Boost Your Financial Standing? Beware of Common Credit Score Myths

A credit score is a numerical representation of a person’s
creditworthiness, based on their credit history. The credit score is used by
lenders to determine the likelihood that a person will repay a loan. The higher
the credit score, the more likely the person is to repay the loan, and the
lower the interest rate they will be offered.

Here are the steps to calculate your credit score:

1.

Obtain your credit reports: You can request a free
credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax,
and TransUnion) once a year. These reports show your credit history, including
your payment history, credit utilization, and outstanding debt.

2.

Review your credit reports: Look for any errors or
inaccuracies in your credit reports. If you find any errors, dispute them with
the credit bureau.

3.

Calculate your credit utilization: This is the
amount of credit you’re using compared to the amount available to you. To
calculate your credit utilization, divide your outstanding debt by your total
credit limit. Some credit card companies offer complimentary credit scores to their customers as an added benefit.

4.

Check your payment history: Late payments and
missed payments can have a negative impact on your credit score.

5.

Consider the length of your credit history: The
longer your credit history, the better it is for your credit score.

6.

Check for new credit accounts: Opening new credit
accounts too frequently can have a negative impact on your credit score.

7.

Consider your credit mix: Having a mix of different
types of credit (e.g., mortgages, auto loans, credit cards) can have a positive
impact on your credit score.

8.

It’s important to note that credit scores are not
directly calculated using an excel formula. The credit score calculation is
done by credit bureaus using proprietary algorithms, taking into account
various factors such as credit history, payment history, outstanding debt,
credit utilization, length of credit history, new credit accounts, and credit
mix.

9.

In general, credit scores are not something that
you can calculate yourself, but you can monitor and improve your credit
standing by paying your bills on time, keeping your credit utilization low, and
avoiding opening new credit accounts too frequently. You can also periodically
check your credit reports for errors and dispute any inaccuracies you find.

10.

Although you can’t calculate your credit score in
Excel, you can use the software to help you keep track of your finances and
monitor your credit utilization. For example, you could create a spreadsheet to
track your credit card balances, payment history, and credit utilization over
time. This information can help you identify areas where you need to improve in
order to boost your credit score.

11.

It’s also a good idea to monitor your credit score
regularly to see how it changes over time. You can request your credit score
from the major credit bureaus or from online services that provide credit score
tracking. Some credit card companies also offer free credit scores to their
customers.

12.

It’s important to remember that there’s no single
formula to improve your credit score, but there are steps you can take to
improve your credit standing. For example:

13.

Pay your bills on time: Late payments and missed
payments can have a negative impact on your credit score.

14.

Keep your credit utilization low: High credit
utilization (using a large portion of your available credit) can also have a
negative impact on your credit score.

It
is advisable to keep your credit utilization below 30% to maintain a healthy
credit profile.

15.

Avoid opening new credit accounts too frequently:
Opening new credit accounts too frequently can lower your average length of
credit history and have a negative impact on your credit score.

16.

Dispute errors on your credit report: If you find
any errors or inaccuracies on your credit report, dispute them with the credit
bureau.

17.

Be patient: Improving your credit score takes time,
so be patient and keep up with good credit habits.

18.

As mentioned earlier, credit scores are not
calculated using excel formulas. However, you can use excel to track various
financial factors that contribute to your credit score such as your payment
history, outstanding debt, credit utilization, length of credit history, and
new credit accounts.

Here’s an example of how you could set up a simple excel spreadsheet to
track your credit utilization:

·

In cell A1, enter “Date”.

·

In cell B1, enter “Credit Card Balance”.

·

In cell C1, enter “Credit Limit”.

·

In cell D1, enter “Credit Utilization”.

·

In cell D2, enter the formula “=B2/C2”.

In the subsequent rows, enter your credit card balance and credit limit for
each month. The credit utilization for each month will be automatically
calculated in column D based on the formula in cell D2.

This simple spreadsheet will give you a clear picture of your credit utilization
over time and help you monitor how it affects your credit score. You can also
add additional columns to track your payment history and other factors that
contribute to your credit score.

The credit utilization formula is simply:

Credit Utilization = Credit Card Balance / Credit Limit

In excel, this formula can be written as:

=B2/C2

Where B2 is the cell containing your credit card balance, and C2 is the
cell containing your credit limit. This formula can then be copied to the other
rows in the spreadsheet to calculate the credit utilization for each month.

