how to not give a fuckincrease credit score
nobody thinks about their credit score until they want to buy a house, lease a car, or rent an apartment and suddenly that three-digit number decides their future. by then it's too late to fix it quickly. the time to build credit is now — before you need it.
why credit matters even if you hate the system
yes, the credit system is imperfect. yes, it sucks that a number determines your financial trustworthiness. but raging against the system while having a 580 score isn't rebellion — it's self-sabotage. you can disagree with how the game works and still play it well.
a good credit score means lower interest rates, better rental options, more negotiating power, and thousands of dollars saved over your lifetime. ignoring it doesn't make you principled. it makes you unprepared.
the basics that most people ignore
your credit score is built on five factors:
- payment history (35%) — pay every bill on time. every single one. set up autopay and never think about it again
- credit utilization (30%) — keep your balance below 30% of your limit. below 10% is even better
- length of credit history (15%) — keep your oldest accounts open even if you don't use them
- credit mix (10%) — having different types of credit (card, loan, etc.) helps
- new inquiries (10%) — stop applying for every store credit card. each application dings your score
what to do this week
- check your credit score for free (credit karma, your bank's app, annualcreditreport.com)
- dispute any errors you find — this alone can boost your score significantly
- set up autopay on every account
- if your utilization is high, call your card company and request a credit limit increase (this lowers your ratio without paying anything off)
the long game
good credit takes years to build and seconds to destroy. one missed payment can drop your score 100 points. but consistent, boring, responsible behavior compounds over time into a number that opens doors. this is one of the rare areas where being boring pays off — literally.
start today. future you will be grateful.
if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.