 TITLE: How to Pay Off Debt Listed on Your Credit Report CONTENT: Maintain Good Spending and Credit Habits\n----------------------------------------\nRegardless of your current financial situation, make it a goal to develop good financial habits that can help you gain control over your debt.\nAn important step in making that happen is to stay on top of your credit by monitoring it closely for balances changes, missed payments and credit score changes. Building a good credit history can make it easier to qualify for affordable credit in the future, such as a low-interest car loan or home mortgage.\nIt's also a good idea to create and maintain a budget. At the very least, a budget will let you know exactly where your money is going. With that information in hand, you can develop a strategy to allocate your money in a way that helps you achieve your financial goals—for example, you may want to cut back on discretionary spending to put more of your money toward debt.\nIn addition to focusing on debt, it's also crucial that you build an emergency fund. Many people go into debt because of emergency expenses they can't afford, and having some money stashed away for a rainy day can help mitigate that risk.\nAs you work to develop good money habits, you'll be able to build a good foundation for your financial plan. END