Living Debt Free ..
and keeping a Credit Score!!
Debt Free Life is a great goal, that many have reached, and others strive for. But there is a potential problem until you actually have the cash on hand in case you need to purchase a car, truck, or home.. when the time comes.
You see, every 7 years items are removed from your credit report. That is, if you pay off a car today, in about 7 years, it will be removed from your report. If you go debt free for 7 years, your reports look like you never borrowed money, and your score drops to a point at which you can't borrow money if you need to. And you never know when you may need to.
So, here's what the pro's recommend:
a) Keep a credit card, and just charge a tank of gas on it once in a while to keep it active.
b) You will buy a vehicle every few years anyway, borrow money on the vehicle, keep the note for at least 6 months, then pay off the note.
c) A mortgage is a major credit score factor, and usually the last thing people pay off. Most mortgages have a 2 or 3 year prepayment penalty, so you can't cost effectively pay it off before that. If you get a Mortgage for a new home, get a 30 year fixed rate, and really accelerate the payments, to pay it off in 7 to 10 years. Essentially debt free, and a real equity builder!