7 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score Fast

Your credit score is like your financial report card—it can impact everything from getting a loan to renting an apartment, and even landing a job. A higher score can open the door to better rates, terms, and more opportunities, while a lower one might make things a bit trickier. But don’t worry—building your credit can be pretty straightforward if you follow a few simple tips.

Pay your bills on time

Your payment history plays a big role in determining your credit score. Missing even one payment can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years, which can hurt your score.

To prevent this, you might want to consider setting up automatic payments for at least the minimum amount each month. Setting calendar reminders is another great way to ensure you never miss a payment. By staying on top of your payments, you can keep building your credit and avoid those pesky late fees. Just be sure to check and see that your automatic payments are going through as planned to avoid any surprises.

Apply for a secured credit card

If you're just getting started with building credit or trying to improve your score, a secured credit card might be a good move. Basically, you put down a deposit, which becomes your credit limit. Then, if you use the card wisely and pay off the balance each month, it helps you build up your credit.

Once your score is looking better, you might be able to qualify for an unsecured card, which may come with perks like cashback rewards and doesn’t require an initial deposit.

Pay down your debt

Your credit score is also heavily influenced by your credit utilization. It’s basically how much of your available credit you're using. The general advice is to keep that number under 30% of your total limit. So, if you’ve got a $6,000 limit and your balance is $600, that’s a 10% credit utilization ratio./ If you’re dealing with high credit balances, try focusing on paying them down with strategies like snowball or avalanche approach. Not only will this help boost your credit score, but it can also help you save you money on interest.

Use different types of credit

Having a mix of credit, like credit cards and installment loans, might be able to give your score a nice boost. It shows to lenders that you can juggle different forms of credit responsibly.

For example, if you're just starting out, you might want to apply for a starter or secured credit card and a credit builder loan. Just make sure you can manage any new credit wisely to keep your financial health in check.

Be selective with new credit applications

Whenever you apply for credit, a hard inquiry usually shows up on your credit report. Having too many of these at once may lower your score. Lenders do a hard inquiry when you apply for things like a car loan or a credit card to check your credit history.

To protect and build your score, only apply for new credit when you really need it, and try to get prequalified first. Pre-qualification uses a soft credit check, so it won’t impact your score. Plus, it gives you an idea of whether you’re likely to be approved and what terms you might get.

Challenge incorrect details on your credit report

Mistakes on your credit report can drag down your score, so it's a smart move to regularly check your reports from the 3 major bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You can get a free copy of your credit report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you spot any errors, like missed payments or fraudulent accounts, be sure to dispute them right away. Fixing these mistakes may help give your score a nice little boost.

Get added as an authorized user

Getting added as an authorized user on someone else's credit card is another great way to build your credit. This works best if the primary cardholder has good credit habits. When they do, their positive credit history can help build yours.

Just be sure that the card issuer reports authorized user accounts to the credit bureaus.

Taking charge of your credit score

Building your credit score doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these tips, you can quickly make a difference. Just remember, building good credit is a marathon, not a sprint—so stick with it and stay consistent.