It rises if you pay your bills on time, have one or two loans, keep your credit card balances low, have a stable record of credit use, keep your accounts open for a long time and avoid too many applications for new credit.

Your score lowers if you pay your bills late, have an excess or a lack of accounts, max out your credit cards or apply for a lot of new accounts.
It’s a lot to keep in mind, so if all else fails, take Weston’s advice: “Paying your bill off in full is the best way to keep your finances in shape and build your credit at the same time.”

3. Don’t have a credit card to build credit?
“There are a number of ways that consumers can establish credit,” says Levin. One way is to get a secured card. “If you deposit $2500, the bank will then issue you a secured credit card with a credit limit of $2500. The bank is guaranteed that you will not miss a payment because you have essentially prepaid for any amount you charge up to your limit,” he says. While you are building credit, and will eventually reach a high enough credit score to merit approval for an unsecured card, the deposit you’ve made on your secured card is off limits while in use.