I knew I could make money, but I didn’t know how. Soon, I realized I was in a soup between the finance market crash and my survival. Today, I am well settled with my family in the heart of Bangalore city with a credit report that characterizes my financial behavior. Currently, I hold a record 769 credit score in hand. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it was worth it.
So, read till the end to know How I made it to 750 Credit Score!
Introduction
People call me credit baba, as I was more obsessed with giving people the moment knowledge they needed while applying for an instant personal loan. I encourage people to avail of loans for a better living. In this ever-non-promising world, there are some actual benefits credit score helps us with. Only a few people received my advice in the right spirit, though the others thanked me after their successful loan repayment. It is vital to hold a good credit score.
The Back Story!
Used to have a credit score of 500 – 599, which is reasonably ok but didn’t help me in the long run. I reverted to loans when my financial state worsened twice a year. I was not good at trading online, as my ill luck brought me nothing but lessons. Availing of loans was the only option to save me from the credit card organizations that helped me bear my expenses. Moreover, the banks refused to lend me a loan of Rs. 50,000 for not having a good credit history. I had also lost money in a few shares I bought just then. Both my finances and survival took a negative turn.
The Recovery
There was little hope with my shares, and I sold them at half the price I bought them. Yes, it was a loss out of need, but it saved me from money lenders. Soon, I didn’t stop, as I availed a loan from a national bank and set a certain amount for savings, and I never touched the assets.
I could now rely on the interest I reaped from the deposits and ensured it never hampered my survival. Most of my salary was spent on credit card bills and payments since my debts were sky-high, with Rs. 78 lakhs. I had to use up my loan on this. The loan amount helps eradicate the more significant problem and thus would require more attention. With these changes, my life turned out for the better.
Read more: 10 honest facts about credit score everyone should know
How I Made It to 750 Credit Score?
Attaining a 750 credit score isn’t all that hard until you fix your finances and prioritize the expenses. It took me three years to stabilize the situation, and after that, I repaved the loan amount on time with fewer hassles. Don’t be too curt on yourselves!
The journey could sometimes be overwhelming until your score reaches an average of 750. So take one EMI at a time and make sure you do your bit to pay it on or before the due date.
That said, I have realised the importance of having a good credit score above 750. So here is why!
4 Major Reasons Why You Should Improve Your Credit Score
Interest Rate:
Lenders consider you a low-risk borrower when you have a high credit score. It also gives you the power to negotiate interest rates with your lenders. Therefore, getting personal loans at comparatively lower interest rates is easier than for people with low scores.
Loan Amount:
Lenders determine your loan amount based on your credit score. A good credit score signifies that you can repay your loan without defaulting. Therefore, you can easily apply for a higher loan with better rates when your high score is high.
Instant Approval:
The credit score represents your credibility and acts as proof of creditworthiness when lenders verify your loan application. As a result, there are higher chances of getting instant approval on your personal loan when you have a good credit score.
Creditworthiness:
A person with a good score is considered to have responsible financial behavior and hence becomes a trustworthy borrower. It directly represents your creditworthiness and shows your ability to repay your dues. Therefore, lenders consider you credible when you have a good score.
After knowing the importance of a good credit score, I realised I had made a few mistakes damaging my credit score. So, I want to give an insight into the same!
Also Read: How To Improve Your Credit Score With A Personal Loan Using These Tips
4 Reasons Why Your Credit Score Is Low
Many times your credit score drops because of your financial behavior. Some of the common mistakes to avoid are:
Outstanding Credit Card Balance:
Credit cards have high-interest rates. And if you pay only the minimum amount due without paying your total credit card bills every month, it will lead to an outstanding balance on your credit cards. As a result, it will reduce their credit score.
Too Many Loans or Credit Cards:
Every time you apply for loans or credit cards, the lender will check credit score to process the loan or credit card application. This will be recorded as a hard inquiry in your credit report. And multiple hard inquiries will reduce your credit score.
High Credit Usage:
The Credit Utilization Ratio is essential to your credit score. And using your credit more than 30% of your limit will show that you are credit hungry. This will harm your score as it indicates your high dependency on credit.
Delay In Repayments:
If you delay making your EMI payments, it will be recorded in your CIBIL report, which will further reduce your credit score.
Are you worried about your credit score? Check your credit score for Free!
Ok, how to increase your credit score? From my experience, I suggest the Top 9 Strategies I followed to improve my credit score to 750. I know it is a bit theoretical, but trust me, these strategies work if you follow them diligently!
Also Read: Obtaining A Loan With A Bad Credit Score Is Now Possible!
Strategies To Improve Your Credit Score
Here are the top 9 strategies that you can easily follow to improve your credit score significantly:
Check Your Credit Report:
It is the simplest way to boost your credit score. Checking your credit report regularly will help you understand your financial health and payment status. It enables you to identify any potential errors at an early stage. Hence, make sure you check your credit report once a year.
