Improve Your Credit Score By Using Credit
The title of this article sounds outlandish but using a credit card in the particular way mentioned in this article may actually help your credit score. Having a good credit score gives you the opportunity for loan and credit card applications to get approved and being charged lower interest rates on those loans. So it’s worth doing what you can to make sure you have a good one.
Credit agencies want to see that you repay your credit on time and that you are dependable with credit (35% of your credit score is based on payment history). One of the ways to show them this is to make use of some type of credit where they can see you using it and repaying it on when it’s due each month. Obtaining a credit card or store card and using it regularly is one way to accomplish this. By using it for a period of at least 6 months, you get the benefit of a good payment history showing up on your credit report.
A good way to start is to get yourself a credit card or a store card with a capped credit amount of say $500. If you are concerned about getting approved for one, you could obtain a secured credit card. You leave a set amount of money as a deposit with the bank, say $500, and that is used as collateral against the credit card. So the bank has the money in case repayments are not met. You treat this card just like an ordinary credit card including repaying the amount owed by the due date.
You then start using the card for smallish purchases that you can easily pay back with a month – by the due date printed on the monthly statement. The best way to use it is each month pay for something that you can afford with your credit card. Then pay the cash you would have used to pay for the item back to your credit card by the date it is due. In this way you are regularly using the credit card and paying it back on time each month. This is what will build a good payment history for you.
Please don’t be foolish and go on a spending binge with this credit card and get yourself into debt. That is not the reason for getting the card. You want to establish a good repayment history which will positively affect your credit score, so keep the items you charge within your budget so the credit card can be repaid in full each month. By using the card in this manner you will achieve your aim of an improved credit score.
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August 19, 2010
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Posted by Linda Knox
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