Credit Management

Credit Basics

Understanding your credit score is key to good financial health
Written byTeam Remynt
PublishedJune 15, 2022
credit card guy

When it comes to credit, there are a few key things you should keep in mind in order to maintain a good score. FICO scores are calculated using five factors: payment history (35%), credit utilization (30%), credit age (15%), mix of credit types (15%), and new credit (five percent). Of these, payment history and credit utilization are the most important in terms of maintaining a good score.

Your credit utilization—or the amount of credit you're using compared to your credit limit—should ideally be below 30%. This means that if you have a credit limit of $1000, you should keep your balance below $300.

Payment history is self-explanatory—it's simply whether or not you pay your bills on time. It's important to remember that even one late payment can negatively impact your credit score, so it's crucial to make payments by the due date.

Credit age is the length of time you've been using credit. Longer credit history is generally better than a shorter one, so it's important to keep old accounts open even if you're not using them.

The mix of credit types is the variety of different types of credit you have, such as credit cards, student loans, auto loans, etc. It's generally good to have a mix of different types of credit, as it shows that you're a responsible borrower.

Finally, new credit is the number of new credit accounts you've opened recently. It's generally best to open new credit accounts only as needed, as too many can be a red flag to lenders.Following these tips will help you maintain a good credit score:

  • Pay your bills on time

  • Keep your credit utilization below 30%

  • Keep old credit accounts open

  • Have a mix of different types of credit

  • Open new credit accounts only as needed

By following these tips, you can ensure that you have a good credit score, which will in turn make it easier to get loans and lines of credit in the future. By following these credit card tips, you can avoid high-interest credit card debt. While interest rates are often tied to rate increases of the Federal Reserve, meaning interest rates may periodically increase, many card issuers will increase interest rates for missed payments, even assessing a penalty APR (annual percentage rate). Other things to remember when dealing with interest rates:

  • Understand interest rates, late fees, and other penalties.

  • Read the terms and conditions of your credit card agreement

  • Beware of teaser rates

  • Understand grace periods

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your credit score remains high and keep your debt and interest rates low. Remember, your credit score is important—it can impact your ability to get a loan, rent an apartment, or even get a job. So it's worth taking the time to understand and manage your credit.