By Bethany Kolenic

Like many of the other first years, I recently purchased my first home.  How can you resist that $8000 tax credit?  This process, while exciting, was fraught with worry and panic, and perhaps no moment was more stress-filled than meeting with the lender to sign my mortgage documents.  Not only were all of the numbers dizzyingly large, but I also had to face my credit score.  I had no idea what number would be staring me in the face when we flipped to that page – and breathed an audible sign of relief when the average score was happy, healthy and high.  I know, there is no defense for burying your head in the sand about these types of things, but let me explain: I have been subjected to those awful free credit report commercials for years now, and I don’t know about anyone else, but I go to extreme lengths to mute the television every time that curly-haired man-child starts singing.  It may be childish, but I think I have purposely avoided checking my credit score just to spite him.

For those of you with a little more sense, I would suggest a different approach, especially if you are considering buying your first home anytime soon.  CNN Money has a great article explaining your credit score and how to bump it up.