Life isn’t easy when your credit’s bad. Bad credit can make it extremely difficult to secure housing or get approved for a credit card. It can also make it nearly impossible to be approved for a loan if you’re in need of funding. However, it’s important to understand that there are solutions out there for people who either have bad credit or no credit at all. You just need to know how to proceed.

Leverage Your Resources

Having good credit is really only one of the ways you can prove you’re a good candidate for a loan. You can also back your promise to pay back what you’re lent by leveraging any home equity you might have or putting up other resources as collateral. Many banks will also reconsider giving you a loan if you can offer documentation that shows you’ve worked at the same job or lived in the same residence for many years, as lenders like to see proof of stability. Barring those possibilities, you can always ask a friend or relative with better credit to cosign on the loan with you.

Choose the Right Lenders

Although lenders who are willing and able to lend to people with bad credit are few and far between, they aren’t nonexistent. You’ll just need to do a little homework as to which ones are your best options. A lender matching service (like Lend for All, to name just one example) can be a great way to save time and energy on your search. They can help you locate the best options for you when it comes to any type of loan you like, including car loans, mortgages, personal loans, and more.

If you’re currently struggling to rebuild your credit after a financial setback, there are definitely ways to get the funding you need to keep moving forward toward a bright new future. Explore the possibilities today.