My credit score is now at a high of 748 according to Credit Karma, though when they ran my numbers for my latest big purchase, it was 803.
How have I managed to raise my credit score this high at only the age of 29?
Well, it’s been a lot of work and discipline to get my credit score to ‘excellent’.
According to data from Business Insider, the average credit score of a 29 year old is around 690, with the average score in the U.S. being around 717.
If you credit score isn’t exactly where you would like for it to be, don’t worry; I’m sharing tips that helped me raise my score throughout the years.
The cool thing is that no matter what your age is, these tips will help you bump your points in no time.
You might have a few questions, like — why your credit score recently dropped, or if you credit score will decrease if you check it.
Often times, your credit score might drop if you financed a large purchase, such as a car or a home.
If you recently took out a loan for school or financed a lot of home improvement items to furnish your home, you may also expect your credit score to drop.
However, it’s important to remember that these drops are usually always temporary and tend to go back up as you pay down your accounts.
How about the myth that checking your credit score causes it to drop?
Is there any merit to this?
Based on my personal finance experience, checking my credit score has never caused my points to dwindle.
By now you’re likely wondering — how do I raise my credit score?
Below is a list of things that have worked for me over the years to raise and maintain a high credit score.
How To Raise And Maintain A High Credit Score
- Make On-Time Payments in Full — making on-time payments in full is the #1 way you can raise your current credit score to reach excellent and above.
Tip: Don’t view your credit card(s) as free money.
Your credit cards are a tool to help you increase your credit score by showing lenders you are responsible with access to capital.
Don’t ever use a credit card if you can’t pay it in full when the money you have in your debit card or bank account.
This mental shift and perspective of what a credit card is actually for, will take your personal finance to the next level.
- Keep The Number of Open Accounts Low — creditors see having many open credit lines as a red flag. Keep the number of accounts you have open low to increase your credit score.
Tip: The average American has up to 4 credit cards — Limit how many accounts you have open by closing one or two to build trust with your lenders.
I personally only use my American Express, which now has a line of credit of up to $20,000.
I only use the AMEX for my business expenses, and very small personal expenses such as fuel or groceries to collect points (discounts).
The reason why my AMEX credit has grown is because I have not paid lenders $1 in interest — see, they want me to make more purchases.
So, after many months of making on-time payments, the company gradually increases my line of credit.
This is where discipline comes into play — remember, your credit card is not free money and you should only spend what you can afford to fully pay off on time.
- Be Patient — growing your credit score takes time.
Tip: Be patient when it comes to your personal finances.
By making full payments on time, keeping the number of accounts you have open low, and by being patient, you will raise you credit score in no time.
In my new Personal Finance Strategies segment, I will be going over ways to help you lower your debt, how to increase your income, practical advice on budgeting while still being able to enjoy the things you love, and more.
If you gained value from this piece, leave me a comment below.
Let others know what you’re doing to improve your personal finances and how your journey to raising your credit score is coming along.
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About My Personal Finance Journey
Personal finance has allowed me to build the life I’ve always dreamed of.
Thanks to the wisdom and knowledge I’m going to be sharing with you, I’ve been able to provide a safe financial environment for my family, and truly live my best life while eliminating unnecessary stress.
My personal finance has a balance between a great defense, and an aggressive offense consisting of:
- Building your net worth brick by brick as the ultimate defense.
- And increasing your income as the ultimate offense.
Be sure to stick around to see how these two strategies have allowed me to change the environment I live in, have enough capital to weather any storm, and even treat myself and my family to a few awesome luxuries.
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