Dear Mary: My credit score is shot. However, I'm committed to improving my financial health. Once my unsecured debt has been eliminated and I continue to keep up with all other payments, including the mortgage, how long will it take for my credit score to improve? What else can I do to get my score as high as possible in the long term? — Kirsten N., e-mail

Dear Kirsten: The best thing you can do for your credit score is to pay all of your bills on time, all the time, without fail. After six months of on-time payments, you should begin to see an improvement in your score, provided you are not applying for new credit or using more than 30 percent of the credit you have already. Go to http://www.myFICO.com, where you will find excellent articles on how to improve your credit score. I'm glad to know that you have turned over a new leaf and are taking responsibility for your debt situation.

Dear Mary: We are buying a house and have been offered a home protection plan by our mortgage company. I read your recent article on buyer protection plans. Is this home protection plan the same? Are these things a good idea or just a way for the mortgage company to get more of our money? — Annie S., e-mail

Dear Annie: Home protection plans are different from extended warranties on new appliances or household items. I would be inclined, if I were you, to buy that protection plan for the first year that you own this house. You don't know the conditions or histories of the appliances, furnace and so on. My experience is that such a policy is not terribly expensive and is worth the peace of mind that it gives you. Make sure you read all of the terms and conditions so you know whether you have a copayment and whether there are certain limitations and exclusions on the coverage.

Dear Mary: I enjoy your daily e-mail very much, and I appreciated the links you provided for "do-it-yourselfers" in your column titled "How To Get on the Repair-It-Yourself Bandwagon." Do you know of online resources for repairing your own car? I find that books on the subject are expensive. — Marcia D., e-mail

Dear Marcia: Most public libraries carry the repair manuals for specific models of cars. If I were you, I'd head to your local library and look at the books and manuals that are available there. Also, don't underestimate the vast amount of information available free of charge on the Internet. You can do an Internet search for your specific issue to be directed to countless blogs and forums for specific makes and models of cars. On some sites, you even can ask questions and get responses from experts who enjoy helping out their fellow forum members. As for a specific online resource, check out http://autorepair.about.com. You're a brave woman, and I wish you the best of luck in doing your own car repairs!

Do you have a question for Mary? E-mail her at [email protected], or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.