Your credit score is one of the most critical numbers in your life. It can affect your ability to get a loan, finance, or a job. The higher your credit score the better are your chances of borrowing money. So how can you improve your credit score? Before you venture into these details, know about them in detail.
A credit score is a three-digit number used to represent a person’s creditworthiness. It is calculated using information from a person’s credit report. Lenders use the credit score to determine whether a person deserves a loan.
There are many ways to improve your credit score. Some methods are given below:
- 1. Check Your Credit Report Regularly
- 2. Pay Your Bills on Time
- 3. Keep Your Credit Card Balances Low
- 4. Don’t Apply for Multiple Loans or Credit Cards at Once
- 5. Contact Your Creditors
- 6. Don’t Co-Sign a Loan for Someone Else
- 7. Get a Secured Credit Card
- 8. Don’t Cancel Old Credit Cards
- 9. Use Your Credit Card Wisely
- 10. Stay positive! A Good Credit Score is Within Reach
1. Check Your Credit Report Regularly
You should check your credit report at least once a year to ensure that the information is accurate. The best thing to do here is to request a copy of your credit report. You can get this for free from major credit bureaus once every 12 months. These primary bureaus include Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
2. Pay Your Bills on Time
Paying your bills on time is the most important thing you can do to improve your credit score. Late payments can cause your credit score to drop significantly. Your payment history makes up around 35% of your credit score. Save money, and put that money into debt-ridden cards. Do your best to clear outstanding balances in full before getting new cards.
3. Keep Your Credit Card Balances Low
If you have high credit card balances, it will lower your credit score. Try to keep your credit card balances below 30% of your credit limit. Keeping your credit card balances low will help improve your credit score. Credit utilization is the amount of debt you have divided by the amount of available credit. For example, if you have a credit limit of $1,000 and a balance of $500, your credit utilization would be 50%.
4. Don’t Apply for Multiple Loans or Credit Cards at Once
As long as you’re in credit repair mode, you should avoid making new credit applications. When you apply for a loan or a credit card, the lender will check your credit score. If you have too many inquiries on your credit report, it will lower your credit score. These make up 10% of your credit score. Opening many accounts in a short time can lead to a decrease in credit scores.
5. Contact Your Creditors
Contact your creditors and let them know if you’re having financial difficulties. They may be willing to work with you to help you get back on track. Creditors don’t want to see people go into debt, and they may be glad to help if you ask for their help. Many of them have a temporary hardship program that will help you get back on track.
If you alert them, they might develop an idea to devise a mutually beneficial agreement. You might be able to connect with a mortgage lender through them and pay off your debts with the help of your house. You can pay the money to the incumbent in easy installments.
6. Don’t Co-Sign a Loan for Someone Else
Co-signing a loan for someone else can be a risky proposition. If the person you co-sign for doesn’t make the payments, it will damage your credit score. If you’re thinking about co-signing for someone, make sure you trust the person entirely and that you’re confident they will make the payments on time.
7. Get a Secured Credit Card
A secured credit card is one of the best ways to improve your credit score. A secured credit card is a credit card that is backed by a deposit. If you default on the loan, the creditor can take the money from the guarantee. Secured credit cards are a great way to build your credit history. That is why these are available to people with bad credit or no credit history at all.
8. Don’t Cancel Old Credit Cards
Canceling old credit cards can hurt your credit score. That’s because your credit utilization will go up. The higher your utilization, the lower your credit score will be. Try to keep your old credit cards open, even if you don’t use them.
9. Use Your Credit Card Wisely
Credit cards can be a great tool to improve your credit score, but only if you use them wisely. One of the worst things you can do is max out your credit card. That will lower your credit score significantly. Another thing to avoid is using your credit card for cash advances.
10. Stay positive! A Good Credit Score is Within Reach
It would help if you had a positive bent of mind concerning borrowing. Stay within limits and be realistic with your spending. This will ease excess financial pressure from your head. Extra pressure can stress you and your life. It may lead to lousy borrowing habits.
These are a few ways to improve your credit score. You should ensure to follow the above steps to be financially secure and happy.
