This is your quick, simple guide to understanding credit and fixing it the RIGHT way.
📌 1. What Makes Your Score Go Up or Down
Your credit score is made of 5 parts:
🟩 35% — Payment History
Pay EVERYTHING on time. Late payments hurt the most.
🟦 30% — Utilization
Keep your credit card balances under 10% for best results.
🟨 15% — Age of Credit
The older your accounts, the better your score.
🟪 10% — Credit Mix
A mix of:
- Credit cards
- Installments (Self, CreditStrong, loans)
- Auto, mortgage (optional)
🟥 10% — Inquiries
Too many hard pulls lowers your score temporarily.
📌 2. How to Build Credit FAST
Add the “Big 4”:
✔ Credit Strong
✔ Self Lender
✔ Rental Reporting (Rental Kharma/RentReporters)
✔ Kikoff or Ava
These give you primary accounts, the most powerful type.
📌 3. How to Fix Your Credit
Do this in order:
- Dispute negative items
- Remove incorrect addresses & names
- Lower utilization
- Add credit builders
- Let your age grow
📌 4. What NOT to Do
🚫 Don’t close old accounts
🚫 Don’t max out credit cards
🚫 Don’t apply for too many cards
🚫 Don’t ignore collection letters
🚫 Don’t trust “instant 800 scores” scams
📌 5. Credit Goal Levels
600–650: Rebuilding
680: Basic approvals
720: Solid approvals
760+: Best rates & limits
800+: Elite credit / funding ready
📌 6. Quick Fixes That Work
✨ Pay cards down under 10%
✨ Remove old/incorrect addresses
✨ Add 3–4 primaries
✨ Dispute inaccuracies
✨ Use card 1–2 times a month then pay off
Drop a 💳 in the comments if you want the FULL credit guide, and I’ll post it next.