Pay every bill on time
Keep credit card balances very low
Use less than 30% of your credit limits, ideally under 10%
Pay credit card statements in full each month
Never miss a payment
Keep old accounts open
Avoid opening too many new accounts at once
Limit hard credit inquiries
Check your credit reports regularly
Dispute any errors on your credit reports
Maintain a long credit history
Use a mix of credit types responsibly
Become an authorized user on a well-managed account
Keep unused cards open if they have no annual fee
Avoid maxing out any credit card
Pay down debt consistently
Set up autopay for at least the minimum payment
Ask for credit limit increases without increasing spending
Avoid closing your oldest accounts
Monitor your credit utilization across all cards
Keep balances low before statement closing dates
Build credit slowly and consistently
Be patient and maintain excellent habits over time