Here are some thoughts from Money Central on how to boost your score even if your credit score is already high. Their suggestions:
- Use credit sparingly.
- Use a small fraction of your available credit.
- Don't carry a wallet loaded with cards.
- Make every payment on time.
- View credit as a safety net.
- Look at your credit report.
Here's how I stack up on these:
1. I only use credit for budget expenses and pay them off every month.
2. The most I charge in a month is a couple thousand dollars, though I try to put as much as possible on my cards since it helps me earn extra cash -- which is part of my $10k strategy for this year.
3. I carry only two cards: Blue Cash from American Express and
Subaru Platinum MasterCard from Chase. The first makes me money and the second saves me money.
4. Done. I think I've been late on one payment in 20 years and that's because I forgot the bill, still mailed it on time, and it was posted a day late since mail stopped over a holiday weekend.
5. I view credit as a little more than a safety net -- it's simply a part of how we spend money (for the reasons noted above.) But we do pay it off every month and certainly don't carry a balance.
6. I look at mine at least once a year though I should do it more often. Just reviewed it a couple months ago.
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