[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/8-tips-to-help-you-rebuild-credit-after-bankruptcy#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/8-tips-to-help-you-rebuild-credit-after-bankruptcy","headline":"8 Tips To Help You Rebuild Credit After Bankruptcy","name":"8 Tips To Help You Rebuild Credit After Bankruptcy","description":"Anyone who has filed for bankruptcy, or even just considered it, knows it can damage a credit score. Still, it\u2019s often the only solution for those struggling with enormous debt. Fortunately, while a credit score may take a hit for a little while after bankruptcy is filed, it doesn\u2019t have...","datePublished":"2019-08-05","dateModified":"2025-09-19","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/attorneys\/matis-h-abarbanel#Person","name":"Matis Abarbanel","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/attorneys\/matis-h-abarbanel","identifier":55,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/matis-abarbanel_avatar-96x96.png","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/matis-abarbanel_avatar-96x96.png","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Loan Lawyers, LLC","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/icon-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/icon-logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/credit-card-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/credit-card-1.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/8-tips-to-help-you-rebuild-credit-after-bankruptcy","about":["Credit Card and Debt Defense"],"wordCount":1253,"articleBody":"Anyone who has filed for bankruptcy, or even just considered it, knows it can damage a credit score. Still, it\u2019s often the only solution for those struggling with enormous debt. Fortunately, while a credit score may take a hit for a little while after bankruptcy is filed, it doesn\u2019t have to stay that way. You can rebuild your credit score after filing for bankruptcy and, soon, you could have a score as high as 700 or 750. Below are a few ways to do it.1. Maintain Good Financial HabitsIt doesn\u2019t take long for defaulted payments to show on your credit report. Technically, delinquency occurs when you\u2019ve missed one month\u2019s payment, although companies typically wait two months before reporting a late or missing payment. This still isn\u2019t a very long time. For that reason, one of the most important things to do after filing for bankruptcy is to develop and maintain good financial habits. This means paying all bills on time every month, for at least seven years. That\u2019s how long delinquencies remain on a credit report.2. Create a BudgetCreating a budget is part of having good financial habits. It will help prevent you from missing monthly payments and gives you security knowing you\u2019ll still have everything you need. Write down how much income you earn every month. Then, add up your essential monthly expenses such as rent, groceries, utilities, and transportation costs. Subtract your expenses from your income. If you have money left over, you can prioritize this for loan repayments or savings. If you don\u2019t have funds left over, you are spending more than you are making. Expenses must either be cut, or income must be increased.3. Obtain a Copy of Your Credit ReportTo rebuild your credit, you need to know where you stand. Obtain a copy of your credit report from one of the three major bureaus, such as TransUnion. Review it carefully and, if there are any mistakes, report them to the bureau and the company that reported the error. Mistakes hurt your credit score and if the debt was listed by mistake, there are steps you can take to remove it from your report. Secondly, look at your credit score to determine where you stand. Any score under 400 is considered very poor, while a score under 640 is considered poor. Scores over 700 are considered good, while scores between 750 and 850 are considered excellent.4. Create an Emergency FundAn emergency fund gives you the security of knowing that even if you do experience financial hardship again in the future, you\u2019ll have funds you can tap into. Emergency funds should provide for at least two months of expenses, and experts recommend putting away five to 10 percent of all income into an emergency fund. However, if you can\u2019t afford this, don\u2019t let that stop you from creating a fund. Anything you can place into an emergency fund and save for a rainy day is worthwhile. Just make sure you only use it for real emergencies.5. Apply for a Secured Credit CardSecured credit cards are different than unsecured credit cards. With an unsecured card, a lender gives you the card and you can start using it right away, typically with few fees or upfront payments. With a secured card, you pay a lender a certain amount of money and they give you credit in that same amount. You can then use the credit card and make payments towards your balance. Each payment you make will give you back that same amount of credit.The lender you choose is important when applying for a secured credit card. Choose a bank or lender you want to remain with for a long time. Eventually, you\u2019ll ask them to increase your credit limit or give you an unsecured credit card. Establishing history with a lender will make them more likely to approve those requests, which will help you rebuild your credit more quickly.6. Apply for a Gas Credit CardThere\u2019s a lot that\u2019s taken into consideration when bureaus determine your credit score. They consider not only if you currently have debt, but what types of debt you have. As such, once you have a secured credit card, you should then apply for a gas credit card. This is a different type of debt, and credit cards from gas stations are relatively easy to obtain. Gas credit cards are typically more beneficial than retail credit cards. Gas is a necessary expense, so you won\u2019t be tempted to purchase more than you need or go on a spending spree.7. Don\u2019t Close Your AccountsWhen people cannot resist the temptation to spend money on their credit cards, they often close their accounts. This seems logical. If the account is closed, you can\u2019t spend more money, so you won\u2019t get further into debt. However, closing accounts can actually cause great damage to your credit score. This is because the bureaus consider how much credit you have available. After closing an account, that amount is reduced, which lowers your score. If you really feel as though you can\u2019t resist the temptation to spend, put your card on ice or destroy it completely. This will remove the temptation without affecting your credit score.8. Avoid Finance CompaniesFinance companies and debt consolidation companies are in the business of making money. While there are some reputable companies out there, you will still be paying them for a service at a time that you\u2019re trying to hold onto every dollar earned. Stay on track with a budget, savings, and slowly building credit on your secured cards, and you\u2019ll achieve the same goal on your own.Call a Florida Bankruptcy Lawyer for HelpTrying to rebuild your credit after bankruptcy is no easy task. You may even find creditors are still trying to sue you for discharged debt or that errors remain on your credit report. When that is the case and you need further help after filing for bankruptcy, call the Fort Lauderdale bankruptcy attorneys at Loan Lawyers. We are passionate about helping people before, during, and after they file for bankruptcy so they don\u2019t fall into financial hardship again. Call us today at (954) 523-HELP (4357) for your free consultation.Loan Lawyers has helped over 5,000 South Florida homeowners and consumers with their debt problems, we have saved over 2,000 homes from foreclosure, eliminated more than $100,000,000 in mortgage principal and consumer debt, and have recovered over $10,000,000 on behalf of our clients due to bank, loan servicer, and debt collector violations. Contact us for a free consultation to see how we may be able to help you.About the AuthorLatest PostsMatis AbarbanelMatis Abarbanel is the founding partner and senior attorney at Loan Lawyers in South Florida. He focuses his practice on consumer rights, helping homeowners navigate issues such as foreclosure and financial hardship. Matis also brings a wealth of experience from his previous work in personal injury law. As a devout Chasidic Jew, he is committed to making a positive impact in his community and dedicates his efforts to charitable initiatives through his non-profit organization, The Center, which aids at-risk Jewish youth. Matis actively serves clients across South Florida and is passionate about empowering individuals to secure their rights and achieve a better future.When Foreclosure Errors by Lenders Lead to Legal Remedies for Homeowners in Fort LauderdaleWhat Homeowners Can Do When Loan Documents Contain Forged or Altered SignaturesUnderstanding Florida\u2019s Debt Forgiveness Programs and IRS Rules"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"8 Tips To Help You Rebuild Credit After Bankruptcy","item":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/8-tips-to-help-you-rebuild-credit-after-bankruptcy#breadcrumbitem"}]}]