Here are a few helpful tips regarding your CREDIT!

1.  Pay all bills on time every month.

2.  Keep credit lines OPEN!  Reporting agencies want to see a history of at least one year of timely payments on the same card.  Open lines of 'older' cards - ones you've had a long time - boost your score.

3.  Make sure the balance on each line of credit is LESS than 50% of the credit limit.  Some lenders say 30% or lower is best.

4.  Try not to open new credit accounts even if they offer amazingly low rates.  Instead, ask your existing creditors to lower your interest rate.

5.  If the existing creditor won't raise your credit or lower your interest rate, you can transfer the balance to a new card and close the existing account once a year without hurting your score.

6.  Limit the number of companies that 'pull' your credit info for mortgage and auto loans or credit cards.

7.  Pay off smaller debts first while making timely payments on larger debts.  Once a smaller debt is paid off, use that extra money to pay down the next largest debt & so on.

8.  Correct any misinformation about any debts with any of the three credit agencies immediately.

Visit any of the sites listed on the right to find your current credit rating.