5 Pitfalls to Avoid If You’re Trying to Improve Your Credit Score

Are you going to take out a loan? Do you want to apply for another credit card? If so, your credit score can increase your chances of getting your applications approved. You see, the credit score is a numerical value that tells lenders that you are good at handling your finances. It also tells them that, well … you’re good at paying debts.

A good credit score is something that you can be proud of, as most people nowadays tend to have a mediocre score. If you happen to have a bad credit score — that is, below 600 — then you need to read on. Improving it is a good thing to do, but here are some of the common pitfalls to avoid when you’re doing it:

Late Payments

If you have multiple debts and you’re having trouble paying them, this could have a negative impact on your credit score.Late payments can reflect on your credit history over time and this could drastically drop your score. The best thing you can do is to list down all of your debts in order; ranking them based on the earliest due date. Then ensure you make at least the minimum required payment every month to ensure that your credit score is going up, not down.

Closing Accounts

It is a common thing to close down some of your accounts, especially if you’re not using them. However, this can reflect negatively on your credit. For example, if you have a credit card that you’re not using and you’re planning on closing that account, that could potentially drop your score down by a few points. Instead of completely closing it, use it to make small payments. Doing this will improve your credit.

Applying for Multiple Loans

If you need money, you might need some loans. However, the common mistake people make when they’re planning to take out a loan is that they apply to a lot of financial institutions. This might seem like a good thing, but it actually isn’t. You see, when applying for multiple loans, you run the risk of letting the lenders perform hard inquiries which could negatively affect your credit score. So when applying for loans, keep it to a maximum of three.

Maxing Your Credit Card

Credit card companies offer a maximum ceiling so that you do not overspend. However, even though this limit is in place, it is still not a good practice to max out your credit card every month. If you want to use your credit card to make purchases, it’s best that you only use no more than 50% of your set total limit. Of course, there are other options available when it comes to paying for things; some people may even consider a form of cash advance or even a personal loan.

Not Having a Budget

And lastly, one of the most common mistakes that people who want to improve their credit score do is to not budget their salaries. Having a solid budget can help you immensely because you will know how much money you’re spending in a given month. You will also know how much money you’re putting in the payment of your debts. Basically, a budget provides an overall plan on how you’re going to spend your monthly salary.

Conclusion

Your credit score is very important. It allows you to take out a loan, create a new credit card account, and it can even help you land a job. Yes, improving it may be difficult for some people — but it’s certainly not impossible.

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