A good credit score can have a significant impact on your financial future, making it easier to get approved for loans, lower interest rates, and more favorable terms. While credit cards can be a convenient tool for everyday purchases, they can also quickly get you into debt if used irresponsibly. In this article, we will dive into how to use credit cards responsibly to build and maintain a good credit score.
What is a credit score and how is it calculated?
A credit score is a numerical representation of your creditworthiness. It is calculated based on a variety of factors including payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, types of credit accounts, and recent credit inquiries.
Payment history
Your payment history is a critical component of your credit score and accounts for 35% of your total score. Late or missed payments can have a significant impact on your credit score and remain on your credit report for 7 years.
Credit utilization
Credit utilization, or the amount of credit you are using compared to your total credit limit, accounts for 30% of your credit score. It’s important to keep your credit utilization below 30% to maintain a good credit score.
Length of credit history
The length of your credit history accounts for 15% of your credit score. Maintaining a long and consistent credit history can help increase your credit score over time.
Types of credit accounts
The types of credit accounts you have, such as credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages, also contribute to your credit score. It’s important to have a mix of different types of credit accounts to demonstrate that you are responsible with different types of credit.
Recent credit inquiries
Recent credit inquiries, or the number of times you have applied for credit in the past 12 months, make up 10% of your credit score. Excessive credit inquiries can have a negative impact on your credit score, so it’s important to limit the number of applications you make.
How to use credit cards responsibly to build and maintain a good credit score
Choose the right credit card
Choosing the right credit card can help you build and maintain a good credit score. Look for cards that offer rewards for responsible credit usage, such as cash back on purchases, or a low-interest rate.
Pay your bills on time
Paying your bills on time is critical to maintaining a good credit score. Late payments can have a significant impact on your credit score and remain on your credit report for 7 years. Consider setting up automatic payments to ensure you never miss a payment.
Keep your credit utilization low
Maintaining a low credit utilization rate, or using less than 30% of your total credit limit, is critical to maintaining a good credit score. High credit utilization can signal to lenders that you are overextended and at risk of defaulting on your debt.
Don’t close old credit cards
Closing old credit cards can have a negative impact on your credit score by reducing your length of credit history. If you don’t need an old credit card, simply cut it up and don’t use it, but keep it open to maintain the length of your credit history.
Monitor your credit report regularly
Monitoring your credit report regularly can help you identify and address any errors or fraudulent activity. You can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once per year.