Reading through some feedback forms for an upcoming workshop, I was surprised to see that students consistently said they wanted to learn more about how they could get a high credit score.  They obviously had heard about the importance of a good credit score but didn’t know how to achieve one.

This Kiplinger article provides insights into the good habits that consumers with high credit scores have:

• Most important:  They pay bills on time.
• They minimize use of their available credit (i.e., they don’t max out their credit cards!)
• Maintain low or no balances on their revolving credit accounts (i.e., they pay off their credit cards and don’t carry debt over month to month).
• They have a lengthy credit history.
• They apply for credit only when needed.
• They choose their credit cards carefully.

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.

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