Practical Tips to Responsibly Manage Credit Cards & Maintain a Good Credit Score

Article by New Credit Applications

A good credit score can be maintained by following practical tips that will allow you to responsibly manage credit. Maintaining a good credit score and managing credit cards responsibly will afford you the future you desire. Without good credit you can not obtain a credit card, a car loan, or a mortgage. Having credit cards is a responsibility that will make or break your credit score.

Practical tips in establishing good credit card habits and being credit worthy are often not discussed enough with teenagers who leave home for college before they take on the responsibility of managing credit cards. What are some practical tips that will enable college students to responsibly manage credit cards and maintain a good credit score? There are 5 practical tips listed below that will help you to responsibly manage credit cards, and maintain a good credit score thereby boosting your credit worthiness.

Practical Tip #1 – BEGIN BY ESTABLISHING CREDIT

Compare credit cards on line, and choose one that has a low APR, and one that does not charge you an annual fee. Until you get the hang of responsibly managing credit only open two necessary credit cards to establish credit, and to maintain a good credit score. Learn how to manage two accounts simultaneously before opening additional lines of credit. Remember credit is a privilege, and a responsibility that should be responsibly managed.

Practical Tip #2 – PAY YOUR CREDIT CARD ON TIME EVERY MONTH

Missing a credit card payment or even being late on a credit card payment is not an option nor is it responsibly manage credit. If you intend to maintain a good credit score, than you must make your credit card payments on time every month. Missing a credit card payment can also negatively affect your good credit score, and it can stay on your credit report for seven years. It’s very important to be responsible by not allowing any negative marks to appear on your credit report if you want a good credit score.

Practical Tip #3 – WATCH YOUR EXPENDITURES

Responsibly managing credit cards and maintaining a good credit score includes watching your expenditures. As a rule of thumb it is generally a good idea not to charge your credit card for anything that you will not have when the credit card statement arrives. Managing credit responsibility will help you develop a thinking pattern to decide which credit card purchases are necessary. The exception to this rule is using your credit card for a specific bill you must pay each month anyway such as your car insurance. Not buying anything above what you already have to pay for monthly expenditures will build your credit and improve your credit score.

Practical Tip #4 – RAISE YOUR CREDIT LIMIT

As you continue to responsibly manage your credit cards on time most companies will allow you to request a credit card limit increase. Every credit card company and terms of each credit card is different. Some credit card companies will allow you to raise your credit limit by every 3 months, as others will only allow you to raise your credit limit annual. So keep in touch with your credit card company and find out what their terms are for raising your credit limit. As soon as you are able to raise your credit limit do so. This is to your advantage. The higher amount of credit you have available with the lowest mount of overall credit usage will significantly raise your credit score. Increasing your credit limit on a credit card is like applying for new credit only not being punished for having any additional credit inquiries added to your credit report.

Practical Tip #5 – ADD NEW LINES OF CREDIT

Once you’ve mastered responsibly managing credit cards and maintaining a good credit score than you can begin to open a new line of credit, but do so should only be done as the need arises. For example if you have to make a major purchase like a washer and dryer or a refrigerator, applying for a new line of credit to make this purchase maybe the only way for you to afford the item. Remember though you should pay the item off as quickly as possible so your debt to available credit ratio declines and thereby increases your good credit score once again. Adding new lines of credit responsibly does not afford you the opportunity to buy items on credit that you don’t need, or to go on a shopping spree when you can’t afford to do so. Also when adding new lines of credit you should remember to do so only once or twice a year as too many credit inquiries on your credit report will drop your good credit score.

Following the 5 credit tips above is a sure way for you to develop good credit habits and ultimately developing the best credit score you can. To responsibly manage credit cards and maintain a good credit score begin by establishing credit. Compare credit cards online at http://easycreditapp.newcreditapplications.com/, and choose the credit card that fits who you are. Most credit card applicants are approved instantly!

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