Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure
We do receive compensation from some partners whose offers appear on this page. We have not reviewed all available products or offers. Compensation may impact the order in which offers appear on page, but our editorial opinions and ratings are not influenced by compensation.

The Ascent Logo The Ascent Logo - Blue circle with an A in it and the ascent a motley fool company to the right of that

  • Credit Cards
  • Banking
  • Brokerages
  • Loans
  • Mortgages
  • Knowledge
  • Latest Picks
  • Search Icon Click here to search

Credit Cards

Top Picks
  • Best of January 2021
  • Cash Back
  • Balance Transfer
  • Travel
  • 0% APR
  • Rewards
  • Bad Credit
Knowledge
  • Beginners Guide to Credit Cards
  • How to Rebuild Your Credit
  • Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards
  • Learn More About Credit Cards
Credit Card Tools
  • Compare Cards
Looking for a new credit card?

Explore the best credit cards in every category as of January 2021.

Get started!

Banking

Top Picks
  • Best Savings Accounts
  • Best Bank Accounts
  • Best Money Market Accounts
  • Best CDs
  • Best Checking Account Bonuses
Knowledge
  • Beginners Guide to Banking
  • Everything You Need to Know About Savings
  • Money Market Accounts Made Easy
  • Learn More About Banking
Looking for a place to park your cash?

Check out our top picks of the best online savings accounts for January 2021.

Get Started!

Brokerages

Top Picks
  • Best Brokers of January 2021
  • Best Online Brokers for Beginners
  • Best Options Brokers
  • Best IRA Accounts
  • Best Roth IRA Accounts
  • Best Robo Advisors
Knowledge
  • How to Open a Brokerage Account
  • Beginner's Guide to Brokerages
  • Learn More About Brokerage
Just getting started?

Explore our picks of the best brokerage accounts for beginners for January 2021.

Get Started!

Loans

Top Picks
  • Best Loans of January 2021
  • Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
  • Best Loans for Debt Consolidation
  • Best Low-Interest Personal Loans
  • Best Personal Loans for Good Credit
  • Best Personal Loans for Fair Credit
Knowledge
  • Personal Loans Made Easy
  • Debt Consolidation Guide
  • How to Pay Off Debt
  • Learn More About Loans
Thinking about taking out a loan?

Before you apply for a personal loan, here's what you need to know.

Get Started!

Mortgages

Top Picks
  • Best Mortgage Lenders of January 2021
  • Best Mortgage Lenders for Poor Credit
  • Best Refinance Lenders
  • Best VA Mortgage Lenders
Knowledge
  • First Time Homebuyers Guide
  • Home Loans Made Easy
  • The Complete Guide to Refinancing
  • How to Get a Mortgage with Bad Credit
  • Learn More About Mortgages
Tools & Calculators
  • Mortgage Calculator
Compare Rates
  • Today's Mortgage Rates
  • Refinance Rates
  • 15-Year Mortgage Rates
  • 20-Year Mortgage Rates
  • 30-Year Mortgage Rates
  • Jumbo Mortgage Rates
  • VA Loan Rates
  • 5/1 ARM Rates
  • 7/1 ARM Rates
  • FHA Mortgage Rates

Knowledge

Knowledge Section
  • All Articles
  • Credit Card Articles
  • Banking Articles
  • Brokerage Articles
  • Personal Loan Articles
  • Mortgage Articles
  • Personal Finance Articles
Recent Articles
  • Stimulus Check Update: $1,400 Checks Now on the Table

    Personal Finance

    Stimulus Check Update: $1,400 Checks Now on the Table
  • Weekly Mortgage News Roundup for Jan. 15, 2021

    Mortgages

    Weekly Mortgage News Roundup for Jan. 15, 2021
  • When Should You Sell Your Home? The Benefits of Each Season

    Mortgages

    When Should You Sell Your Home? The Benefits of Each Season
  • Current Mortgage Refinance Rates -- January 15, 2021: Rates Continue to Rise

    Mortgages

    Current Mortgage Refinance Rates -- January 15, 2021: Rates Continue to Rise
  • The Ascent
  • Knowledge
  • Credit Cards

How I Raised My Credit Score by 131 Points in 2 Years

by Christy Bieber | July 31, 2019

The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation.

