Credit score guides
Understand your credit score, raise it faster, and stop the myths from costing you points.
Your credit score affects your rent application, car loan rate, and mortgage eligibility. A difference of 100 points can mean paying thousands more in interest over a lifetime. Our guides explain exactly what moves the needle — and debunk the myths that cost people points.
What you'll learn in our credit score guides
Your credit score is a three-digit number that affects your mortgage rate, car loan APR, rental application approval, and sometimes even your job offer. A difference of 100 points between a 620 and 720 score can mean paying thousands more in interest over a car loan — and tens of thousands over a mortgage.
How your credit score is calculated
FICO scores — used in 90% of lending decisions — are calculated from five factors: payment history (35%), credit utilization (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit (10%). Our guides explain exactly what moves each factor and in what order to prioritize improvement.
Common credit score myths debunked
Carrying a small balance does not improve your score. Checking your own credit does not hurt it. Closing old credit cards usually hurts more than helps. Our guides separate what actually works from what sounds reasonable but isn't supported by how FICO scoring actually works.
Every credit guide tells you the same things. Here's what FICO research and CFPB data actually show — strategies ranked by point impact, not how easy they are to write about.
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