How to increase credit Score

Improving your credit score takes time, but you can take the following
steps to increase your credit score:

1.

Pay your bills on time: Late payments and missed
payments can have a negative impact on your credit score, so it’s important to
pay your bills on time every month.

2.

Keep your credit utilization low: High credit
utilization (using a large portion of your available credit) can also have a
negative impact on your credit score. Try to keep your credit utilization below
30%.

3.

Avoid opening new credit accounts too frequently:
Opening new credit accounts too frequently can lower your average length of
credit history and have a negative impact on your credit score.

4.

Dispute errors on your credit report: If you find
any errors or inaccuracies on your credit report, dispute them with the credit
bureau.

5.

Be patient: Improving your credit score takes time,
so be patient and keep up with good credit habits.

6.

Pay off outstanding debt: Paying off high-interest
debt can help improve your credit utilization and lower your overall debt
burden, which can positively impact your credit score.

7.

Maintain a mix of credit types: Having a mix of
credit types (e.g. credit cards, mortgages, auto loans) can also have a
positive impact on your credit score.

8.

Monitor your credit score regularly: Keep track of
your credit score regularly to see how it changes over time and to catch any
errors or suspicious activity.

9.

Keep old credit accounts open: A long credit
history can be a positive factor in your credit score, so try to keep old
credit accounts open even if you are not using them.

10.

Limit hard credit inquiries: Hard credit inquiries,
which occur when you apply for a loan or credit card, can have a temporary
negative impact on your credit score. Try to limit the number of hard inquiries
you have.

11.

Make payments in full: Paying only the minimum
payment on your credit card balances can result in high credit utilization and
have a negative impact on your credit score. Try to make payments in full
whenever possible.

12.

Pay off collections and charged-off accounts:
Collections and charged-off accounts can have a negative impact on your credit
score, so try to pay these off or negotiate a payment plan.

13.

Use a secured credit card: If you have trouble
obtaining a traditional credit card, consider using a secured credit card. This
type of card requires a security deposit, but can help build your credit
history.

14.

Don’t close unused credit accounts: Closing an
unused credit account can actually harm your credit score, as it shortens your
credit history.

15.

Use a credit monitoring service: A credit
monitoring service can alert you to changes in your credit score or to any new
accounts opened in your name.

16.

Keep track of your credit utilization: Your credit
utilization rate (the amount of credit you’re using compared to your credit
limit) is a major factor in your credit score. Keep track of your credit
utilization and aim to keep it low.

17.

Avoid co-signing loans: Co-signing loans for
someone else can increase your credit utilization and affect your credit score.

18.

Consider a debt management plan: If you have high
debt levels, a debt management plan can help you pay off your debt in a
structured and manageable way, which can improve your credit score over time.

How to negative credit score to a high score

Review your credit report by obtaining a copy and carefully checking for any errors or inaccuracies. If you find any, promptly dispute them with the relevant credit bureaus.

1.

Pay down debt: High levels of debt can have a
negative impact on your credit score, so make a plan to pay down debt, starting
with the highest interest rate accounts.

2.

Make payments on time: Late payments can have a
negative impact on your credit score, so make sure to make all payments on
time.

3.

Limit new credit applications: Every time you apply
for new credit, it results in a hard inquiry, which can have a temporary
negative impact on your credit score. Try to limit the number of new credit
applications you have.

4.

Seek assistance: If you are struggling with debt or
have other credit-related issues, consider seeking assistance from a credit
counseling agency or financial advisor.

5.

Be patient: Improving a negative credit score takes
time and effort, so be patient and keep working at it.

6.

By following these steps and being diligent about
your spending and payment habits, you can work to improve your credit score and
enjoy the benefits of good credit.

7.

By following these steps and being patient, you can
improve your credit score over time and enjoy the benefits of having a good
credit standing, such as lower interest rates and better loan terms.

This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to calculate and improve your credit score. It explains the factors that determine your credit score, and provides tips and advice on how to boost it. Whether you’re new to credit or have a history of managing debt, this guide will help you understand the impact of credit cards on your credit score and help you make informed financial decisions. The guide covers all the steps you need to take to improve your credit score and secure a better financial future.

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