Britney's Credit Journey
Britney's Credit Journey
Illustration by myFICO Teams
In our series myFICO Credit Journeys, we hear from regular people about how they build and maintain their credit.
Do you have a credit journey that you'd like to share? Send an email to creditjourney@fico.com.
Age: 35
Location: Maryland
Profession: Human Resources (Nonprofit)
Starting FICO Score: Unsure
Current FICO Score: 680
Favorite TV show: Marvel's Agents of Shield
Next credit goal: A FICO® Score of 750
When did you realize you needed to start managing your credit?
A few years ago after a bad break up I spent the money that I had in savings and stopped really caring about my credit. I hit an emotional and financial wall and didn't know what to do about it.
What did you do to start managing your credit?
I started tracking where and how much money I was spending each month in cash and on credit cards. Without knowing what I spent I had no way of understanding money or my patterns. I then listed my debts in a spreadsheet (smallest to largest). Being able to access my sheet from anywhere was really helpful to keep track of my budget. Additionally, I began selling unwanted items around my space, and used the funds earned to decrease debt.
When did your hard work pay off?
I made a plan to get my life and my finances back on track a few years ago. I started by building up my emergency fund, and then using the snowball method to pay down some of my smaller debts. I also made the decision to move back home with my parents to save for a down payment on a home, which I accomplished in 2019!
What did you do once you reached your goal?
Once I accomplished my goal of purchasing a home, I then shifted gears and made a plan to become debt free. Using the snowball method has been key for me in addition to finding a budgeting method that actually works for me.
What is your next credit goal?
A FICO® Score of 750.
How will you reach your next credit goal?
I'll reach my next goal by continuing to pay down revolving debt (credit cards) to reduce my credit utilization.
This interview was lightly edited for clarity.
