The pandemic has been disruptive economically to many people, to say the least! Jobs have been lost, income has been scaled back, and as we come out of all this, people are looking to rebuild and get a fresh start financially. Part of this is rebuilding their credit.

But there are those out there who will be hampered from the start because of all the misinformation and misconceptions out there about credit and how it works. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to bust those myths and give some accurate information on how to get back on your feet with, eventually, a 700+ FICO score.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why carrying a balance can hurt, not help, your score
• How to get your credit reports (and scores) for free
• How canceling a credit card can hurt your score
• Why a higher income doesn’t mean a higher score
• How to get a new credit card without hurting (and maybe even helping) your score

U.S. News reports that more than 50% of those who were infected with COVID-19 or who lost income due to the pandemic are now struggling with medical debt. Even as new infections wane, and it looks like we are coming out of the pandemic, it may still have a longer term economic effect on many Americans.

That is why, even though I covered this topic in Episode 11, I wanted to discuss it again for those who may be struggling with it who weren’t before. There are some things you can do about it, and you should know what they are.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why you shouldn’t assume the bill is accurate
• Why you should negotiate the balance early on
• About programs that can help you pay the bill
• About the new No Surprises Act
• How to plan to pay for future medical treatment