Millennials - Women behind men in paying their bills on time

I was shocked to read that among millennials nearly 2 of 5 (39%) millennial women do not pay their bills on time compared to 1 of 4 (25%) millennial men[1]. Ladies, why are you putting yourselves in such a precarious predicament? Delayed bill payment is a situation that can be very tough to rectify and only gets worse and compounded with late fees. More importantly, your credit score declines when your bills are not paid on time.

Your credit score is more than a number. It is a score of creditworthiness. In other words, it represents the potential risk a creditor assumes by lending money to you. The credit score will determine what interest rate you can obtain when applying for credit for a house, car, and revolving credit such as a credit card. Credit scoring is not limited to bank financing but is used by mobile phone companies, insurance companies, landlords, and potential employers. The lower your credit score, the more it negatively impacts your life. A low credit score translates into higher interest rates on the items you finance. Higher interest rates result in a higher explicit cost.

Many millennials may not be thinking ahead, but more than ever, women are heading the household both financially and figuratively. Good financial habits need to be incorporated early in one's life. When you find yourself in a financial hole, you have to stop digging. Being prudent with your money is a long game, if you start off behind it is very difficult to catch-up. If you create a budget and stick to it, you will be much happier in the long run.

[1] NFCC - 2018 FINANCIAL LITERACY SURVEY. https://www.nfcc.org/clientimpact/2018-financial-literacy-survey/