My Mistake After Filing Bankruptcy

A mistake that some people make after filing bankruptcy is being too cautious.  Sounds strange, but it’s true.  It feels really good to have a fresh start.  So how can you possibly be too cautious with your credit after the mess your bankruptcy just cleaned up?? 
 I am guilty of it.  Since filing a Chapter 7 I wouldn’t buy anything unless I had cash.  I was driving a reliable vehicle so I didn’t use credit for anything at all.  I was downright afraid of credit cards.   Big mistake. 
Fourteen (14) years after filing, I decided to buy my newly licensed teenagers a car.  I didn’t bother to check my credit… why would I?  I hadn’t used or applied for any credit cards; I believed my credit should be perfect.  At least that's what I thought.  Every dealership I went to gave me the same answer.  No.  Not because I had bad credit, but because I had no credit.   It was a rude awakening to be turned down for not having credit.  
Eventually, I went to my credit union and was able to finance a car because I had been banking with them for years. 
 
The moral of the story?  Don’t forget to re-build your credit after you file.