According to the FICO credit score model, those with a score below 670 are considered to have bad credit. The lower the credit score, the harder it is to get personal loans. However, it is not impossible. There are several lenders who have minimum credit score requirements. Shopping around and researching is one of the best ways to find offers and discover ways to get money with a bad credit score. Here’s how to do it. Check credit report and credit score thoroughly Before starting the process of applying for loans, pull copies of credit reports. These are usually available for free from the three credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Then, review all the information lenders often see while evaluating a loan application. Check for issues or patterns in the credit history, such as closed accounts and missed payments. If there are any errors, get them rectified. Once this is done, take the necessary steps to improve the credit score. Compare lenders and get prequalification Several online lenders offer loans even with bad credit scores. While traditional banks solely rely on credit scores, online lenders look at other criteria along with credit scores while approving loan applications. These criteria usually differ across lenders but often include the applicant’s job, income, and education history.

Being in debt can be overwhelming and stressful if one does not plan to get out of it. Proper financial planning is imperative to pay the debt right away and should be at the top of one’s priority list. This means being structured and diligent with one’s spending habits, i.e., cutting some expenses to help with debt payments. Nonetheless, here are some more mistakes to avoid while paying off debt. Neglecting interest rates It is recommended that the debt on the bill be paid off with the highest interest rate while the others can wait. One may think paying small amounts for every bill is helpful, but that will not be the case, as the interest will be added back every month. So, paying as much as possible on the highest bill is essential while matching a minimum payment amount for others. Closing credit card accounts While closing credit card accounts after bill payment may seem tempting, this may affect credit score data. So avoid rushing to close the account once it is paid off. Pay the monthly balances and avoid interest charges to maintain a good credit score rating. Not changing spending habits It is important to incorporate some healthy spending habits.

Paying off credit card debt can be a tedious and lengthy process. However, with proper planning, you can reduce your debt to a substantially low amount. Failure to pay credit card bills on time can jeopardize your financial well-being, which must be addressed and corrected as soon as possible. As debt accumulates, so does the stress. Here are some of the mistakes that are commonly made while paying off debt that can easily be avoided. Continuing to use the credit card It is crucial to refrain from using a credit card that has a significant amount of debt until the entire debt has been paid off. Though you may be able to make your monthly payments and reduce the amount of debt over time, the interest charges will continue to compound and accumulate each month, resulting in a much larger debt than you initially incurred. To put an end to this cycle, it is necessary to stop using the credit card completely, at least until all the outstanding dues have been cleared. Also, do not fall prey to “buy now, pay later” shopping schemes. Lack of planning Having a well-planned strategy is the only way to get out of debt easily.