How Can I Raise My Credit Score In 30 Days? 4 Things You Can Do Now To Improve Your Credit Score

Illustration of two people discussing a report

If your credit score could use some work, this is for you! We’ll show you 4 things you can do to improve your credit score in 30 days. 

The better your credit score, the less it costs you to borrow money for things like buying a home, a car, taking a personal or business loan because you’ll be offered a lower interest rate. A healthy credit score also makes it easier to rent an apartment, and it can help you save money on auto insurance. And those with excellent credit will be more likely to be approved for premium credit cards that offer cashback and travel benefits. 

If your score could use some work, explain what your credit score is made of and show you how to increase your credit score quickly by doing 4 things today!

What makes up your credit score

To understand how to increase your credit score fast, you need to know the components of your score and how much each impacts it:

  • Payment history 35%: If you make your credit payments (credit cards, loans, mortgage) on time. Even a single late payment can drop your score.

  • Utilization 30%: Of your total available credit, how much are you using. The lower, the better; the credit reporting bureaus want to see a utilization below 30% for a healthy score. So if you have $1,000 in total credit limits, you won’t owe more than $300, for example. 

  • Length of credit history 15%: How long you’ve had a credit history, the longer, the better. This is tough for new immigrants who will have little to no American credit history.

  • Credit types 10%: It’s better to have a mix of credit types, a credit card, installment loan, home loan, etc.

  • New credit 10%: If you’ve suddenly opened several credit accounts in a short amount of time, it can make you look like a credit risk, especially if you don’t have a long credit history. Taking out a lot of credit at once can indicate financial problems. 

  1. How to increase your credit score by lowering utilization

If you want to know how to improve your credit score fast, the best way to do so is to reduce your utilization. There are two ways to do so; pay down existing debt or open a new credit account (a credit card or a loan). You can also ask your credit card companies to raise your current credit limit. 

2. How to increase your credit score with credit card payments

Paying your credit cards or loans on time are the best things you can do for your credit score, as on-time payments are the most significant factor in your credit score. There is a credit myth (link to not yet published article) that making two payments a month will improve your score by increasing your on-time payments. 

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This isn’t true. The creditor will only report one payment each month. But by paying twice, you can help bring down your utilization more quickly, which will help your score. 

3. How to improve your credit score 100 points

There are three main credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. These companies compiule your credit history and turn it into your credit report and credit score. But there can be misinformation on these reports that can hurt your credit score. 

You can get a free copy of your credit report from each bureau here. Check over each report, and if you find incorrect information, you can dispute it. Correcting that information can significantly improve your score. 

4. How to increase your credit score without a credit card

If your credit score is good enough, you may be able to get a personal loan which you can use to pay off your credit cards. Yes, it’s additional debt, but if you can get an interest rate on the loan that is considerably lower than the rates on your cards, it’s a sound financial decision and can almost instantly boost your score by a large margin because it will lower your utilization so drastically. 

Build or Improve Credit with Upwardli

Upwardli understands the challenges new immigrants face when it comes to credit in America. We can help you find the partners and resources that will work with you to build and improve your credit so you can create your new life! 

Candice Elliott

Candice Elliott has been a freelance writer specializing in personal finance since 2013. She learned to manage her money the hard way after moving to New York City and living paycheck to paycheck for years. She wants to help others avoid the money mistakes she made while providing easy and actionable advice in an entertaining way. Candice believes that personal finance information should be inclusive of everyone because a solid financial base is the foundation for a successful life. Candice now lives in New Orleans where she admits she spends more than she should on restaurants because the food is as good as you’ve heard.

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3 Credit Myths That Are Hurting Your Credit