| You must never underestimate the value of having | | | | open at any one time. |
| good credit. You will definitely need your credit score in | | | | 4. Maintain available credit on your open accounts. |
| the future. For example if you are a student, you'll need | | | | 5. Request a copy of your credit report at least once |
| to borrow a certain amount using a student loan in | | | | a year from each of the three national credit-reporting |
| order to attend school. At this point, your credit history | | | | agencies. |
| will definitely matter and will have a big impact on | | | | 6. Check your reports for errors. You must clear up |
| getting you the funds that you need. | | | | any errors that do appear in your report right away, |
| If you are applying for a student loan, your creditor or | | | | time is critical in this. |
| the lending institution will probably request a copy of | | | | 7. Don't open multiple accounts all at one time, |
| your credit report and the credit score, which comes | | | | especially if your credit history is not good. This tends |
| from an authorized credit-reporting agency. This will | | | | to look a bit risky to lenders because you are taking on |
| help identify your credit criteria and will determine if you | | | | a good deal of possible debt, all at once. |
| are qualified for a loan. And if you are, your credit | | | | 8. Remember that you must know how to prioritize |
| score will influence what interest rate you will be | | | | your needs. Leave those credit cards that are not |
| paying for the funds. | | | | needed aside for a while. Then after you have |
| You must be able to demonstrate good credit to be | | | | recovered from all the other debts, you can add these |
| approved by most of the private student loans. This | | | | cards back into your wallet. The new accounts will |
| also applies to the loans you might need such as auto | | | | lower the average age of your account and this is |
| loans, business loans and mortgages. | | | | something that counts toward your FICO score. |
| Here's what you can do to keep your credit score high | | | | 9. Don't open accounts that are not necessary. They |
| and your credit good. | | | | will just be a burden. Even if you have a very high |
| 1. Make your payments prompt and timely. Make sure | | | | income, you can still encounter some difficulties. |
| that you don't miss any deadline. | | | | 10. Make sure that you don't close accounts with the |
| 2. Pay the minimum monthly payments. This will repair | | | | thought that the account will be removed from your |
| your credit score remarkably. | | | | record. That will not help at all. Closing accounts can |
| 3. Limit the number of credit card accounts you have | | | | sometimes even hurt your score. |