1. CREDIT SCORE

Does Paying Off Debt Improve Your Credit Profile?

Does Paying Off Debt Improve Your Credit Profile?
BY Tammi Huang
Sep 9, 2013
 - Updated 
Oct 9, 2024
Key Takeaways:
  • Bad credit and debt problems often go hand-in-hand.
  • If you are suffering a financial hardship, focus on paying off debt.
  • Your credit score will improve once you start making timely payments and reduce your debt.

Debt problems and bad credit is a double whammy

Many people who have debt problems often suffer from a bad credit profile as well. It’s a double whammy and definitely something that needs to be taken care of. So, how do you approach the issue? One obvious way to address your credit profile is to pay your bills on time, and when possible, in full. If you have extra cash, use it to pay down any outstanding debt.

But not all debts have equal influence on your profile. Depending on your individual circumstances, a high priority may be to pay down debts that will be recognized by several credit profiling factors. Getting rid of credit card debt may give you faster results than paying down other debts, because it is generally a riskier type of unsecured debt. Once you pay off a card, you may see a positive impact on your overall profile.

Focus on paying off your debt before improving your credit

Your credit profile should be important to you, because it has the power to determine a wide range of things in your life. If your credit profile is not as strong as you want it to be and you are looking to make it stronger, it may seem intuitive to pay off all of your debts. However, this strategy may backfire. You should always analyze each debt and predict how making changes to it will affect your overall credit profile.

If you choose to settle your debts for less than you owe (a.k.a. use debt resolution), talk to a certified debt specialist to get more information about how this process works. The benefit of debt resolution is that it is often a cheaper and quicker option for resolving debt. It may be especially helpful for people with high debt loads ($10,000+) and are struggling to keep up with their payments.

There are multiple ways to deal with debt and credit. If you are unsure which method is best for you, give our team a call at 800-910-0065 and we’ll guide you through your options!

We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking debt relief during August 2024. The data uncovers various trends and statistics about people seeking debt help.

Credit Card Usage by Age Group

No matter your age, navigating debt can be daunting. These insights into the credit profiles of debt relief seekers shed light on common financial struggles and paths to recovery.

Here's a snapshot of credit behaviors for August 2024 by age groups among debt relief seekers:

Age groupNumber of open credit cardsAverage (total) BalanceAverage monthly payment
18-254$9,300$265
26-355$12,920$356
35-507$16,196$453
51-658$16,345$475
Over 658$16,757$446
All7$15,681$440

Whether you're starting your financial journey or planning for retirement, these insights can empower you to make informed decisions and work towards a more secure financial future

Home-secured debt – average debt by selected states

According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) (using 2022 data) the average home-secured debt for those with a balance was $212,498. The percentage of families with mortgage debt was 42%.

In August 2024, 27% of the debt relief seekers had a mortgage. The average mortgage debt was $236,240, and the average monthly payment was $1,890.

Here is a quick look at the top five states by average mortgage balance.

State% with a mortgage balanceAverage mortgage balanceAverage monthly payment
California21$391,801$2,725
Washington DC18$336,914$2,290
Utah35$324,405$2,184
Nevada26$307,368$2,063
Massachusetts29$303,507$2,366

The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a mortgage loan balance over $0.

Housing is an important part of a household's expenses. Remember to consider all your debts when looking for a way to get debt relief.

Tackle Financial Challenges

Don’t let debt overwhelm you. Learn more about debt relief options. They can help you tackle your financial challenges. This is true whether you have high credit card balances or many tradelines. Start your path to recovery with the first step.

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