| If your credit score is on the lower side, you are not | | | | difference between how much you owe and how |
| alone. More than 30 million Americans have a credit | | | | much you have available. The bigger the difference |
| score under 620, which is considered to be pretty low. | | | | the better your score. |
| Most mortgage companies have a requirement that | | | | 3. Try to use your credit cards as infrequently as |
| your credit score should be at least 620 in order to get | | | | possible. Even if you are paying your balance in full |
| a loan. So what if you are in desperate need of a loan | | | | every month, racking up your balances really hurts |
| or are dying to get a mortgage? Yes, you need to | | | | your credit score. Use debit cards or cash whenever |
| improve your credit score as soon as possible. | | | | possible and use credit cards only for the |
| Here are four proven ways how you can raise your | | | | emergencies. |
| credit score instantly. | | | | 4. Use your old charge card once in awhile. If you have |
| 1. Pay off your credit cards, or at least some of them | | | | an old card which you haven't been using, it is a good |
| as soon as possible. If you are having trouble coming | | | | idea to get it out of the back of your wallet and make |
| up with extra money to put towards your credit debt, | | | | a couple of small purchases on it once every couple |
| consider putting less towards your other debts (make | | | | of months. If you have a card which you didn't use for |
| sure you cover the minimum though) and concentrate | | | | a long time, lenders may stop updating your accounts |
| on your credit cards. | | | | at the credit bureaus. This will technically shrink your |
| 2. Check your credit cards limits and see if you can | | | | credit card total limit, which may hurt your score. Make |
| raise them. This is not done, so you would have more | | | | sure you write down all the purchases you are making |
| temptation to spend money which you do not have. | | | | with these cards, because the last thing you want is a |
| This is done, because the lenders are looking at the | | | | late fee charge on a card you forgot about. |