It’s no secret that credit scores are important. To get a mortgage, car loan, or any other type of financing for your home or vehicle, you need to have a high enough score not to raise suspicion with the lending company. A low credit score can also affect your ability to rent an apartment and even find employment during the hiring process. So what do you do if your credit score isn’t where you want it? Here are some easy ways to boost your credit score:
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Keep Balances Low On All Accounts
To have a high credit score, you must be using less than 30% of your available credit at all times. Doing this shows that you are responsible with the money that is available to borrow and demonstrates good faith with creditors. A low balance tells them that they will probably get back what they loaned if something happens where you can no longer make payments on time or in full. This is why it’s important to keep balances low on all of your accounts.
Get A Secured Credit Card
A great way to start rebuilding a bad credit score is by getting a secured credit card. With this type of card, you have to put down a security deposit that will be your credit limit. This is an excellent way to show creditors that you are serious about improving your score and also teaches you how to use a credit card responsibly. Make sure you always pay the statement balance in full and on time each month so that your good behavior is rewarded with positive marks on your report.
Use A Debt Reduction Calculator
If you’re having trouble keeping track of where all your money is going every month, then it’s probably time to use a debt reduction calculator. This tool will help you determine how much money is going towards interest and show exactly where you can make cuts to free up some extra cash every month. By figuring out your biggest expenses and eliminating unnecessary costs, you’ll be able to quickly pay off high-interest accounts, which will greatly improve your credit score over time.
Ask For Higher Credit Limits
A higher credit limit is an easy way to boost your credit score. Credit scores are based on the available credit you have in your name, not how much you actually use. That means that asking for higher limits on existing accounts will help improve your score since it shows creditors that you know how to manage money and handle more responsibility without going overboard. Just make sure you don’t max out any of these cards either, or it will end up hurting rather than helping your score.
Always Pay Bills On Time
This one is a no-brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning. One of the biggest things that hurt your credit score is having late payments reported on your credit history. Paying your bills on time tells lenders that you’re not responsible with money and could be a riskier investment than someone who always pays their bills on time. If you know you’re going to have trouble making a payment by the due date, try to set up a reminder or automatic payment so that you never miss a deadline.
Get Credit For Paying Rent And Utility Payments
Believe it or not, one of the ways to boost your credit score is by getting credit for paying rent and utility payments. This is a newer addition to the FICO scoring model and could work in your favor if you’re diligent about making these payments on time each month. Keep in mind that this only works if you’re using a service like RentTrack or PayLease, which will report your payment history directly to the credit bureaus. These services are free to use, so there’s no reason not to take advantage of them if you want to improve your credit score.
Try Becoming An Authorized User
Another way to improve your credit score is by becoming an authorized user on someone else’s account. It can be a friend or family member with a good payment history who handles money responsibly. By piggybacking off of their excellent credit history, you’ll see your own score go up over time. Just make sure the account holder is paying on time each month so that your credit report stays clean!
Conclusion
By boosting your credit score, you’ll be able to qualify for bigger loans and better interest rates on those loans. This will make it easier for you to own a home or other property if that’s something you’ve been dreaming about doing in the future. There are plenty of easy ways to boost your credit score without having to do a lot of work. By following the tips listed in this article, you’ll be on your way to improving your credit rating in no time!
