Top5
By Aleksandra Todorova
Reporter, SmartMoney.com


IS YOUR NEW YEAR'S resolution to banish debt from your life once and for all? If so, you may want to expand that noble goal to include boosting your credit score. That magic number, which falls between 300 and 850, is used by lenders to determine everything from your interest rates and credit limits to whether you're approved for a loan at all. Having a good credit score can save you thousands of dollars over the long haul.

The good news: You can slash your debt and improve your credit score all at the same time. Here are five ways to dump that debt and bulk up your financial muscle in the new year.

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