Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

If your credit score feels stuck in the low zone, you're not alone. Many people think the only solution is making minimum payments or hiring an expensive credit repair service. But there are faster, smarter ways to raise your credit—without the cost or confusion.

1. Check Your Credit Score and Report Regularly

Understanding where you stand is the first step. Use free services like Credit Karma to track your score and see what’s impacting it across the five key credit categories:

• Payment history
• Credit utilization
• Credit age
• New accounts
• Credit mix

You’ll also be able to catch errors and build a plan.

2. Make Payments More Strategically

Even if you can’t pay more, you can improve how you pay. Credit bureaus typically report your balances monthly. Paying twice per cycle—half mid-month, half at the end—can reduce your reported balance and improve your credit utilization.

3. Use a Credit-Building Debit Card

If you’ve struggled with credit cards or just don’t want one, try a credit-building debit card. These innovative tools help you build credit without borrowing.

Top options include:

• Extra Card: Connects to your bank account; $7/month
• Zoro Card: Replaces your checking account and reports debit activity for $3/month

4. Request a Credit Limit Increase

Raising your credit limit lowers your utilization ratio— as long as your spending doesn’t increase with it. This is a quick way to improve your score, but requires self-discipline to avoid adding more debt.

5. Report Rent, Subscriptions & Utility Payments

There are plenty of tools today that allow you to report expenses that wouldn't otherwise go on your credit report. Some of these are—

• Experian Boost: Utilities, subscriptions and phone bills
• Esusu Rent, Rental Kharma, LevelCredit: Rent reporting
• GrowCredit: Subscriptions

6. Use a Credit Builder Loan or Secured Card

Credit builder loans are great for those with limited credit history. You “borrow” a small amount, repay it over time, and that behavior gets reported to credit bureaus.

Top options:

• Kikoff: $0 fees, lets you use the credit line in their store. Read our full review here.
• Self, CreditStrong: Also good, but may charge more

Secured credit cards are another route. You’ll need to put down a refundable deposit, and your credit limit equals that amount. Consider the Chime Credit Builder Card if you already use Chime.

7. Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report

Mistakes can drag your score down unfairly. Check reports from all three major credit bureaus:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

If you find errors—like wrong balances, duplicate accounts, or old collections—file a dispute right away.

8. Pay Off Collections

If you’ve got collections on your report, they can tank your score. Don’t avoid collection agencies— most are willing to negotiate.

9. Get a Co-Signer

If you’re struggling to qualify for credit on your own, applying with a co-signer who has strong credit can give you access to better rates and products. Just remember—you’re both responsible for the debt.

10. Become an Authorized User

Ask a parent, sibling, or trusted friend to add you to one of their credit cards as an authorized user. Their good history can help improve your score—just be sure they keep their own usage low and pay on time.

Bonus: Use the Debbie App to Stay on Track

Thousands of users report seeing their credit scores improve with Debbie— our free app that rewards you for paying off debt and hitting your financial goals.

Debbie helps you:

• Stay motivated
• Track your progress
• Earn rewards along the way

The Bottom Line.

Improving your credit score doesn’t require gimmicks or costly services. With the right tools and habits, you can make measurable progress in just a few months. You've got this!

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Debbie is where you start your journey to financial freedom. It’s the program that guides, motivates, and rewards you for paying off debt and saving! Debbie users have paid off 3x more debt than the average borrower, as well as saved around $100/month on average. Do you want to be part of this elite crowd? 👀 Join now at joindebbie.com to start earning cash rewards now!

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