It is a well-known fact that in the current financial landscape, your credit score holds significant importance over your ability to avail of certain facilities. These can be securing loans, obtaining favorable rates of interest, and even renting a space. A higher score not only opens doors to better financial opportunities but also reflects responsible financial management. Now, if you are not well aware of how to improve your current score, then there are certain tips and tricks to follow, as it can be difficult to know where to start. So, whether you’re building your credit from scratch or rebuilding after your scores have taken a hit, learning how your scores are calculated and the basic ways to improve them is essential. What is a Credit Score? How important is it? As the term suggests, it is basically a numerical representation of an individual’s creditworthiness, essentially reflecting their likelihood of repaying borrowed money. This is totally calculated based on certain factors such as payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, types of credit accounts, etc., Running from 300 to 850, a higher score clearly indiares lower credit risk and vice-versa. The importance of this score cannot be overstated in today’s financial landscape, as it serves as a crucial tool used by lenders to assess the risk associated with lending money to an individual. If the score is on the positive line, it tends to open the door to better financial opportunities, including access to loans, credit cards, and favorable rates of interest. Always remember that it is not just a number; it’s a reflection of one’s financial responsibility and trustworthiness. Maintaining a good score requires consistent and responsible financial habits, including making timely bill payments and keeping credit card balances low. How to Improve Your Score in 5 Easy Steps? Make your payments on time Paying your bills on time is one of the most important things you can do to improve your score. This is simply because, for lenders, a person’s ability to keep up with their credit card payments indicates that they are quite capable of taking out a loan and paying it back. Avoid opening new accounts Even though opening new accounts increases your available credit, doing so is actually not considered a good practice as it can harm your credit score. This is simply because each time you apply for new credit, an inquiry takes place, which can temporarily lower your score. Therefore, it’s best to manage your existing credit accounts responsibly and only apply for new credit when necessary. Reduce Credit Card Balances It’s pretty essential to aim to keep your credit card balances low relative to your credit limits. High credit utilization, which is the ratio of your credit card balances to your credit limits, can lower your credit score. Remember that paying down your balances can improve your credit utilization ratio and boost your score. Maintain a Mix of Credit Accounts Having a diverse mix of credit accounts. These include credit cards and a small loan as well that can impact your score in a positive sphere. However, don’t open multiple at once, as this can appear a bit risky to lenders. Autopay If you struggle to remember to pay your bills every single month, autopay is the way to go. However, if you don’t want to use this feature, another easy option is setting up a payment reminder. Conclusion Keep in mind that improving your CIBIL score is essential in order to access better opportunities. By following the five steps mentioned above, you can gradually boost your creditworthiness. Also, improving your score takes a lot of time and commitment to improve your score.
