Originally Posted by
DerBiermeister
The stuff listed is good advice. I use several credit cards for ALL PURCHASES. I usually rack up 3-4 grand per month on groceries, gas, ..... you name it. I of course pay them off completely every month. I have not spent one dime in interest in the last 15 years other than home mortgage loan. I also have some excellent credit cards that pay handsomely in cash rewards. Typically, I earn around $1000 a year in cash rewards -- without it costing me a red cent.
I recently checked my credit score and It is 840. I have not been below 750 for these past 15 years. In over 50 years of marriage, my wife and I have never missed a payment on anything.
One thing you want to avoid as much as possible -- and that is having a LOT of folks checking your credit -- like auto dealerships. Only allow them to do so when you are very close to arranging for financing. It turns out that a lot of activity in outfits checking up on you is detrimental to your credit score. Just like if you were shopping around for refinancing a mortgage -- DO NOT let them ping your credit until you are in the final stages.