[Redacted by author / uncivil]. How the fuck do you know that he's living beyond his means? Or that he lives in South Texas?
I agree that unless he's in dire circumstances, he should pay off the ticket. And yes, a credit score in the 400s is pretty awful. From a strategic perspective, he should do it in order to have one less thing to worry about. However, I don't know the OP and have no idea what his financial constraints are. I do know that life is very (and unfairly) difficult for some people, and moralizing as if it were all their fault is ridiculous.
I agree that unless he's in dire circumstances, he should pay off the ticket. And yes, a credit score in the 400s is pretty awful. From a strategic perspective, he should do it in order to have one less thing to worry about. However, I don't know the OP and have no idea what his financial constraints are. I do know that life is very (and unfairly) difficult for some people, and moralizing as if it were all their fault is ridiculous.