Tips to Help You Raise Your Credit Score as Quickly as Possible

Credit Score: A Key Factor in Your Financial Life 

Your credit score plays a crucial role in your life.

Far from being just a cold number, it can be your ticket to making significant purchases that could change your life.

At the same time, it can also act as a major barrier, preventing you from achieving many things and holding back your growth at critical moments. 

Having a good credit score doesn’t mean taking out loans or financing unnecessarily. On the contrary, a good credit score is a resource to be strategically reserved for key decisions. 

Even if you don’t currently have plans for financing, a mortgage, or anything similar, maintaining a well-documented credit history and score is still essential.

To help you, we’ve prepared a complete guide to improving your credit score naturally over time. 

There are no overnight miracles

The first thing you need to understand is that there’s no quick fix. There’s no magical action you can take to drastically change your credit score in a short time.

Credit agencies assess your credit score based on your history over time, considering your spending and payment habits. 

Improving your credit score is, at the very least, a medium-term plan. While small changes can yield quicker results, how fast your score improves depends on where you currently stand.

If your score is very low, it may take longer to improve, while regular scores might require less time to see an increase. 

How quickly can a credit score improve? 

It’s possible to raise your credit score within a few months, which isn’t a huge challenge, especially if you’ve spent years with poor financial habits.

While improving your score requires planning, it’s entirely achievable with consistent effort. 

Avoid maxing out your credit limit

It’s crucial not to use your credit limit to the maximum. For example, if your credit card limit is $2,000, it’s not advisable to spend $1,900 every month.

Ideally, you should leave a comfortable gap between your spending and your limit to show credit agencies that you have solid financial control.

Spending close to your limit signals over-reliance on credit, which is perceived as a risk. 

Request a credit limit increase

This tip complements the previous one. If you have high monthly expenses, the best approach is to request a credit limit increase.

This allows you to stay below the limit, which is essential for gradually improving your credit score. 

However, exercise caution and avoid requesting an excessively high limit. Be reasonable and evaluate what is appropriate based on your spending patterns and what banks are willing to offer. 

Leverage someone with good credit history

If you have a trusted individual with a strong credit history, consider asking them to add you as an authorized user on one of their credit cards.

By being associated with someone who has a high credit score, you gain credibility with credit agencies. Their trust in that individual can reflect positively on you. 

This approach is particularly effective for those just starting and is well received by credit agencies. 

Diversify your credit usage

This tip highlights the importance of the term “history” in credit. Credit bureaus evaluate everything you’ve done with credit, including loans, credit cards, and financing. 

This doesn’t mean you should take on unnecessary debt but rather understand that building a solid credit history takes time.

Diversifying your use of credit responsibly can demonstrate a well-rounded financial profile. 

This also means that, with proper control, you can expand your credit possibilities without the fear of making big purchases that often accompanies the early stages of using credit. 

Pay your bills on time

Paying your bills on time is one of the most effective ways to improve your credit history. This doesn’t just mean avoiding debt but also ensuring payments are made before or by the due date. 

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to forget to make payments, especially for recurring subscriptions. The best approach is to set up automatic payment methods to avoid missing deadlines.

Written by

Gabriel Gonçalves

Writer with over 10 years of experience specializing in finance and education. Master's student in Communication and an expert in online content production.