What's best for utilization?

[leonardotmnt]

My wife is an AU on a couple of my cards and now has a couple of her own.  For us to have the highest score boost related to utilization should I just have one of my cards that she's an AU on report a balance between 1-9%?  Is there any use in having her have her own card report a balance as well or will the utilization factor in because she's an AU with me?  

Also, with her having 2 cards now she's definitely going to use her Barclaycard rewards card to put utilities on and pay it before the statement date so a balance doesn't report.  She also has a secured Cap One with only a $400 CL.  Should we charge something like Netflix each month and pay it before the statement date so it does show a payment history each month or is that even necessary?  I wasn't sure if it still showed paid even if the card wasn't used.  

[leonardotmnt]

Any thoughts?

[Swapmeet]

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@leonardotmnt wrote:

My wife is an AU on a couple of my cards and now has a couple of her own.  For us to have the highest score boost related to utilization should I just have one of my cards that she's an AU on report a balance between 1-9%?  Is there any use in having her have her own card report a balance as well or will the utilization factor in because she's an AU with me?  

Also, with her having 2 cards now she's definitely going to use her Barclaycard rewards card to put utilities on and pay it before the statement date so a balance doesn't report.  She also has a secured Cap One with only a $400 CL.  Should we charge something like Netflix each month and pay it before the statement date so it does show a payment history each month or is that even necessary?  I wasn't sure if it still showed paid even if the card wasn't used.  

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I'm pretty sure that letting her AU card report  <10% will be sufficient. 

[bada_bing]

I think one AU card will count as one card with a balance for utilization.

It definitely works the other way, where an AU on an account with

a high balance takes a high utilization hit. 

[Swapmeet]

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@bada_bing wrote:

I think one AU card will count as one card with a balance for utilization.

It definitely works the other way, where an AU on an account with

a high balance takes a high utilization hit. 

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This was my logic as well. If it can hurt util....it should be able to help as well.

[Themanwhocan]

Answered here:

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/How-do-I-play-the-1-9-Utilization-Game-Please-Help/m-p/...