Woman leaning back in her chair and smiling at her laptop

Image source: Getty Images

Having a good credit score makes borrowing much more affordable. Unfortunately, my credit score was just 680 when I graduated from college. There were a few reasons for that:

  • My credit history was pretty short.
  • I'd closed accounts without knowing better, so my credit utilization ratio wasn't great.
  • I didn't have many types of credit. 

While 680 isn't a terrible credit score, it isn't great, either. Fortunately, within two years, I was able to work hard to get my credit score to 811. This increase in my credit score was made possible by careful borrowing behavior and by understanding how credit scores are calculated.

Here are four steps I took to change my credit score from average to excellent.

1. I slowly took on new kinds of debt

Having different kinds of credit is important. While I started with just loans and a few open credit cards, I applied for other types of debt after graduation. This included a car loan, which I quickly paid off, and a mortgage for a new home.

I didn't apply for too much new credit at one time, as each application comes with a hard inquiry. This can hurt your credit. But I did apply for new loans several times over the course of that two-year period. Those loans diversified my credit history.

2. I asked for credit line increases all the time

Your credit utilization ratio -- or the amount of available credit you've used relative to what's available -- is a key factor in determining your credit score. The lower the utilization ratio, the better your score will be.

To ensure that I always had lots of available credit, I diligently raised my credit card limits. I did this by requesting a credit line increase every time I had the option to do so without a hard credit inquiry.

Most credit card companies occasionally give you the option to request a credit line increase from your online account. This option is usually listed under Account Services or Tools. Every couple weeks I'd check to see if this option was available -- and I'd request an increase as soon as it was. I was never turned down and I now have large credit lines on all my open cards.

3. I worked on paying off what I owed ASAP

I was also able to dramatically improve my credit by paying my bills on time each month to develop a positive payment history. Aggressively paying down outstanding debt balances also helped. By paying off my credit cards and car loan, I reduced my credit risk and my score went up.

4. I was named as an authorized user on some old accounts

Another way I increased my credit score: I got married and my husband added me as an authorized user to some of his oldest credit card accounts. This made my credit history look longer and I got the benefit of his long payment history on my credit report.

My husband is five years older than me, had some accounts he'd opened when he was young, and always paid on time. This was a major benefit, because length of credit history is an important factor in determining your credit score.

How you can raise your credit score

Some of these steps, such as asking for credit line increases and paying down debt, are steps that anyone can take. Others -- like getting added as an authorized user -- aren't possible for everyone. But if you have a willing friend or family member who will add you to their account, it can be a good way to help you boost your credit.

Still, if you pay off debt, keep old cards open, and be careful about taking on new kinds of credit, you can boost your credit score over time. And soon, you'll qualify for the most favorable rates.

Our credit card expert uses the card we reveal below, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)

As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases into 2022, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

About the Author

Christy Bieber
Christy Bieber icon-button-linkedin-2x

Christy Bieber is a personal finance and legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Her work has been featured on major outlets including MSN Money, CNBC, and USA Today.

Share This Page
Blue Facebook Icon Share this website with Facebook
Blue Twitter Icon Share this website with Twitter
Blue LinkedIn Icon Share this website with LinkedIn
Blue Mail Icon Share this website by email

The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation.

Related Articles

Credit cards on a desk image for Best Credit Cards for 2021

Best Credit Cards for 2021

Interest spelled out on a calculator image for Compare Credit Cards Side by Side

Compare Credit Cards Side by Side

Man holding cash image for How Do Cash Back Credit Cards Work?

How Do Cash Back Credit Cards Work?

Cyber security and computer screen image for How to Protect Yourself from Credit Card Fraud

How to Protect Yourself from Credit Card Fraud

Featured Articles

Best Credit Cards for 2021

Compare Credit Cards Side by Side

How Do Cash Back Credit Cards Work?

How to Protect Yourself from Credit Card Fraud


We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.

The Ascent Logo

The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.

btn_facebook-yellow btn_twitter-yellow btn_instagram-yellow

Copyright © 2018 - 2021 The Ascent. All rights reserved.

About The Ascent
About Us Contact Us Newsroom How We Make Money Editorial Integrity Ratings Methodology
Legal
Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility Policy Terms and Conditions Copyright, Trademark and Patent Information
Learn
Credit Cards Banking Brokerage Loans Recent Articles

By submitting your email address, you consent to us sending you money tips along with products and services that we think might interest you. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please read our Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions.

Back to The Motley Fool