Good vs. Bad Credit Debt

Do you know the difference between good and bad credit debt? Most everyone seems to think that all debt is bad, but that is not always the case. In fact, there are some instances where good debt can actually help your financial situation.

The differences between good debt and bad credit debt will affect every loan you get and can even make the difference in getting a new job. Here are a few examples of what determines good debt vs. bad credit debt.

Good Debt

Good debt includes anything that is too expensive to pay cash for but is still something you need. Buying a home is an example of taking on good debt because you need a place to live.

Most mortgages have lower interest rates compared to high interest debt like credit cards. As long as your monthly payment is within your budget, a mortgage gives you an excellent credit reference.

Financing a car is another example of good debt especially if you plan to drive it after your loan payments have stopped. The key thing to remember is shop for the lowest interest rate possible.

Sometimes taking out a home equity loan makes sense to pay for a car because the interest rate is lower than an auto loan and the interest is tax deductible.

Having good debt and making payments on time gives you a good credit rating. That good rating allows you to borrow more money at better interest rates and can possibly help your financial position.

Bad Credit Debt

Bad credit debt is any form of debt with a high interest rate for things you really don't need. An example would be to charge an expensive vacation on a credit card that you can't really afford.

The worst form of bad credit debt is credit card debt because it carries the highest interest rates. It's easy to over extend yourself with credit cards and it is by far the way most people acquire bad credit debt.

The quickest way to recover from bad credit debt is to pay credit card debt down or pay it off completely. The best way to pay credit card debt down is start with the highest interest rate card first. Then, pay on the debt with the next highest rate until you have paid off all of your credit card debt.

Bad credit debt can also happen if you are continually late on paying back borrowed money or you don't pay it back at all. Once your credit rating is affected in a negative way, it will hurt you financially.

Bad credit debt can keep you from qualifying for loans, credit cards and may even hurt your chance for new employment. Even if you could qualify for a loan, it would be at a higher interest rate than if you had good credit.

The smartest thing you can do is to pay your credit card debt off as quickly as possible to avoid paying the high interest. While good debt will help you financially, bad credit debt will have the opposite affect.

In today's world it's next to impossible to live debt-free so it's important to know the difference between good and bad credit debt.

Copyright © 2005 Credit Repair Facts.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by http://www.credit-repair-facts.com where you will find credit information, debt elimination programs and informative articles that give you the knowledge to correct your own credit and credit report. For more credit related articles like these go to: http://www.credit-repair-facts.com/articles_1.html

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Credit Information:

Related Articles

Credit Score - for Scoring the Right Loan
Somebody once said, "There is always a way of knowing your limitations and going beyond it." It is fundamentally true with respect of credit score.
Collection Agency Secrets for Collecting on Bad Debt
Getting worried that one of your clients, customers or patients will never pay? Have you given up on a customer who's essentially said he won't pay? Congratulations--being stiffed by a customer or patient is a milestone in the growth of a business or medical practice. But even the most hopeless of bad debts can sometimes be collected-collection agencies have been doing it for years.
To Repair Credit Is No longer Satisfactory - Learn How To Earn A Millionaires Credit In 30 Days...
To repair your bad credit does not necessarily mean that you now have a good credit, absolutely not. When most people have bad credit, they either purchase a credit repair book or seek a credit expert help.
Bounced Checks - Straight Talk On Dealing With Bad Checks (NSF)
A check can be considered bad if it is bogus or the NSF checks (non sufficient funds check), also referred as bounced check.The issuance of a NSF or bad checks is an unlawful act and can attract civil and criminal penalties.
Legislators Ponder New Credit Protection Laws
Legislators in Washington, D.C.
Ethical Finance: Who Benefits From Our Spending?
On one hand consumers are being universally criticised for running up significant amounts of debt on credit cards, yet conversely many companies are capitalising on the growing credit card debt, from charities and political organisations to football clubs, the Association of Surgeons and somewhat ironically ActionAid, an international development agency whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide.Financial comparison site moneynet.
Comprehending a Credit Report
Obtaining a credit report is an excellent way to begin taking control of your financial future. It's recommended that you review your credit report once a year, not only to be aware of your standing with creditors but to also keep abreast of errors and fraud.
Identity Theft - Monitor Your Credit Report
The recent security breach at credit card processor CardSystems Solutions has many consumers worried. Thanks to a well-placed computer virus, nearly forty million credit card numbers were stolen, and cardholders nationwide are justifiably concerned about identity theft.
Practical Suggestions for Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft
It's no surprise that thousands of Americans are victimized by identity theft each year. Last year more than 9,000,000 people were victims of identity theft amounting to some $45 billion dollars.
How Does a Creditor Determine Whether to Grant You Credit?
Credit 101How does a creditor determine whether to grant you credit? For many years, creditors have been using credit scores and credit scoring systems to determine if you'd be a good risk for a loan or credit card. More recently, credit scores have been used to help determine what rates you pay for insurance.
Are 0% Credit Cards Reaching Their End?
Are Credit Card companies starting to feel the pinch? We all know that the Credit Card companies make their money by charging us interest on the money we borrow. With all the 0% balance transfer offers that we have seen over the last few years its no wonder these companies are concerned they aren't making any money.
Negotiating Rates with Your Credit Card Company
Ok, let's face it, everybody hates high credit card rates, and they drain hard earned money out of your wallet. As a valued consumer, it is apparent that you learn how to negotiate to get the absolute best rate that you possibly can.
10 Step Credit Repair Guide
The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating, but your efforts will be paid for in better financing. Your rights are protected by laws, but you need to take reasonable actions toward your goal of clearing credit discrepancies.
Fixing A Credit Report
Fixing a credit report starts with seeing what's on it. You may get access for free online.
Fun with Credit Cards
For those of us who know how to use them properly, credit cards can actually be quite fun and lucrative. To those who do not know how to use them properly, I would say that you should stop reading this column right about now, or at least I would advise you not to try any of this stuff at home.
How to Avoid Credit Card Late Fees
Everyone hates late fees and being late will cost you dearly these days. For some credit cards today, if you are late, you will have to shell out as much as $40 each time.
10 Ways To Boost Your Credit Score
1. Deleting Errors in 48 HoursThis is the absolute fastest way to correct errors on your credit report and raise your credit score.
Myths and Truth about Credit Scoring
Credit score is the key factor determining approval of almost any type of credit. It is based on the information contained in your credit report files.
Establishing Credit - What You Need To Know Part 1
Establishing credit is one of the most important things you can do in order to add stability to your financial record and dramatically increase your ability to borrow necessary funds in order to purchase a new home, new car or even pay for college expenses. Unfortunately credit has two sides to it that consumers can exploit.
Building Good Business Credit After Bad Credit
Can you establish good business credit if you have bad personal credit? The answer is yes..