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Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Need to Improve Your Credit Score? Knowing Where to Start

An excellent credit score can lead to more financial opportunities, such as buying a home or car, obtaining a job, taking vacations, starting a family, and more.

When accepting credit lines from banking and other financial institutions, the debt could be challenging to manage; however, credit management is necessary to avoid lowering your credit score. 

It is best to know where to start when you want to stay in good financial shape and keep your credit history stable.

Monitor Your Reports


Knowing what’s on your credit report allows you to verify what is accurate and untrue. If you notice suspicious charges, report these to your financial institution immediately. 

Your account information may be incorrect, or your identity could be stolen. You can watch out for any harmful activity and seek immediate assistance by monitoring your credit reports regularly.

Make On-Time Payments


One of the top reasons that credit scores decrease is missed payments. Therefore, it would be best to make your payments on time. It could help if you considered setting up automatic payments with your bank to avoid paying a mandatory charge. 

Doing so can ensure the bills are paid, and you don’t acquire additional fees or lower your credit score. You can also speak with your banking institution to learn more about scheduling monthly payments and ways to pay off debt; this includes professional companies like the Credit Union of Denver.



Do Not Apply for New Accounts


Most credit applications require you to agree to a hard inquiry that can lower your credit score. The query is often temporary because it stays on your record for potentially two years, and leaves an impact on your credit score for at least a year, maybe longer. 

If you wish to apply for new accounts, it would be best to try those that don’t require a credit check. In addition to pre-approval credit options, choosing applications that take up a soft query generally doesn’t hurt your credit score compared to the hard inquiry.

Pay Off Debt


Paying amounts larger than your monthly requirement could help lift your credit score, often quickly, depending on the creditor. Your incoming salary could also allow you to pay off debt faster. 

Do not overspend on monthly payments without proper planning and knowledge. Paying a more significant amount on your bills could cause you to spend money ahead of time and run into issues that impact your credit score. 

Another tip to consider when paying off debt is to avoid using your credit card after making the payments. This can boost your credit by eliminating debt instead of adding to it.

These tips can help you on the journey to improve your credit score. Ultimately, your choices will impact the score the most, so make monthly payments on time while budgeting and avoiding unnecessary expenses.



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