How to get your credit back in shape

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Last year, post-holiday bankruptcy filings spiked in the first quarter to more than 185,000 -- a steep increase over the year before that. If the general rule about history repeating itself bears out, then we should expect another surge in the beginning of 2008.If you're one of the millions of Americans who've had to declare bankruptcy, here are the very first steps you should take to begin rebuilding your credit score and financial life.3-2-1-Contact: Get in touch with Equifax, TransUnion and Experian, the three credit reporting agencies, to ensure your bankruptcy is listed on your reports. You want to do this to make sure that outstanding balances are wiped off and don't continue to appear unpaid.Cold, Hard Cash: Try living with a cash-only wallet, which tends to prevent overspending and doesn't allow you to resort to credit cards because of poor planning. It's also good training to help you live within a budget. Simply take out a set amount each week, and when the money's run out, it's time to stop spending.Back on the Horse: Once you've declared bankruptcy, you want to reestablish credit quickly, which means - gasp!-- applying for credit. You can become an authorized user on someone else's credit card (don't worry, just having you listed will not drag their credit score down), or open a secured credit card, an account that you deposit a set amount of money into and then can spend up to -- but not past -- that amount. Alternately, get an unsecured credit card to start rebuilding credit.Play Nice: Once you're set up with a new card, play by the rules. Plot out what you're going to buy with your credit card and don't go beyond that. Then, pay your card off in full each month to avoid paying high interest and getting yourself back into a bad financial pickle....And Check it Twice: Conduct an audit of all your loans by going through everything you're still paying off: house, car, etc., and see if you can refinance for a better rate. Most of the time, if you're willing to put in some time researching options like credit unions you can get lower rates.Ask for mercy: Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for seven to ten years. Try asking creditors to stop reporting your bad accounts to the bureaus. While there's no guarantee this will work, it's worth a shot. Eliminating just a few charge-offs can boost the almighty credit score.If you're in a financial crisis or need help rebuilding after bankruptcy, contact the non-profit agency Consumer Credit Counseling Services at moneymanagement.org. Certified credit counselors are available online, by phone, or in person to offer viable solutions and the help you need.(Helen Malani is the chief shopping expert for Shopzilla.com, an E.W. Scripps company and the largest comparison-shopping search engine on the Web. Got something to say about shopping? E-mail askhelen(at)shopzilla.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.net)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)