Regardless of your credit score, resist the urge to use credit when you can use cash instead.  If you cannot afford to pay cash, put some careful thought into how much you really need the item, and whether waiting until you can afford it is reasonable.  This not only includes credit cards, but loans, buying on payment-installment plans, and all other methods of purchase, which do not involve paying upfront.

If you have bills, there are two options, which will help you to improve your credit.  If you can afford to do so, simply pay your bills in full.  However, if your bills are too high, or if you are dealing with a number of different creditors, consider the option of consolidation.  Not only will this reduce your worries and make paying overdue bills easier, it will also eliminate the number-one cause of poor credit:  allowing bills to become seriously delinquent with no effort to pay them.

Using credit cards can actually improve your credit, if they are used properly.  You can begin by checking all of the fine-print in any credit cards you already own.  Choosing to keep and use only the card, which has a low interest rate and reasonable terms, is a good decision. 

A good credit rating is necessary in today’s world.  Even if you do not purchase a single item on credit, your credit rating can influence everything from your chance of obtaining a job to being able to rent an apartment.  A good credit rating is an essential factor for both security and options in life.

The most important thing is to start the credit restoration process early.  Ideally, you should start before you even begin to look at rent to own homes listings.  Credit repair is a process and one that often isn’t quick.  The first thing you will need to do is carefully review your credit reports.  Once you have done this you should write down a plan of attack.

One thing you will probably need to do is pay off some of your credit card debt.  This is especially true if you are carrying high balances.  Ideally, you will want to get your total balances below 25% of your credit line.  You should do this for each account, not just the totals.  Even better, try to use your rental period to pay your accounts off in full.  Just make sure that you save enough for a down payment should you need to make one when it is time to get a mortgage.

Next, you need to address your collection accounts.  The best way that you can deal with these is to call the creditors and say that you will pay them off in full…but only if they agree to delete all negative information from your credit file.