Credit scores impact many aspects of your life: whether you get a loan or credit card, what interest rates you pay, or whether you get an apartment you want so you can finally move out of your parent's house. The Changed App now allows you to track your credit score every day without affecting your credit.
Having a good credit score can help you:
● Get better offers on credit cards.
● Get preapproved for better mortgage loan terms.
● Landlords who have a strict policy on their tenants use these scores to differentiate you from other applicants.
Your credit score can range anywhere from 300 which is extremely poor to 850 which is very good. Borrowers with scores above 750 or so have many options, including the ability to qualify for 0% financing on cars and for credit cards with 0% introductory interest rates.
There are 5 factors that make up your credit score:
● Paying bills on time
● How much you owe
● Credit age
● Credit mix
● How recently you have applied for credit
The Changed App now allows you to track your credit score every day without affecting your credit.
Why should you regularly monitor your credit?
Regularly monitoring your credit score can help you maintain it and even improve and increase your credit score if it is lower than you'd like.
How can you improve your credit score?
If you have a credit score that is low, you can improve it by tackling and managing your debt. Reducing your debt to income ratio will help you get a higher credit score rating.
1. Pay your bills on time:
Paying your bills on time is 35% of your credit score. Your ability to make payments on time is essential to having a good credit score. If you have a mortgage, make your monthly payments on time without any delays. Pay your credit card balances in full each month. These types of payments are viewed more positively by credit bureaus than any other factor.
2. Prioritize paying off high-interest debts
Prioritize debts with high-interest rates because that puts you at the most risk of racking up more debt, thus hurting your credit score. By paying these debts off first, you are reducing your debt risk which will ultimately lead to a higher score.
3. Don’t let the small balances add up
If you have multiple debts on multiple credit cards, it's best to get those balances down to zero. You may think your credit score should be fine if you have only small debts. But if those small debts are on multiple credit cards, your score may be suffering.
4. Don’t ignore your past-due bills
If you have debts that are very late, it’s best to still pay back what you owe. This may not ultimately boost your credit score significantly right away. Prioritize the most recent past-due bills first.
5. Pay back the student loan debt
Paying off your student loans is often a smart decision because it reduces your debt-to-income ratio. Student debt is also not dischargeable in bankruptcy, which means, your wages could be garnished, i.e, court-ordered deductions taken from an employee's pay to satisfy a debt or legal obligation. The fact that you have a long history of making your loan payments on time will continue to help maintain your score, even after the debt is paid.
But it’s worth noting a debt payoff in this case could result in a change to your debt mix, thus impacting your score negatively. Student loans are considered installment loans, because you pay a fixed amount each month, while credit cards are a vehicle for revolving debt. Credit bureaus like to see both types in your file.
Will checking my own credit scores result in a hard inquiry?
No. This is reported as a soft credit check, so it won’t lower your scores. You can check your credit for free through the Changed App.
Unlike hard inquiries, soft inquiries won’t affect your credit scores. Since soft inquiries aren’t connected to a specific application for new credit, they’re only visible to you when you view your credit reports.
Having a good credit score can make a world of difference in how you live your life. It can open many financial doors for you.
To wrap things up, a good credit score is essential for financial success and stability. By following these simple steps, you can maintain a great credit score and enjoy the benefits of a positive credit history. The Changed App can help you track your score and automate debt repayment so that score keeps moving up and to the right!
Download the Changed app today!
