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Q: What can you do when your credit is so bad that you can't even rent an apartment? I make enough money now to afford one, but my credit history is so bad, no one wants to rent to me.

—Ryan

Ryan, if your credit is in bad shape due to old debts, the first thing you should do is systematically work through that list and clean them up. If you have outstanding debts, you have a legal and moral responsibility to repay them. Do what I call a "debt snowball," and make a list of all your debts from smallest to largest. Then, go to work paying off the smallest one first and work your way up the list. Wake one beast at a time. Otherwise, you'll have a real zoo on your hands.

Now, if you're on the verge of being homeless and need a place to live immediately, find someone who will sit down with you and listen to your story. More than likely, this will be an individual, not a company, who owns an apartment or a house. Explain to them that you made some bad decisions earlier in your life but you're making good money now and can afford an apartment. Network through friends and church members to find someone who will see you as a good tenant in spite of the fact that your credit record is banged up. And let them know that you're working hard to pay off what you owe.

Q: My sister is getting married in a few months. Her fiancé is bringing a considerable amount of debt into the marriage. She quit college to work full time and help him pay all of it off. Is this a good idea?

—Heather

Heather, your sister is helping him pay his bills before they get married? Why? Those bills become their joint responsibility after marriage and not one second sooner. This is not a wise thing. What if something unexpected happens and they break up?

Marrying someone who is in debt is fine, as long as the habits that caused the debt have been broken and you're in agreement about money management.

Your sister's biggest responsibilities right now are making sure she really loves this guy and that they're in agreement on financial issues before the big "I Do." But, never pay your fiancé's bills before you get married. I've seen too many people come into our offices for counseling who were broke because they paid someone's bills who then left them before they reached the altar.

Dave Ramsey is the bestselling author of Total Money Makeover and host of a nationally syndicated radio show. For more information, visit www.daveramsey.com. All advice given is the opinion of Dave Ramsey and is taken at the sensible discretion of the reader.

Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine.
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