Top 7 Ways to Maintain Your Credit Score

Table of contents

Great job building up your credit score! After all that hard work, you’re probably wondering how you can maintain your credit. Read below to learn more!

Key takeaways

  • Maintaining good credit is easier than repairing a low score.
  • Be strategic with credit usage to keep a high score.
  • Consider seeking advice from a reputable credit professional if having trouble.
  • Stay on top of credit activity and monitor credit report regularly.

1. Pay your bills on time

When it comes to late or missed payments, prevention is key to protecting your score. Paying bills on time won’t always boost your score, but any missed payments can hurt your score. Some late payments will stay on your credit history long after you’ve taken care of them. And you definitely don’t want any late payments going to collections, as this can do serious damage to your credit.

 

2. Check your credit report

You get a free credit report every year, so you should definitely take advantage of it. It’s recommended that you get a report from all three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion), because your score may vary between the three different bureaus. If you notice any errors on your credit report, consider reaching out to a credit professional before disputing them, especially if you’re in the process of applying for a loan.

 

3. Be on the lookout for unusual activity

Unfortunately, there are criminals out there who may try to steal your information. If your card is lost or stolen, report this immediately. Each month, you should review your billing statements so you can quickly catch any unusual activity. For online accounts that hold your card information, use strong passwords and keep those passwords safe. Avoid giving out any personal information over the phone, especially if you didn’t initiate the call.

 

4. Keep old credit cards open

As long as these cards aren’t costing you too much in annual fees, you’ll want to keep these accounts open. One of the factors affecting your credit score is the length of your credit history. Building up a credit history is good for establishing yourself as a low-risk borrower. Closing old credit cards can wipe the slate clean on this credit history.

 

5. Be careful when opening new credit accounts

In addition to your past credit history, new credit activity also affects your score. If you open several new accounts in a short period of time, this can make you look like a higher risk as a borrower. When protecting your credit, you want to avoid any activity that can be seen as impulsive.

 

6. Maintain a low credit card balance

After building up your credit, you probably know that keeping your credit card debt low is important. This is just a reminder to stay on top of it!

Remember, you want to keep your credit utilization low, preferably at 30% or less. So if, for example, you have a total credit limit of $1,000 across all your credit accounts, then you don’t want to rack up more than $300 in debt.

 

7. Look over your budget

Now that you’ve built up a high credit score, a great way to protect your credit is to prevent yourself from racking up too much debt. It’s possible that you’ve started to let your good spending habits slip a little. For example, you could be spending too much on subscriptions that you don’t use, or maybe you’ve been ordering take out a few too many times each month. Keep an eye on these minor expenses, because those small costs can easily add up on your monthly credit card bills.

 

The bottom line

It’s much easier to maintain good credit than it is to repair a low score. As long as you’re thoughtful and strategic with your credit usage, then keeping a high credit score shouldn’t be too difficult. However, if you’re having trouble, consider reaching out to a reputable credit professional for advice.

Jacquelyn Sublett
Jacquelyn Sublett

I love teaching and writing on real estate, finance and mortgage topics. I find it fulfilling hearing stories of first time home buyers who we have helped with the home buying process. Writer for the Hero Homebuyer Programs™

Connect with the Author:

Recommended Posts

What Our Buyers Think

Jules S.
Read More
"5 star service is what you will get when you work with him!ᅠ Not only does he know his product like no other, he makes a special point of communicating throughout each transaction and his follow up skills are unparalleled. Perhaps most importantly, he delivers on his promises!ᅠ Give him a try for your mortgage needs.ᅠ You will not be disappointed!"
Jeremy H.
Read More
"An outstanding job handling refinances.  One of those knowledgeable, straight-shooters - which is really appreciated when you're shopping for a home loan. He can answer a million of questions with ease.  Looking back at the responsiveness, he was outstanding and you can do everything he suggested."
Jaina D.
Read More
"You can rely on them, very professional and quick in responding to your queries. He is very friendly and makes sure we understand the process and keeps us posted on the status of our loan. His efforts are greatly appreciated."
Eshawn W.
Read More
“By far the best lender we’ve worked with. Got us the best loan amount than any other lender. He worked with us hand in hand, he is professional, and he made the process enjoyable.”
Jaina D.
Read More
"You can rely on them, very professional and quick in responding to your queries. He is very friendly and makes sure we understand the process and keeps us posted on the status of our loan. His efforts are greatly appreciated."
Cass Z.
Read More
“I called looking for information about the process of applying for a mortgage/refinance and am just blown away with how helpful the information I received was!”
Stephanie F.
Read More
“I have hope because of you for making my home ownership dream come true. I feel such a connection with you and am excited to work with you. Have an amazing day!”
Rachel S.
Read More
"Highly ethical, attentive and helpful! A fantastic combination of personable and hard working. He makes everyone feel important and understood."
Cliff S.
Read More
“Hands down the best mortgage professional I’ve worked with in 20 years. Knowledgeable, honest, reliable and above all an outstanding communicator.”
Jose A.
Read More
"He worked on getting the lowest rate and kept me informed on each step of the process from the beginning to closing. Thank You!"
Nicholas H.
Read More
“Thank you for your prompt help and AMAZING assistance. Hands down, best lender I have ever worked with. Top notch!”
Tiffany
Read More
“I would be 100% interested in working more with you! You have proven to be an amazing lender”
Sandy C.
Read More
“Absolutely the most knowledgeable, friendly and honest expert I’ve ever worked with!”
Steve R.
Read More
"A pleasure to work with. He was very prompt and courteous with his responses and genuinely cares about the clients he works with."
Kevin H.
Read More
"Professional, responsive and honest assistance with the whole refinancing process from beginning to end."
Previous
Next

We help you reach home ownership.

No catch. No hidden fees.

Have you served in the military or your community as a healthcare provider, teacher, or first responder? Are you a member of your local union or work for your city government?

Are you looking to buy a home but don’t know where to start when it comes to finding your best home financing options?

At Hero Home Programs™, our teams are dedicated to helping community heroes like you through the home purchasing process by finding the best grants, rebates, and loans in your area in order to maximize your savings and help you achieve homeownership.

Contact our team today to learn how we can and mortgages can change your life.

Resource Guides

Complete A to Z guides on your home purchase journey.

Learn about the process for getting a home loan

What steps you can take to improve your credit score

Tips and tricks for moving into your new home

Your step-by-step guide for buying a new home

Scroll to Top