Good credit - it means many different things. There are a number of advantages to having good credit; these are pretty obvious. While getting and maintaining good credit involves a high degree of fiscal discipline and making payments, it is well worth the effort. So how does bad credit affect you? What are the disadvantages of having bad credit? This is a question which it takes more than a few words to answer.

Credit and lending institutions use something called a FICO score to determine your eligibility for ANY financial request. Typically a score of above 720 is considered excellent and will qualify you for just about anything you ask for. When you go under about 650, it gets patchy for most consumers.

These scores are calculated and reported by the "Big Three" credit reporting agencies, which are Transunion, Experian and Equifax.

Financing opportunities A bad FICO score will prevent you from obtaining financing in every market. Try obtaining a mortgage to buy a house and you will be hard pressed to get that loan. The same thing applies to personal loans and car loans. Basically, a bad credit history tells lenders that you are a high risk and can't be trusted or are otherwise unable to pay the loan back in a timely manner.

Interest rates The real problem with a bad credit history is higher interest rates.

Your interest rate will largely be determined by your FICO score. A good score will secure you low interest rates; 7% to 9%. However, having a bad credit history means that while you may still be able to get financing, you will be paying a much higher interest rate.

I had one experience where I was trying to consolidate a few bills into one payment. My credit score wasn't what it should have been and my interest would have moved from 11% toget ready for this24.99% per annum. That is an astronomical rate of interest and you will end up paying $25 per $100 of your annual ending balance. On a balance of $1000, that adds up to $250 a year!

Personal health and well being The financial ramifications of having bad credit are bad enough, but there are other things to consider. If you have bead credit, you are probably already in debt. You may be getting mail from creditors or even harassing phone calls from collectors. This creates stress and strain on even the hardiest of people.

The results of this can be loss of sleep, loss of appetite, depression, headaches, stomach trouble and a host of other stress related maladies. All related to your money problems. Yes, your financial situation is important, but so is your physical well-being.

Conclusion In conclusion, having bad credit affects your financial opportunities in every area. From buying a home to borrowing for junior's college expenses, you may have a lot of trouble with the money. Everybody wants to have nice things and bad credit will keep those things from coming your way.

Having bad credit can also have a negative impact on your health, causing a lot of difficulties. High blood pressure and heart attacks can even be caused by stress, so make sure to guard your credit and take good care of it - and yourself.