Smart Credit Habits That Pay Off
Having bad credit sucks. And a lot of the time, it's not necessarily your fault. Credit fraud can destroy your credit, for instance. People who haven't had a lot of debt or haven't taken out loans also won't have much credit history, resulting in a pretty poor credit score.
Don't worry—good credit habits are something you can start practicing today. Here are the ones that matter most.
The Habits at a Glance
- Pay off your credit card at the end of each month
- Don't miss payments on cards or loans
- Keep the number of credit cards you carry manageable
- Only borrow what you can afford
Pay Off Your Balance
One of the best credit habits is to completely pay off your credit card at the end of every month. If this isn't possible, then consider designating your credit card for only essential bills like utilities, groceries, and gas. Try to keep what you owe below 30% of your credit limit if completely paying off your credit card isn't something that you can do reliably.
Do Not Miss Payments
Missing a payment here or there isn't great, but it's not the end of the world. Consistently missing payments is terrible. Timely payments show lenders that you are responsible and that they will get the money owed to them if they were to lend to you. Prioritize making your payments on time, every time—according to FICO's published breakdown, payment history is the single biggest factor in computing your credit score.
Have Only a Few Cards
If you don't have a credit card, get one, and only one. If you have multiple cards, try consolidating them. Pay off cards with low balances and either stop using them altogether or cancel them. If you have more than three credit cards, you may be shooting yourself in the financial foot.
Need a Car, But Have Bad Credit?
Here at OK Carz, we work with all credit situations through The OK Carz Finance Solution—bad credit, no credit, we welcome your application. All we need are three simple documents to get started: verifiable income, a valid U.S. driver's license, and proof of Florida residence. And our in-house financing reports your payments to all three major credit bureaus, so every timely payment you make becomes a positive entry in your record. Apply for pre-approval online at okcarz.com—it takes less than 2 minutes—or ask about trading in your old vehicle.
All financing is subject to approval and verification of income, identity, and Florida residency. See dealer for details.
OK Carz – Anything Else is NOT OK.