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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

By Len Penzo

how to improve your credit scoreA low credit score can affect your life in more ways than you might think – which is why it’s important to maintain the highest score possible. Of course, everybody wants to know how to improve their credit score. If your credit score is less than optimal, here are the most effective ways to help you increase that number:

Review your credit report

Look for and report any errors to TransUnion, Experian and Equifax.

Be responsible

Payment history is the most important facet of your credit score – so always pay those bills on time!

Get additional credit cards

Doing this will increase your total available credit limit, which increases your score.

Maintain a low credit utilization ratio

Owning a large number of credit cards only helps your credit score when you under-utilize them. If possible, never use more than 30% of your total available credit – and if you can keep it to 15%, even better!

Raise your credit limit

You can also keep your credit utilization ratio low by asking your credit card lenders to raise your credit limit – just don’t go out and use it!

Don’t close existing cards

Closing a card lowers your available credit, which lowers — you guessed it — your credit utilization ratio.

Photo Credit: GotCredit

4 Comments January 1, 2026

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Comments

  1. 1

    Thomas Ziegler says

    I pay cash and my score keeps declining!

    Reply
    • 2

      Xyz from Financial Path. says

      You are much better paying on credit and then repaying your credit card in full.

      Reply
  2. 3

    Ashley says

    Informative write up to improve on credit score, though it has been surveyed that maximum of the people are struggling to make their finances better & at the same making their credit history a better one, so that they can easily apply for loans. But applying our common sense added with proper budgeting helps in dealing any financial challenges with ease.

    Reply
  3. 4

    Karen E Kinnane says

    Thomas Z, You are sabotaging your own credit score. Get a United Airlines credit card (My favorite card) and sign up for their Mileage Plus club which is free. OR SIGN UP FOR ANY OTHER CREDIT CARD. Charge everything for which you would normally pay cash and then TWICE A MONTHGO ONLINE AND PAY OFF THE BALANCE FROM YOUR SAVINGS. Never buy an item unless you have the cash to pay for it. Pay off the card twice a month in advance, pay the balance in full each time so you never pay interest. WATCH YOUR CREDIT SCORE CLIMB TO DIZZYING HEIGHTS.

    Reply

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