5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Credit Score
Your credit score plays a big role in your financial life. But what if you’ve had a few bumps in the road and your credit score isn’t an A+? You don’t have to do everything perfectly to see improvement. Small, intentional steps can add up over time.
Related Topics
Your credit score plays a big role in your financial life. From qualifying for a rental to getting a car loan or mortgage, lenders and businesses use your score to understand how you manage money.
But what if you’ve had a few bumps in the road and your credit score isn’t an A+?
The good news? You don’t have to do everything perfectly to see improvement. Small, intentional steps can add up over time. Here are five simple ways to start improving your credit score today:
1. Pay on Time, Every Time
Your payment history is the largest contributing factor that makes up your credit score. Even one missed payment can have an impact. Setting up reminders or using automatic payments can help you stay consistent and stress less.
2. Keep Balances Manageable
Using some of your available credit is normal, but carrying high balances month to month can weigh down your score. A good rule of thumb is to aim to use less than 30% of your available credit limit, and lower if possible.
3. Build a Savings Cushion
Surprised to see savings on this list? Having even a small emergency fund can keep you from leaning on credit cards when unexpected expenses pop up. Saving and credit go hand in hand when it comes to creating stability.
4. Check Your Credit Report Regularly
Mistakes happen. Reviewing your credit report regularly helps you catch errors and spot signs of fraud early. You can request your free reports as often as weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com.
We recommend at least quarterly. Set calendar reminders so you don’t forget!
5. Be Patient and Consistent
Improving your credit score takes time. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see changes right away. Focus on steady progress, every on-time payment and every dollar you save brings you closer to your goals.
Improving your credit score isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional and consistent with your habits. By combining thoughtful credit use with regular saving, you’re setting yourself up for a stronger financial foundation…….one step at a time.
Ready to take the next step? Make your commitment today by taking the America Saves Pledge. It’s a simple way to put your goals into action and stay motivated as you build credit and grow your savings, one intentional step at a time.
Check out these related insights!
02.06.2024 By Amy Miller, AFC
What is a Credit Score?
02.06.2024 By Amy Miller, AFC
First-Time Homebuyers: Where to Start
Related Tags
CHECK OUT OTHER SAVINGS JOURNEYS FROM SAVERS JUST LIKE YOU
Transforming “I Can’t Save” to “I Will Save”
You will not believe what it took to completely change my life. About three years ago, the HR Administrator of the corporation where I worked (as a temp with no benefits) forwarded an email to me. Fifteen seconds. One small act of kindness. That's it - that's all it took!
Developing a Savings "Game Plan"
By Eunice Diaz
Eunice Diaz, a teacher in Colorado Springs, had been noticing a pattern. Despite the fact that she and he...
Savings #ImSavingForSweepstakes
#ImSavingFor Winner Story
By Pedram R.
America Saves awarded one lucky saver, Pedram R. from California, $750 for sharing his #ImSavingFor story...
Taking Steps Toward Financial Fitness
By Nicky Vasquez
Nicky Vasquez learned about Virginia Saves when she attended her first class with Bank On Virginia Beach....
Put 20 Percent Away
By Melissa
“I am a single mother, and I make ends meet for me and my daughter, but I wanted to put money away for my...
A Think Like A Saver Attitude
By Melissa
Melissa has always been thrifty with a #ThinkLikeASaver attitude. This served her family well when her husband lost his job in 2014. Using their savings, Melissa’s family stayed afloat while her husband found a new job.
Clear It Out + Cash In
07.31.2025 By Amy Miller, AFC
Meet David from Los Angeles: A dedicated saver with a seriously savvy weekend routine that helps him sta...
Saving is a Family Affair
By Jeff
Saving is truly a family affair for Jeff’s household. During America Saves Week 2019, he pledged to save ...
Jump-Starting a Financial Makeover
By Nichelle Johnson
Nichelle Johnson, a single mom with two teenage children, knows what it’s like to stretch a dollar. When ...
Don’t Laugh at Saving Spare Change
By Brittany
Virginia Saves saver, Brittany, decided to start saving again when she became a single mother. She thinks...
