Is It Worth It to Have a Decent Credit Score??

I will definitely say the my buying a house, at 10%-15% down, at an early age, in a bad neighborhood, was my failing point of my life. That is way I'm renting now and in the hole. The banks were much to lenient on buying houses back then, and I was working for too little money. Throw in medical expenses and growing family, and you got trouble. We tried to make the bills, believe me we did...but we just couldn't any more. We spent over a year debating what to do...stressed about job wage increases (or lack thereof), pregnancy, and the increase of crime in the area. There were a lot of different angles, outcomes, and solutions we looked at. We called up at least five professionals in various fields for advice on what to do. This was the best we came up with the least lost, albeit still at a loss.

I'll admit it isn't for everyone. Some people were well established before the economy went downhill and all. We weren't ready. We've learned our lesson. We've moved on. And so far, life has been good to us now, regardless.

Because of youthful credit indiscretions, an illness, and some flat out credit debt after being unemployed for a LOOOOOOONG time, I am still having to have my parents co-sign for every apartment I rent, every car I have bought, even the one I bought myself as a young professional with a newly minted teaching credential- and the job was at a decent-paying district, and even every cell phone I've had since college. It is humiliating. I've worked hard to pay off most of my debt, but the fact of its existence still remains. It's still low even after paying off some student loans- for which I was never late in paying- and my car. To be over thirty and need a co-signer really, really bothers me. I realize that losing a house in this economy looks very different than buying stupid stuff and then not paying your credit card as a teenager, but things have a way of haunting you way down the line.

Yeah...I'm still going with credit mattering.

I have no problem with living without credit. I think it's great and even admirable. However, I want to HAVE credit in case I ever NEED credit. You have no way of knowing when your used car is going to crap out or need a pricey repair that goes beyond your emergency fund.

Additionally, good credit sometimes means more than just credit. Some employers will check your credit score before hiring you. 43% of employers ran credit reports n 2006. Some Auto insurers check credit scores. So do cell phone suppliers.

I'd avoid bad credit at all costs, personally. It actually does matter.

I honestly never want to rent again. Selling our house is not the most fun I've ever had, but renting was not something I enjoyed. Around here, renting a 3 bedroom house costs $200-$500/month more than most mortgages. It's cheaper to buy.