HOW DO I READ MY CREDIT REPORT?

Question

i want to start paying some things off.

Answer 1

Go to the 3 credit bureau websites and bang around a bit.  They each have a way to get a free credit report, but they don't like giving them away free so you have to search and search to find it (instead they'll try again and again to sell it to you along with all sorts of other junk).  Assuming you have not checked your report within a year you are entitled to a free copy but they won't make it easy on you to get it.