Budget like Nohemi
By Nohemi
Nohemi found out about America Saves a few years ago as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She remembers attending a University of Illinois Saves event where she decorated a piggy bank and took the Pledge, but college life made her put the thought of saving at the back of her mind.
Saver Story: Set a Goal, Make a Plan!
By Shannon
We've chosen Shannon as our Saver of the Month! Her approach to saving for her family’s dream home is a g...
Saving Early: Key to Successful Future
By Johnnie Lovett
For Johnnie Lovett, a Young Illinois Saver, saving has been a habit since he was a teenager. “As a teenag...
The Gift of Homeownership
By Quaneka Willis
Quaneka Willis, a single mother of three children, was receiving rental assistance through the Housing Au...
Taking Steps Toward Financial Fitness
By Nicky Vasquez
Nicky Vasquez learned about Virginia Saves when she attended her first class with Bank On Virginia Beach....
Saver Story: Set a Goal, Make a Plan!
By Shannon
We've chosen Shannon as our Saver of the Month! Her approach to saving for her family’s dream home is a great example of how #ThinkingLikeASaver can look different for everyone, but has great payoffs and rewards.
A Think Like A Saver Attitude
By Melissa
Melissa has always been thrifty with a #ThinkLikeASaver attitude. This served her family well when her husband lost his job in 2014. Using their savings, Melissa’s family stayed afloat while her husband found a new job.
Saving With My Boys
By Kelly
Kelly has made saving a family effort. She started her boys saving early. “Probably 3,” Kelly told us, “when I started encouraging them to save because that’s when they started receiving small bills from family on the holidays.”
Saving is a Family Affair
By Jeff
Saving is truly a family affair for Jeff’s household. During America Saves Week 2019, he pledged to save ...
Put 20 Percent Away
By Melissa
“I am a single mother, and I make ends meet for me and my daughter, but I wanted to put money away for my...
Budget like Nohemi
By Nohemi
Nohemi found out about America Saves a few years ago as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at...
Starting and Continuing a Savings Journey
By Kiara Hardin
When Kiara Hardin, now a junior at Western Illinois University, became an intern with the Chicago Summer ...
Developing a Savings "Game Plan"
By Eunice Diaz
Eunice Diaz, a teacher in Colorado Springs, had been noticing a pattern. Despite the fact that she and her husband were “making good money,” they were spending their entire earnings and “were still struggling at the end of the month.”
Taking Back Control Over Finances
By Nadine Bialo
After becoming a Virginia Saver and getting help from BankOn classes and coaching, Nadine Bialo took back...
Getting Out of Debt
By Tonya Shelton
In 2004, Tonya Shelton was facing financial ruin. Barely making more than minimum wage and having lost he...
Inspired to Build Savings By Starting Small
By Sharon
With little-to-no money in the bank and living on a limited income with her adult daughter, Sharon wasn’t...
From Overwhelmed to In Control
By Debi
In 2017 Debi felt overwhelmed. Her credit cards were maxed, and she wasn't exactly sure how to handle it....
Savings #ImSavingForSweepstakes
#ImSavingFor Winner Story
By Pedram R.
America Saves awarded one lucky saver, Pedram R. from California, $750 for sharing his #ImSavingFor story. Pedram said, “Saving is important to me because it proves I am not willing to buy unnecessary things to please others or to be perceived as successful.”
Saving is a Family Affair
By Jeff
Saving is truly a family affair for Jeff’s household. During America Saves Week 2019, he pledged to save for retirement. But making a commitment and creating a plan to save isn’t a new concept for him.
If we feature you in our newsletter, you get $50.
You May Also Be Interested In...
Take the America saves pledge
Make a pledge to yourself and create a simple savings plan that works. Complete the Pledge and America Saves will send you short email and text reminders, resources and tips to keep you on track towards your savings goal. Become part of an entire community of savers. Get started now!
creative ways to fund your savings
Those with a savings plan are twice as likely to save successfully. Taking the America Saves Pledge is a pledge to yourself to start a savings journey and America Saves is here to encourage you along the way. Take the first step toward creating a better financial future. Make a plan, set a goal, and pledge to yourself to start saving, today.
Congrats on completing the pledge!
Take the America Saves Pledge
Make a pledge to yourself and create a simple savings plan that works.
