A good credit score is not luck. It is a few habits, repeated. Here is what actually keeps mine healthy:
- Pay every bill on time
(Late payments and collections do the most damage to your score, so automate them if you can.) - Check your credit regularly
(Review your report often and dispute any inaccuracies with the credit bureaus right away.) - Manage your debt
(Watch your credit utilization and review your statements through online banking on a schedule.) - Build credit history
(Show you can use credit responsibly: keep older accounts open and always pay at least the minimum on time.) - Avoid too many inquiries
(A cluster of applications in a short window signals risk to lenders and can pull your score down.)