How to improve credit is one of the the most asked questions in my adult classes. The 3 Cs of improving credit are an easy way to remember the steps you can take to get on your way to a better credit score.

Character:

Your score is most heavily impacted by your ability to pay your bills on time, or your credit character.
- Make sure to never miss or make a late payment, as it will affect your score extremely negatively.
- Your goal is to pay AT LEAST the minimum payment and IDEALLY the full balance on time every month.

Capacity:

You should aim to only use 25-30% of your total credit capacity. This means that if you have a credit limit of $1,000 you should not use more than $250-$300 dollars per month.
It is better to use a smaller percentage of your credit capacity than to over use, as it shows more restraint and a better ability to manage your finances.

Credit History:

If you have to choose between closing a card you’ve had for 10 years and a card you’ve have for 2 years, all else being equal you should close the newer card. Closing the older card will hurt your credit score by shortening your history from 10 years to 2 years. Another thing to remember; don’t open multiple store cards for the discounts they offer you – an influx of new