your credit score, it is important to remember that the things that caused your score to drop in the first place need to be fixed.

For example, maxing out your credit cards will hurt your score, so you need to make sure you keep your debt-to-income ratio low. Try to keep your credit usage below 30 percent.

This holiday season, make a resolution to stay on top of your credit card payments. Remember: your payment history makes up 35% of your credit score. A few missed payments can drag down your score, so do whatever it takes to stay on top of things. And avoid holiday debt hangover by keeping your spending in check.

Why this matters: Credit habits are a major factor in maintaining a good credit score. Post-bankruptcy, it is essential to demonstrate financial responsibility to potential lenders. Good credit habits help show that you’re managing money well and can be trusted with new credit.

How to get started: Making on-time payments and monitoring your financial habitsares key to rebuilding your credit. A free credit monitoring service can help you track your progress and see how much you’ve improved.

Is It Possible To Get Credit After Bankruptcy?

There are still ways to get credit after bankruptcy, even though it may be more difficult to find a lender who is willing to offer you a competitive product.

• Car financing. Those who have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy can finance a car the day after doing so. Additionally, those who have filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be able to finance a car while their repayment plan is still in effect, although permission from the trustee is required after showing that the car is necessary to complete the debt repayment.
• Conventional mortgage. It will generally take 18 to 24 months for someone who has gone through personal bankruptcy and re-established good credit to secure a mortgage loan. Interest rates for these borrowers are usually two to three points higher than conventional rates.
• FHA-insured mortgage. Homebuyers who have filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 may be eligible for an FHA-insured mortgage, provided they have made timely payments for one year and have received permission from the court. Those who have been discharged from a Chapter 7 bankruptcy must wait at least two years after discharge and establish a good credit history before being eligible.

Final Thoughts

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by debt and unable to make payments, bankruptcy can be a way to reset your finances. However, it will also impact your credit score.

There is good news for those wanting to improve their credit score: taking concrete actions can help rebuild your credit. One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is by making on-time payments on existing loans and credit cards. Additionally, being cautious about job hopping, monitoring your credit report, and disputing any errors will also help get your credit score back in shape.