Credit Cards

[MountainHiker]

Ok, making a credit card payment tomorrow and goal is to maximize my score.Used the simulator inputing various amounts.Appears that the increase in score was greatest in the 2-8% range.Should I go high with 8% or keep the Util closer to 2%?  Keep in mind I have only one credit card. Got to get this right.Auto shopping soon!!

[creditnocash]

what are your scores? 

and if your using the best course of action, keep in mind thats over a 24 month period. not pif or paid down in this case. 

[MountainHiker]

---

MountainHiker wrote:

---

OlegWasHere wrote:

what are your scores? 

and if your using the best course of action, keep in mind thats over a 24 month period. not pif or paid down in this case. 

---

Hi

Scores are EQ-FICO 708,EX-PLUS 705,TU-FICO 710. Not the best but hoping to improve them.

---

[creditnocash]

---

MountainHiker wrote:

---

MountainHiker wrote:

---

OlegWasHere wrote:

what are your scores? 

and if your using the best course of action, keep in mind that's over a 24 month period. not pif or paid down in this case. 

---

Hi

Scores are EQ-FICO 708,EX-PLUS 705,TU-FICO 710. Not the best but hoping to improve them.

---

---

what is the balance/limit now? 

with one card its kind of hard to tell. 

Also are you financing or leasing?  

I'm in the same boat. I believe my scores will be in the 700's when all my accounts update. 

I have one card with a balance and before statement closes im paying it to reflect a total of 5 percent util. nothing in specific just my personal preference. 

im going car shopping sept 3rd (all the deals are away the 4th) 

and my car wont last me past the first week of September. 

[MountainHiker]

---

OlegWasHere wrote:

---

MountainHiker wrote:

---

MountainHiker wrote:

---

OlegWasHere wrote:

what are your scores? 

and if your using the best course of action, keep in mind that's over a 24 month period. not pif or paid down in this case. 

---

Hi

Scores are EQ-FICO 708,EX-PLUS 705,TU-FICO 710. Not the best but hoping to improve them.

---

---

what is the balance/limit now? 

with one card its kind of hard to tell. 

Also are you financing or leasing?  

I'm in the same boat. I believe my scores will be in the 700's when all my accounts update. 

I have one card with a balance and before statement closes im paying it to reflect a total of 5 percent util. nothing in specific just my personal preference. 

im going car shopping sept 3rd (all the deals are away the 4th) 

and my car wont last me past the first week of September. 

---

My Limit is $2K, balance is about $650. Not sure if I should go to 8% util or lower.Opinion?

[MarineVietVet]

---

MountainHiker wrote:

Ok, making a credit card payment tomorrow and goal is to maximize my score.Used the simulator inputing various amounts.Appears that the increase in score was greatest in the 2-8% range.Should I go high with 8% or keep the Util closer to 2%?  Keep in mind I have only one credit card. Got to get this right.Auto shopping soon!!

---

Everyone's situation is different and there is no one size fits all approach to this and therefore no "ideal" number.

You might have to play around with the percentages for a few months to see what works best for you. Some people say that 1-3% utilization helps the most. For others it might be 5-9%. As I said it's not one size fits all.

[MountainHiker]

---

MarineVietVet wrote:

---

MountainHiker wrote:

Ok, making a credit card payment tomorrow and goal is to maximize my score.Used the simulator inputing various amounts.Appears that the increase in score was greatest in the 2-8% range.Should I go high with 8% or keep the Util closer to 2%?  Keep in mind I have only one credit card. Got to get this right.Auto shopping soon!!

---

Everyone's situation is different and there is no one size fits all approach to this and therefore no "ideal" number.

You might have to play around with the percentages for a few months to see what works best for you. Some people say that 1-3% utilization helps the most. For others it might be 5-9%. As I said it's not one size fits all.

---

Maybe I should split the difference and go with 5% see how my score responds.

[iMacDrew]

I'd start as low as possible. And work my way up each statement till it plateaus or lowers. 

[MountainHiker]

---

iMacDrew wrote:

I'd start as low as possible. And work my way up each statement till it plateaus or lowers. 

---

Have you notice a score increase pattern by starting very low 1-3% and working upward?