Learning how to improve your credit score doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s all about making smart, consistent moves with your finances. Here’s how you can take control and build a credit score that works for you, not against you:
Pay on time: Always pay your balance on time, or at least the minimum. Set up reminders or auto-pay to avoid missed payments.
Limit credit cards: Only open new cards when necessary to avoid multiple hard inquiries.
Goodwill letter: If you missed a payment for a valid reason, send a goodwill letter to your creditor. It might help remove late payments from your report.
Keep credit utilization low: Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit limit. Pay down debt or ask for a credit limit increase to lower your utilization.
Keep old cards open: Don’t close old accounts, even if you don’t use them.
Check your credit report: Review monthly for errors, and dispute inaccuracies to potentially raise your score.
Rent reporting services: Use services that report rent payments to credit bureaus to help build credit.
Credit builder loans: Consider credit builder loans to improve your credit history and your ability to pay on time.
Become an authorized user: Ask someone with good credit to add you to their card to benefit from their positive credit history.
Avoid co-signing loans: If the borrower misses payments, it will negatively affect your credit too. Only co-sign if you’re absolutely sure the borrower will make timely payments.
Improving your credit score takes time, but every small step adds up and can make a real difference in your financial future. Make sure to keep an eye on your credit report and score by checking through your bank or sites like TransUnion.