161. How I Increased My Credit Score From 471 to 700 in 12 Months

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On this solo episode of the podcast, I’m following up with part 2 of my own credit story as part of my Money Series.

If you missed it, please tune in to episode 159, which is the first part of this story where I share my struggles with managing money and credit and explain how these problems all started.

So many of you reached out to me saying you have experienced these issues too. I really hope this series helps even one person feel empowered to take control of your finances – it’s never too late!

In this episode I’m talking about the next step: how I increased my credit score from 471 to 700 in 12 months.

I’m walking through the exact steps I took when my finances were at their worst in order to gain control of my money, credit, and life. I learned all of this through trial & error and my own experience and I want to share what I learned with you all in hopes that it may help someone in a similar spot.

In 2019 I was in the worst financial situation I have been in. I was recently separated, living with my parents, and had horrible credit after a lifetime of mismanaging credit cards and letting bills go to collections.

With the support of my family, I was able to have a safe space to lick my wounds and come up with a plan to tackle my debt and relearn how to manage my money.

In this episode I share:

  • The importance of changing your mindset around money and creating a money mindset of worth and confidence

  • Why I stopped calling myself ‘broke’ and became solution oriented

  • How to consolidate multiple debts into one payment to help you pay off debt

  • Getting student loans out of default with a customized payment plan 

  • How to pull free credit reports

  • How I tackled all the derogatory accounts on my credit report

  • Utilizing Trello (a project management tool) to organize my debt and payments

  • Creating a side hustle just for paying off debt

  • The importance of having ‘debt’ to improve your credit score

  • How to get a credit card when you have terrible credit

  • Secured credit cards, what they are and how to use them responsibly

  • How to dispute old credit inquiries and remove them from your credit report


At the end of the episode, I also answer some questions you guys asked me about my credit journey.

If you’re enjoying this Money Series and want to hear from money experts on this podcast, please reach out and let me know!

Financial management is wellness, too!

Resources mentioned:

Monique