Rebuilding Credit and Avoiding Bad Debt after Bankruptcy

After you?ve filed bankruptcy, you?ll want to start building new credit. This time, you?ll want to make sure that the credit you build is good; if anything is worse than a bankruptcy, it?s a bankruptcy followed by bad credit. There are ways to rebuild credit after bankruptcy, and there are companies willing to offer credit and loans to those who?ve filed bankruptcy. However, before applying for the first offer that comes in the mail, read this article to find out how to rebuild credit after bankruptcy w ithout also building bad debt:

Apply for a Secured Credit Card

The best way to avoid bad debt is to gain credit from your own money. A secured credit card allows you to deposit money into an account and then withdraw it just like you would with a regular credit card. The difference between an unsecured credit card and a secured credit card is that you deposit the amount of money that makes your maximum balance into an account before you begin using it. This means that, if you become unab le to pay the bill, you can simply close the account and withdraw the remainder of your balance.

Apply for a Gas Station/Grocery Store Credit Card

Gas station and grocery store credit cards are not hard to get approved for; in fact, they?re probably the easiest to get of all unsecured credit cards. The best thing about applying for a grocery store or gas station card is the lowered temptation to make an unnecessary purchase. Most likely, you shop at these places every week and pay with e ither cash, check, or a debit card. Instead, you can pay with your store credit card, and then, at the end of the month, you can take the money you would have spent at the store and use it to pay down the balance on the card. Here is a list of recommended Credit Repair Lenders online. It's important to use a reputable lender online to make sure your personal information is secure.

Wait Before Making Large Purchases

As soon as your bankruptcy is final, you will start receiving letters from loan companies offering you credit cards, car loans, and even mortgages. These lenders do this because they know you cannot file bankruptcy for another seven years, so you have to pay them back. However, there?s a benefit to waiting a few years before making large purchases. After two years, you will qualify for better loan terms and interest rates. Additionally, since you?ve just become debt-free, you should probably stay that way for a while. Allow yourself time to adjust, learn to budget your money, and speak with a financial advisor before jumping into debt again.