30-day action plan
- Turn on autopay (at least minimum payment) for every account.
- Lower utilization (aim under 30%, best under 10%).
- Check reports for errors (wrong late payments, accounts not yours).
- Stop new applications for a short period (reduce inquiries).
- Keep accounts open and stable (age matters).
Deep dives: How to Keep Utilization Low • Credit Monitoring Explained
Lower utilization (big impact)
Simple rules that work: timing, payments, and keeping balances controlled.
Avoid beginner mistakes
Common habits that quietly hurt your score (even when you pay on time).
Monitor and protect your credit
How monitoring works, what it catches, and how it helps you act early.
Build a stronger foundation
Sometimes the best “improvement” is building credit cleanly from scratch.
FAQ
What utilization should I aim for?
Under 30% is good. Under 10% is even better if you can keep it stable.
Should I close old credit cards to “clean up”?
Usually no. Closing old accounts can reduce your available credit and shorten average age. If a card has high fees and no value, consider product change or a careful plan before closing.
How fast can my score go up?
Some improvements (like utilization) can help within 1–2 reporting cycles. Bigger gains come from months of on-time payments and stability.