I'm 44 y/o with a family and meh credit. Where should I begin?

[Roderick Dewar]

I'm 44 y/o with a wife, 3 kids and an ailing father. I have a good job but want to be there for everyone. I've read all the books and am about to make the jump! With only a few thousand dollars.... what's the best use of my time and money?

[Tim Roberts]

@Roderick Dewar, @Geordy Rostad is correct.  The first place to start is to decrease your credit expenses.  How fast your credit score reacts to the changes you make depends on what is influencing your credit score down but most often if it is not negative credit then it's your credit card balances are maxed out or close to being maxed out.  

Credit cards should be used for cash flow purposes.  Don't carry balances on the credit cards if you can avoid it.  And if you do, have it in your mind to pay the balance down within a 3 or 4 month period of time.  High balances should be paid down as quick as possible; the first goal is to pay down balance to 50% of your limit, then 30%, then 18%, then 10%.  These percentages have a direct influence on pushing your credit score higher in a short period of time.

Once your credit card balances are down concentrate on saving your first $25,000 in the bank.  This will give you options on whatever your goals might be in buying or flipping a home.