Good credit doesn’t happen simply from snapping your fingers.   There’s no quick solution for fixing your credit score overnight.  However, there are tips out there that can help you build your credit score slowly.  It’s all about knowing the right actions and staying consistent. Here are some of the most effective ways to get started improving your credit.

Check Your Credit Score Regularly 

The first thing that you’ll need to do is to see where you’re starting from — getting an idea of what kind of a score you currently have is important so that you know what improvements you need to make.

Look through your report and see if you have any debts in collections.  Make sure you have a clear picture of what you’ll need to handle.  Get rid of any outstanding debts and pay off any late payments. It may seem overwhelming at first; however, if you work gradually at knocking off one step at a time, eventually your score will start to improve,

Lower Your Credit Card Utilization

One of the biggest impacts on your credit score is how much credit you have available vs. how much you are using.  You should lower your credit card utilization as much as possible to improve your score.

Most experts recommend using 30% or less of your total allowed credit. Using more looks back to creditors since they may think you’re in over your head in debt.

Ask For a Credit Increase

If you always pay your bills by the due date, then you may be eligible for an increased credit limit.  If your credit is increased, it will lower your utilization, which will increase your score.

However, make sure that you don’t abuse this privilege.  Use it as a tool to improve your score, not to rack up more credit card debt!  You should also make sure to double check with your credit card company that they won’t perform a hard credit pull which could result in lowering your score. That’s the opposite of what you want to happen.

Make 2 Payments In a Billing Cycle

One of the best tricks out there for people who can’t pay their balance in full during a single cycle is to make two payments in a month.  Making two payments will lower your balance and show that you’re actively making payments.

Consider Talking To a Professional

If your debt is beyond being manageable on your own, then you should consider talking to a professional about how they can help.  There are a variety of tactics out there to help people who are under a mountain of debt.

Credit repair companies are there to help people who need guidance on their debt.