Run For Your Life: My Journey to Debt-Free

Annual Credit Report

Posted by I Hope , Thursday, February 26, 2015 9:18 AM

It's that time of the year again....checking my annual credit report.

I signed up for Identity Theft Protection last year and found out that since there are 3 bureaus (major bureaus) I should only check one report every 4 months to avoid having to pay for it. So I just check Experian.

I thank God for going through what I went through. It's amazing that I'm saying that right now, but if I ever have children, I want to be able to teach them. No one taught me, that's for sure.

 So my report summary: I owe the city of Springfield $10.

Yes, that's from an unpaid parking ticket from when I was homeless. Long story...on another blog, but I need to pay that. The other derogatory information on my 18 page report have to do with when I was laid off and homeless.

There are 6 accounts. Actually only 4, but because I had 2 student loans they list them separately (and together, so it looks like 3 different accounts) even thought they both are from the federal government. The others include 1 doctors bill that I paid off in Oct 2013, that unpaid $10 parking ticket which I'm going to pay tomorrow, and the $1500 I paid off in 2014 from being evicted. I'll check Equifax and Trans Union later in the year.

I desperately want to buy a home, but apparently not desparately enough because I just spend $100 on a vanity for my bedroom.

This year, I am going to make deep enrodes into paying off my student loan because I can pay at least $500 a month. I'm going to send them another payment tomorrow, so that will total about $500 this month.

I've been trolling home purchasing websites and thinking about how much I actually want to pay for a home. I thinkn $50-$60K would be ideal for me. I want a two bedroom with a basement and garage, but I'll take a 3 bedroom if there is no basement. But, I WANT a garage. I also want a small yard. Nothing too big that I have to spend hours mowing. Small enough for a small garden that's about it. And my garden would probably be a raised bed because I don't want to have to dig. I can't wait!!! 

Thank God for health and financial stability.