Having good credit can make it easier to qualify for things like a loan or credit card, rent an apartment, and in some situations even get a job.
The good news is you don’t need tricks to improve it—you need a few consistent habits and a basic understanding of what “credit” really means.
What “credit” means
When people talk about your credit, they’re really talking about your credit history—your track record of how you use borrowed money and whether you pay bills that get reported.
If you don’t have a credit history yet, it can be harder to get approved for credit in the first place.
How to build credit in the first place
To build a credit history, you generally need accounts that report to credit reports—for example, many credit cards (including secured cards) report your activity.
If you’ve never had a credit card or a loan from a bank or credit union, you may not have much of a credit history yet.
Three habits that build and improve credit over time
Improving credit takes time, but these are the core moves:
1) Pay bills by the due date
On-time payments are foundational. Late payments can damage your credit history, so due dates matter.
2) Use a credit card lightly—and pay the whole bill each month
A simple pattern is using your card a few times a month and then paying the full statement balance.
This builds positive history without piling up interest.
3) Pay down debt, especially credit card debt
Owing a lot of money—particularly on credit cards—can hurt your credit history. Paying down balances helps.
Check your credit report for mistakes
Part of improving credit is making sure the information being reported about you is correct. Reviewing your credit report helps you spot errors that could be pulling you down.
Be careful with “credit repair” promises
Some companies offer to “fix” your credit report. But anything they can do legally, you can usually do yourself for little or no money.
Red flags of a credit repair scam
Be cautious if a company:
- Insists you pay before they help you
- Tells you not to contact credit bureaus directly
- Tells you to dispute information you know is true
- Tells you to lie on applications or file false identity theft reports
- Doesn’t explain your legal rights clearly
If you suspect a scam, you can report it to the appropriate federal consumer protection agency.