What is a good credit mix?
Building a good credit mix requires a long-term borrowing plan. Start by diversifying your credit portfolio with a mix of revolving and installment credit. However, it's worth noting that a good credit mix is subjective, and what may be good for one institution or finance company may not meet the standards of another.
Having both revolving and installment credit makes for a perfect duo because the two demonstrate your ability to manage different types of debt. And experts would agree: According to Experian, one of the three main credit bureaus, “an ideal credit mix includes a blend of revolving and installment credit.”
For an 800 score, the rule of thumb is to keep your revolving balances at or below 10% of your credit limit. (People with credit scores of 800 or above only use 7% of credit lines on average.) If you can swing it, 5% is better. When you get your balances down, don't stop spending on your credit cards.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
Debt-to-credit ratio and its impact on your credit score
It counts as 20% towards your VantageScore® 3.0 credit score model and 30% of your FICO® score model. Remember, it's ideal to keep this ratio to about 30% or lower.
If your goal is to get or maintain a good credit score, two to three credit card accounts, in addition to other types of credit, are generally recommended.
This means you should take care not to spend more than 30% of your available credit at any given time. For instance, let's say you had a $5,000 monthly credit limit on your credit card. According to the 30% rule, you'd want to be sure you didn't spend more than $1,500 per month, or 30%.
While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
- Review Your Credit Report. ...
- Pay Your Bills on Time. ...
- Ask for Late Payment Forgiveness. ...
- Keep Credit Card Balances Low. ...
- Keep Old Credit Cards Active. ...
- Become an Authorized User. ...
- Consider a Credit Builder Loan. ...
- Take Out a Secured Credit Card.
- Get More Credit Accounts.
- Pay Down High Credit Card Balances.
- Always Make On-Time Payments.
- Keep the Accounts that You Already Have.
- Dispute Incorrect Items on Your Credit Report.
How rare is a 750 credit score?
The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
Average FICO 8 Score by Generation | ||
---|---|---|
Generation | 2022 | 2023 |
Generation Z (ages 18-26) | 679 - Good | 680 - Good |
Millennials (27-42) | 687 - Good | 690 - Good |
Generation X (43-58) | 707 - Good | 709 - Good |
To sum things up, the answer is no, it isn't bad to have a zero balance on your credit cards. In fact, having a zero balance or close-to-zero balance on your credit cards can be beneficial in many ways.
You make one payment 15 days before your statement is due and another payment three days before the due date. By doing this, you can lower your overall credit utilization ratio, which can raise your credit score. Keeping a good credit score is important if you want to apply for new credit cards.
Keeping a low credit utilization ratio is good, but having too many credit cards with zero balance may negatively impact your credit score. If your credit cards have zero balance for several years due to inactivity, your credit card issuer might stop sending account updates to credit bureaus.
So, while there is no absolute number that is considered too many, it's best to only apply for and carry the cards that you need and can justify using based on your credit score, ability to pay balances, and rewards aspirations.
In general, it's better to leave your credit cards open with a zero balance instead of canceling them. This is true even if they aren't being used as open credit cards allow you to maintain a lower overall credit utilization ratio and will allow your credit history to stay on your report for longer.
There is no right number of credit cards to own, and owning multiple cards gives you access to different rewards programs that various cards offer. Owning five cards would give you a bigger total line of credit and lower your credit utilization ratio. If you can manage five cards at once, it's not too many for you.
Having Your Credit Limit Lowered
Recurring late or missed payments, excessive credit utilization or not using a credit card for a long time could prompt your credit card company to lower your credit limit. This may hurt your credit score by increasing your credit utilization.
What is the max you should ever owe on this card?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends keeping your credit utilization under 30%. If you have a card with a credit limit of $1,000, try to keep your balance below $300.
A credit utilization must remain within 30% to ensure you maintain a good credit score. You should do well not to utilize more than 40% of the limit offered.
For most credit-scoring models, including VantageScore 3.0 and FICO, the highest credit score possible is 850. We were able to speak to two Americans who belong to the exclusive FICO 850 Club: Brad Stevens of Austin, Texas, and John Ulzheimer of Atlanta.
Paying your entire debt by the due date spares you from interest charges on your balance. Paying off your credit card debt in full also helps keep a lower credit utilization ratio, which measures the amount of your available revolving credit you're using.
You'll rarely be able to earn more on your savings than you'll pay on your borrowings. So plan to pay off your debts before you start to save.