| Your FICO score is not a secret. | | | | out of your checking account into the hands of a credit |
| Sounds simplistic, doesn't it? Just pay down your debts, | | | | card company. |
| your credit score will raise, and all will be fine. But if | | | | So how can you earn that extra money? Here are a |
| you're in debt, there's probably a reason - such as | | | | few suggestions: |
| spending in excess of your income. | | | | - Take a part-time job in addition to your regular job. |
| If you want to build a good financial reputation - | | | | Here are a few that could easily bring in an extra $10 |
| otherwise known as a good FICO score - you'll have | | | | or $20 per week without taking up much time:o Put up |
| to make the effort to bring your spending in line with | | | | and take down signs for a real estate agento If you're |
| your income. | | | | good with a camera, take property photos for that |
| You have two simple choices, and they should be | | | | agento Walk dogs for a neighbor who works long |
| used in combination with each other: | | | | hourso Pet sit for people on vacationo Clean offices |
| - Earn more and use the extra to pay down debt - or | | | | at night or on the week-endo Hire on to shop or do |
| stop going further in debt | | | | yard/garden work for an elderly neighboro Do on-line |
| - Spend less | | | | blogging for payo Do on-line surveys for cash |
| Start with earning more. How many extra dollars per | | | | - Begin doing extra tasks at work - take on more |
| week or per month would it take for you to begin | | | | responsibility - work a little harder and longer than |
| paying off credit cards? $10, $50, $100, or maybe | | | | anyone else - and then ask for a raise. |
| $500? | | | | - Begin looking for a new job that pays more |
| Remember, even an extra $10 per month paid on a | | | | - Go through the attic and start clearing your clutter - |
| credit card account will make a difference over time. | | | | through eBay |
| This is a simple example, because it doesn't take into | | | | - If you can write, sign up on a site like and enter the |
| account that the money will be paid in a little at a time | | | | writing contests |
| and will begin reducing the amount of interest you pay | | | | - Put some Google Adwords links on your own web |
| from the first "extra" payment onward. Your savings | | | | pages |
| will actually be more than the following example. | | | | - Teach a class about something you do very well |
| But look at it this way: If you're paying 18% interest, and | | | | The most important thing is to immediately set aside all |
| you pay an extra $10 monthly for one year, that's $120 | | | | funds generated from these extra activities - and use |
| less that you'll pay interest on the next year - That's | | | | them to pay down debt. It won't help you if you |
| $9.60 per month, or $115.20 per year that won't slide | | | | increase your spending to match the additional income. |