: Keep your balances below 30% of your total limit. For a "power move," aim for under 10%.
Are you looking to on your report, or are you trying to reach a certain score for a big purchase like a home? yourcreditgoals
: If you see a late payment that wasn't actually late, or an account you didn't open, dispute it immediately with the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). : Keep your balances below 30% of your total limit
: If you have a family member with a high-limit, low-balance card and a perfect history, being added as an authorized user can "piggyback" their good habits onto your report. : If you see a late payment that
: A higher score means paying thousands of dollars less over the life of a mortgage or car loan.
: Use sites like AnnualCreditReport.com to get your official reports.
: Use credit to pay for your lifestyle. High-tier cards offer travel points and cashback, essentially paying you to spend money you were going to spend anyway.