Make Corrections to Errors:
Your credit report is susceptible to errors. These errors can occur when financial transactions need to be updated, names are misspelled, etc. And if you find any of these errors in your report, raise the dispute with your respective credit bureaus immediately. Once the errors are fixed, you will see a significant improvement in your score.
Credit Utilization Ratio:
If you spend more using your credit card, you must reduce it as it signifies your high dependency on credit. It will show that you are credit hungry. Hence, use your credit only for necessary transactions and maintain your credit utilization ratio at 30% or less. And when you follow this, you will see an improvement in your credit score.
Only Apply For a Loan Immediately If Rejected:
Did your application get rejected? If yes, then do not apply for another loan immediately. The main reason is that the information of you applying for a loan and the credit check will be recorded in your credit report, which would have reduced your score. Despite the rejection, if you apply for a loan immediately with another lender, they will conduct another credit check which will be recorded as a hard inquiry. This will, in turn, drop your score. Therefore, you should improve your credit score before applying for a loan again.
Pay Your loans:
This is a must-follow tip! Make it a habit and set reminders to repay all your dues on time. And if you have any outstanding debts or missed out payments, start repaying as soon as possible. And if you are facing any issues with repaying, talk with your lender to consider and restructure your debt to make repayment easier.
Have a Balance:
Credits are of two types: Secured and Unsecured. Availing of the only kind of credit can imbalance your credit health. Hence, it is suggested you have a mix of both types of credit, such as personal loans, home loans, car loans, etc. This will signify that you are good at managing your debts well and helps improve your credit score.
Read more: Will ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ Affect Your Credit Score
Keep Your Old Credit Accounts Open:
Do you have any old credit accounts? If yes, then use it to your advantage! Do not close your old credit account that has been paid off, even if you no longer use them. The reason is that keeping the old account open will increase the length of your credit history, which will, in turn, help improve your credit score.
Borrow Minimum:
The fact that personal loans are instantly available makes it tempting to avail of a loan amount more than required. However, this will only lead to a debt burden making it challenging to repay. Hence, avail only the required loan amount after calculating your EMI and repayment ability. This will make it easier to repay on time and increase your credit score significantly.
Watch Out For Joint Applicants:
Getting a joint applicant can be beneficial to get a personal loan when you have a low score. However, you might suffer even if it’s not your fault. If the joint applicant fails to repay the loan amount and defaults on it, it will also reduce your credit score. So, ensure you get a reliable joint applicant when applying for a personal loan.
Therefore, your credit score is affected by late payments, due dates, annual fees, trust, and more. Endorsing the three-digit label, the credit score will define your financial behaviour. I was a broker at one of the online trading platforms. I have dealt with NIFTY more than I have dealt with my salary.
Also Read: Here’s What You Should Know About Credit Scoring
My Key Takeaway!
Lastly, I would like to introduce myself, Kushal Verma, from Mumbai. It turns out all loans come with an interest rate—the more the interest, the bigger the payment in the loan tenure. A good credit score helps you get a personal loan at lower interest rates, and sometimes cashback offers too. Buddy Loan, one of the biggest loan aggregators, offers instant loan approval with the best interest rates.
Also, get more insights on instant personal loans that carry various benefits from Buddy Loan, one of the biggest loan aggregators. It helps you get personal loans at a low-interest rate starting at 11.99%p.a. Moreover, you can enhance your credit score and start your journey with Buddy Loan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q.How to check your credit score for free?
A. You can check your credit score for free using Buddy Score and get an instant credit report to know your credit status. It is best to check your credit score regularly to identify errors or potential fraud. By doing so, you can rectify the errors at an early stage from your respective credit bureaus.
Q. What is the minimum credit score required to get a personal loan?
A. You must have a minimum credit score above 750 to be eligible for a personal loan.
Q. Can I get a home loan with a 750 credit score?
A. Yes. You can get a home loan if you have a cibil score above 750. A credit score above 750 is generally considered good as it shows that you can repay the loan by defaulting.
Q. Can I get a personal loan with a low credit score?
A. Yes. You can get a personal loan with a low credit score if you prove credible. You can do that by submitting proof of an additional source of income, clearing all your pending debts, and making repayments on time once you get the personal loan.
Q. Does my credit score impact my loan eligibility?
A. The credit score represents your creditworthiness. A high score will make you a low-risk and credible borrower, increasing the chances of your loan eligibility. Apart from boosting your loan eligibility, a high credit score will make you eligible for a higher loan at a lower interest rate. Therefore, your credit score has a significant impact on your loan eligibility.
Q. Will making investments harm my credit score?
A. Making smart investments will only help you secure your future financially and not harm your credit score. However, if you miss out on your EMI payment, it can reduce your credit score significantly.
Q. Is it possible to get a personal loan with a low credit score?
A. Getting a personal loan can be difficult if you have a low credit score. However, some lenders might approve your loan application even if you have a low credit score. Generally, lenders will charge you a high-interest rate on personal loans when you have a low credit score.
