Have you filed for bankruptcy recently? If so, then you're one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who find themselves in this precarious position each year. While bankruptcy can feel like the end of the world, it does provide a way to start over – provided you know the best methods of doing so. 

Here are a few ways you can work to rebuild your credit score. 

Monitor your credit score
It's going to take a while to get your credit score up to snuff, but you should be consistently checking in on it to ensure that it's moving in the right direction. This also allows you to ensure that there are no errors or inconsistencies on your report, which in turn guarantees there isn't a separate problem holding you back. 

Start fresh with new accounts
Part of the benefit of declaring bankruptcy is being able to start over with regard to your finances. Take advantage of this by saving up enough money to open new bank accounts. The Huffington Post also recommended applying for a secured credit card or retail card to start rebuilding credit. They key is to not use these cards to make extraneous buys – use them to get the basics and then make moves to prevent debt from growing. 

Avoid only paying the minimum
Scrambling to make minimum payments – along with not making payments at all – is part of what got you into debt in the first place. Instead of going right back to your old habits, embrace some positive ones by keeping debt under control. Whenever possible, use credit cards to make small purchases and then pay off the balance immediately. Gradually, this will build up a credit score and allow you to make larger purchases. 

Don't let it scare you off from purchases
Declaring bankruptcy may have you thinking that you're stuck with your current car, as it can be tough to find a loan for a purchase. However, spots like New Jersey State Auto Auction help subprime buyers find used cars that can meet their needs and budget. Our in-house financing department has the power to get you approved for credit even if you've had trouble in the past, and you can use that to select one of the hundreds of Carfax-certified cars, trucks and vans on the lot.