Building good credit can seem daunting, but there are strategies to improve your credit, some of which can work in as little as a month. Many people improve their credit score through time-tested methods such as making timely payments and keeping credit utilization low. However, there are other paths worth exploring.
One of the first steps to improving your credit score is ensuring that your credit reports are accurate. In 2013 a study illustrated that 25% of individuals had errors on their credit reports, often negatively impacting their credit scores. Credit reports can be checked for free once per week with the three principal credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, ensuring any errors can be disputed and corrected in due time.
Credit monitoring services can assist in this, tracking credit changes and providing alerts for any new entries on credit reports. While some services may cost, others are accessible for free.
Managing your payments effectively is another key strategy. The largest influencing factor on your credit score is your payment history, accounting for 35% of it. Therefore, making payments on time is crucial. Turning on autopay for your bills can assist in avoiding late fees or missed payments. The sooner overdue bills are paid, the less your credit score will be negatively impacted.
Paying off credit card debt is another effective method of improving your credit score quickly. This hinges on your credit utilization ratio - the proportion of your total credit limit that is utilized. The less used, the better. If you can reduce this ratio by paying down debt or raising your credit limit, you can significantly improve your credit score.
Careful application for credit is crucial as every hard credit inquiry can knock a few points off your credit score. Therefore, only apply when necessary and particularly consider the impact before applying for large loans such as a mortgage.
The length of your credit history also influences your credit score, accounting for roughly 15%. Therefore, keeping old credit cards open can extend your credit history. Similarly, becoming an authorized user on a trusted person’s credit card can add their credit history to your credit report.
For those with bad credit or those new to credit, options are available. Secured credit cards require a security deposit for approval, granting approval for lower credit scores. These cards can later be upgraded, refunding your deposit.
Although regular bill payments do not usually contribute towards building credit, services like Experian Boost or TransUnion’s TruVision Resident Credit can include these payments on your credit reports with landlord cooperation.
Damage to credit from serious issues can take a while to recover from, up to seven or ten years. However, for minor infractions, recovery may take only a few months. Fastest credit repair strategies include paying down credit card debt, becoming an authorized user on a well-managed card, and challenging erroneous marks on credit reports.
Overall, understanding how credit works is crucial to rebuilding and maintaining strong credit. Learn about your credit scores to effectively strategize and improve your financial future.