OMG! I broke 800!

[Cloudlb]

Wow.  Decided to buy a FICO report using the discount today, and I got my Experian report --- 801! I'm shocked. 

Just a few years ago, in 2010, I had no credit at all, and before that, bad credit.  So, in just a few years -- wow.  And much of it is due to this board, so thank you.

[guiness56]

Excellent!  Congrats.

[Cloudlb]

I think Experian tends to be higher than the others, right?  Still, it was pretty exciting to see.

[guiness56]

Can't really say if it is or not.  It would depend on many things.

[myjourney]

Congrats that an accomplishment to be very proud of 

[Shogun]

---

@Cloudlb wrote:

I think Experian tends to be higher than the others, right?  Still, it was pretty exciting to see.

---

Has been my lowest.  It's a YMMV type of thing.  Congrats!

[09Lexie]

Congratulations! In just 3 years...wow!

[Drew]

Well done.  If you don't mind me asking, what do you think might have contributed to the high score?

[Cloudlb]

now I want to get the other two to check!  too expensive, though.  what a racket.

Drew:  this is what I did to build my credit, since the beginning of 2010.

--I waited until whatever baddies I had dropped off the 7 year cliff.  Then, I attempted to check my credit report--not enough to make a score.

--So I went to my credit union and got a small credit limit mastercard. Then added (over the course of 2 years, I think); a furniture store account, a Discover Card, and a Dillard's Amex. 

--Used my cards monthly, paid everything in full on time!

--kept checking my credit reports -- fortunately, there was nothing bad left on there.

--bought a car, financed by my credit union.  Very good terms!  Put the payment on automatic.

--kept on using my cards monthly, bought a few larger purchases, but paid everything on time and promptly.  Kept inquiries to a minimum.

--In January of 2013, bought a house!  (my first ever). Financed by my very wonderful credit union, very good terms.  Put the payment on auto!  Have not applied for anything else since.

That's it.  Use the cards, but don't rack up debt which I can't pay in full every month.  Pay on time! Don't apply for more things.  I think my score went down a bit after I bought my house, but it's bounced back up.  It will probably bob up and down if I apply for more credit cards or something, but I don't know why I'd do that.  I sort of don't understand that whole applying for more and more thing. 

[Shogun]

Once you have that mortgage and a few other accounts, revolving, maybe an auto loan.  Just sit back and garden them, watch that score grow and grow.  Nice work!