How Bad Credit Can Affect Your Kids' Future

Bad credit can feel like an anchor weighing you down. No matter how hard you struggle to the surface, your lousy credit score keeps dragging you down. Even if you’re careful, you could still harm your credit in ways you didn't know were possible.

As unfair as that is, things can get even less fair from there; that's because your credit doesn’t just affect you, it can also affect your kids.

Heed the advice from the experts we interviewed for this post as both a warning and motivation to rise to the challenge of improving your credit score. You will not just be doing it for your future, but for your children's future as well.

Higher rates mean less bang for your buck.

“Sadly, your credit doesn't just affect you, it also affects your kids,” warns Michael Banks, founder of FortunateInvestor.com. “One of the biggest ways it can affect your kids is via interest rates. With a lower credit score, every loan you take out ends up having a higher interest rate.

“It may not seem like a 4.65% interest rate on your mortgage is that much worse than a 4% one, but over the life of your children, that can add up to thousands of dollars—dollars that could be used to pay for college, cars, and other expenses you may encounter as your children grow up.”

A good education is expensive, especially for college.

One of the concerns raised by Michael Banks was the cost of college, and education was a recurring theme among the experts we consulted.

Accredited financial counselor and founder of Youth Smart Financial Education Services Roslyn Lash, painted us a picture of how things can go wrong:

“If the child needs an expensive graphing calculator and you don't have the cash, your bad credit could prevent you from buying it, contributing to your child's classroom struggles. In addition, higher grade classes offer expensive field trips, often out of the country.

"Without good credit, your child may not be able to attend. If s/he does attend, it will be at a higher cost due to the higher interest rate. And lastly, when it's time for college, your teen may need a co-signer (with good credit) for a student loan. Again, you won't be able to help them.

"Bad credit hinders you from helping them get a better grip on life.”

Anxieties about money could be contagious.

If you have bad credit, you probably find yourself worrying about it frequently. Sadly, children can catch some of that worry.

Marc Johnston-Roche, co-founder of Annuities HQ, echoed the concerns about education, in addition to bringing up financial anxiety:

“Growing up in an environment of constant financial worry can cause your children to 'inherit' those same concerns and carry them into their adulthood."

Good money habits can be learned. Bad ones can too.

Justin Lavelle, the Director of Public Relations for Gartner, covered some of the ways bad credit can affect children’s upbringing:

“Kids learn a lot from their parents and financial management is one of them. If you are constantly struggling with your finances or are denied credit for large purchases these events can rub off on your kids and they may be less likely to handle money or finances when they are of age to need to.

"Set a good example and mind your finances if for no other reason than to set a good example for your kids.

“Don’t waste away your financial future and your child’s hopes and dreams because you have sloppy money habits,” Lavelle added. "Make sure that you don’t have more credit than you can handle. Pay your bills on time and act responsibly with money.”

Bad credit even means higher insurance rates.

Bad credit can even affect you and your kids in ways you might not have realized, like your insurance coverage!

“In some states, your credit-based insurance score can be used to rate your insurance,” Scott W. Johnson, manager and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services LLC, told us.

“If your parents have a bad score and end up having to pay more for auto or home insurance, it could result in the parents opting for less insurance. This could obviously wreak havoc on a young adult that is still getting their auto insurance from their parents.

"Lucky for me, my home and auto clients are based in California where this practice is not allowed," said Johnson. "There are a few more states where this practice is illegal.”

Whatever you do, don’t give up hope!

Take all of this advice as an incentive to grow your credit and take control of your financial future. Start paying your bills on time, make a plan to pay down your outstanding debt, and maybe even ask your friends or family for help. With some effort and dedication, you can improve your credit score to benefit yourself and your children.

Michael Banks is a seasoned finance professional and founder of FortunateInvestor.com (@FortunateInvest). With 20 years of professional experience in the financial services industry, he uses his expertise to turn simple lessons on money into lifelong habits that form the basis for a successful financial future.

Marc Johnston-Roche, working steadily in the financial services, online marketing, and lead generation industry for over eight years, Marc has had thousands of conversations concerning annuities with prospective buyers and advisors. Always looking forward to the time when he could develop a company network of retirement professionals based on three equally important but simple principles: respect, integrity, and professionalism. With his understanding of online marketing operations – he branched out with his partner and formed Annuities HQ (@AnnuitiesHQ).

Roslyn Lash (@RosLash) is an Accredited Financial Counselor. She specializes in financial education, adult coaching, and works virtually with adults helping them to navigate through their finances i.e. budgeting, debt, and credit repair. She is also the founder of Youth Smart Financial Education Services. Her advice has been featured in national publications such as USA Today, TIME, Huffington Post, NASDAQ, Los Angeles Times, and a host of other media outlets.

Justin Lavelle is a Scams Prevention Expert and the Chief Communications Officer of BeenVerified.com (@BeenVerified). BeenVerified is a leading source of online background checks and contact information. It helps people discover, understand, and use public data in their everyday lives and can provide peace of mind by offering a fast, easy, and affordable way to do background checks on potential dates. BeenVerified allows individuals to find more information about people, phone numbers, email addresses, and property records.

Scott W. Johnson is the owner of Marindependent Insurance Services LLC (@marindependent1), a hard to place and affluent home Insurance Agency based in Marin County California.  Scott enjoys reading, investing, and the outdoors. He can often be seen on the trails in Northern California on his mountain bike or skis.