<prompt> Human: I am a 25-year old accountant with a well-paying job; however, when I moved away from home to a big city to start this job, I became obsessed with spending money I didnt have. It became a hobby when I was sad, happy, bored, angry. At first I was able to make the monthly payments on my cards, but then there came a point where I was spending so much that I had nothing in my savings, lived paycheck to paycheck, and started missing minimum payments. Now, I have three credit cards that were automatically closed by the lenders but that I still owe moneyhave a balance, and two outstanding balances that are now in the hands of collection agencies. In all, I owe 8,000. I also owe 1,500 to a bank account that I overdrew from about a month ago. Currently, and, not surprisingly, my credit score is 482. I am that type of person who continually lives in denial, that Ill take care of it tomorrow. The sad reality Ive been facing this year is that I can no longer ignore this issue. How can I possibly ever buy a car, a house, or take out a loan someday with this credit score, unless I start taking some steps. I just dont know how to build up a score that is so horribly, horribly, low.  <response>: I just dont know how to build up a score that is so horribly, horribly, low.Just dont stress about it and do the right things. Read the credit FAQs. It is a marathon, not a sprint. If it makes you feel any better my credit score was 480 one year ago and today it is 620-660. Next year I truly believe I will reach the 700s. You are not alone. 