The decision to file for bankruptcy should never be taken lightly. While you may feel that you are ready to make a fresh start, you may also be very concerned about your financial future.  You are right to be concerned, however people do recover from bankruptcy and go on to attain their financial goals, whether it's a car or even a home purchase. If you are considering filing, but are wondering if you can rebuild your financial life, read on for 5 tips on beginning your fresh start.

1. Make sure that you understand how your finances got out of control and address those issues. It's easy to use a convenient excuse, such as a divorce or burdensome medical expenses, but you should also consider any underlying poor habits that may have contributed to your financial situation.
2. Get a copy of your credit report and examine it closely for errors. You are entitled to one free report per year, but be cautious.  There is only one legitimate site for your free report, so double check the spelling and make sure you are at annualcreditreport.com. You must report inaccuracies to each of the three main reporting agencies in writing.
3. Be careful of "bad credit" offers, which you will begin receiving almost immediately. Credit cards that charge large yearly fees tend monitor federal bankruptcy filings and prey upon people eager to rebuild their credit. Make sure to read all the fine print concerning fees and interest rates on these cards.
4. Make it a point to check your score and credit activity at least once a month. You can find sites online that are free and that allow to see your score from one or more reporting agencies. You can also monitor credit inquiries. These sites have advertising and will offer you credit cards and loans, but are worth the annoyance.
5. FHA loans allow people who are at least three years past a bankruptcy and who can show that the bankruptcy was caused by outside financial factors to qualify for a loan. 

The record of the bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for at least 10 years, but if you follow the tips above you won't need to wait that long to rebuild your credit and attain your goals. Bankruptcy is far from the end, and even though it's a tough decision to make, your fresh start can begin.  Bankruptcy is an opportunity to do better, so make sure that you don't fall back into your old habits and make it a positive move towards a brighter future. Contact a bankruptcy attorney, such as Michael D Doyle Attorney at Law, for further assistance.