<p>I decided to start getting my financial “house” in order this past weekend with taking the first step - checking my credit report and scores.</p>
<p>Needless to say, my reports and score deem me as a “severe risk” to creditors. That means a HUGE deposit on getting a cell phone, no chances of financing a car, etc.</p>
<p>I’m a college student now living with my grandma, paying my mom $20 a month to be included on her family talk plan for my cell phone usage.</p>
<p>**I have some opportunities coming up for a job and am looking forward to getting my own place, but I’m worried that since my credit is so “jacked” that no apartment complex (at least the ones I would prefer to live in) will let me reside there.</p>
<p>Is it impossible to move now?**</p>
<p>How did it get so bad? Did you not make your payments?</p>
<p>You can always raise your credit by actually paying your bills by the scheduled time.</p>
<p>I’m sure if you pay your rent on time your landlord wouldn’t mind. To raise your credit all I can say is don’t use your credit card too much if you can’t pay it. Also, try to pay your debt as fast as you can. Paying credit card bills before they are even due helps too. I raised my credit a lot by paying my bills before they are due and by paying more than I have to in terms of the minimum payment.</p>
<p>My credit got so bad due to loosing a job and not being able to find another one at the age of 22.</p>
<p>Now, I’m living with my grandma and going back to school, majoring in Computer Science.</p>
<p>Having obtained a copy of my credit report, my outstanding debts are still listed, attributing to a pitifully low credit score.</p>
<p>While I do assume full responsibility for my financial mismanagement, I do want to know exactly what to do to take of all of this before I graduate college in two years.</p>