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Credit
Understand how credit actually works and how to build it on purpose.
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Go to Saving →Lessons in this course
1. What actually makes up your credit score
A credit score is built from five factors, and they're not weighted equally.
2. Credit utilization: the number most people ignore
Utilization is the fastest lever you have to move your credit score -- and it resets every statement.
3. Building credit without carrying a balance
Carrying a balance and paying interest does not build credit any faster than paying in full every month.
4. Reading your credit report for errors
Credit report errors are common, and they don't fix themselves -- you have to catch and dispute them.
5. When (and when not) to open new credit
Every new credit application has a real, if small, cost to your score -- so it should be a deliberate decision.
