1. Order your credit reports.

•	Go to www.annualcreditreport.com, which is the only authorized source for consumers to access their annual credit report online for free.
•	Call toll free 877-322-8228.
•	Complete the form on the back of the "Annual Credit Report Request" brochure, available from the FTC, and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

2. Examine for errors and calculate the exact amount owed.

•	If there are errors on your credit reports, see the work sheet "How to fix mistakes on your credit report."

3. Create a budget.

•	Write down everything you spend money on and then cut the fat. Use this worksheet for making your own spending plan.

4. Prioritize bills and pay them off.

•	Consistently paying at least the minimum due every month is crucial to building up your credit score. Use the debt paydown calculator to organize.

5. Find products to rebuild credit.

•	As debts disappear, or following a bankruptcy, look for products such as secured credit cards to help give your credit score a boost.
•	Make sure they report to the credit bureaus, not all do.