Wow, it sure seems like summer has flown by and as much as I've enjoyed every minute, I love the back-to-school season as well. I love this time of year because it's the time we fall back into a routine - we certainly couldn't keep up summer living forever! Many of us recommit to our goals; and students, teachers and parents alike get excited about learning (all for different reasons!). For me, this is often the time of year when my coaching business gets busier as people resolve to achieve their goal of improving their credit and overall finances.
1. Desire for routine is good - Routine can be a great way to establish beneficial habits and just as we appreciate the weekday routine of school, so too can we use this time of year to get back into the routine of taking care of our credit and finances. What should you include in your routine? Check your credit reports twice a year - now is a great time as well as the first of the year. Examine your reports for any errors or signs of identity theft and get to work correcting any inaccuracies. Also, chart your progress toward building a better score and plan your next steps.
2. Recommit to learning - This time of year can be so inspiring as we see students excited about going back-to-school, learning, and growing. Use that inspiration to fuel your desire to learn as well. Knowledge is power and if you want power over your credit and financial health, now is the time to begin learning. Do you want to know how your FICO score is calculated? Do you want to know what score you'll have to have to qualify for a mortgage? Do you want to know how your score compares to others? Well, now is the time to get these and any of your other credit and financial questions answered. I'm happy to help! I have numerous useful blog posts that answer these questions and more as well as my book The 90-Day Credit Challenge: Playing the Game of Credit Scoring- Know the Rules to Win! You can also reach out to me with your questions on Twitter.
3. Refresh your resolutions - Are you one of the countless millions of us that make New Year's Resolutions? Did you write them down? If so, now is a great time to resurrect your resolutions and recommit to them. You still have time this year to accomplish your goals! Take a few minutes now and update your goals, add or subtract any that make sense and make a plan to make the most of the remainder of this year.
Welcome to your personal back-to-school season! As much as we'll miss the lazy days of summer, now is a great time to take a lesson from the students we know and love and get fired up about learning and achieving our long term goals.