Don’t be fooled by all the commercials claiming they can get you a free credit report.  You are entitled to one free credit report each year. This report can be obtained free of charge at the following web address:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

January is a great time to order this report that combines all three credit reporting agencies.  Look over your credit report and make sure that you recognize all the accounts on the reports.  Even if you close an account through a credit card or credit account company, the account is not closed on your credit report. You must notify the credit reporting agency in writing to officially close the account on your credit report.  Do this for any open accounts that you desire closed. Dispute any credit issues that are inaccurate by calling the number included on the credit report and filing a dispute.  The reporting source will investigate for you and take the appropriate action to correct your credit report.

Now you will want to set some goals for improving your credit.  See what themes emerge from prior credit issues.  If you are paying your bills late, then be diligent in your routines established earlier this month for paying bills on time.

Develop a plan to pay off outstanding debt in order to increase your credit score.  Use some of the money saving ideas in the Transformational Organizational process to pay off outstanding debt, save money each month, and build a plan for making the most of what you have for the future.

Lastly, if you have traveled from state to state like I have during my career, contact each state’s unclaimed property website to determine if you have left some funds in accounts in that state.  This is a free process and the internet makes it easy to claim any financial property that may be just sitting in your former location’s unclaimed property account.  If you have unclaimed property, use this money to help reduce your outstanding debt.

What was the most helpful or me was to keep a journal/ledger of all the money I spent each month.  This same strategy is employed for people who are eager to lose weight.  By documenting each purchase, you can get a detailed picture of where your money goes each month.  This will illuminate any negative spending habits and help you to immediately correct them by awareness and avoidance of this habit.

Now that you have control of your paperwork, let’s move on to other areas of your life.  You are really moving along in this process. Celebrate every success with something wonderful and healthy for you.  Call a friend for lunch, select a book that you have always wanted to read and indulge in some personal time, go for a walk or bicycle ride.

: Remember your daily beauty routine, exercise, take your vitamins and drink your requirement of a healthy beverage!! You are looking and feeling better!

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