I understand that you should keep utilization at 1-9% for the best credit score. Is this with every card? Say you have 2 major credit cards and 2 store cards, do you want to keep utilization on the store cards? Does this mean keep a balance of 1-9% or use up to 9% and then PIF every month? At this point I will do whatever it takes to raise my score and if that means charging a light bulb to my Home Depot card every month I will do it but I am wondering if it is necessary. Should I keep a balance on at least one of my cards or PIF all cards?
The second part of my question is does your score raise for keeping low utilization over the course of time? Or once you pay down the balances it raises the most it will the following month?
TIA =)
If you are going to apply for credit you want the 1-9% of one cards CL reporting all other cards paid off. The more cards that have balances the lower your FICO score will be as you get dinged for too many with balances. Utilization has no memory it is calculated on the spot when someone pulls a report.
Okay, so if you are trying to get more credit, have only ONE card with a 1-9% balance, the rest showing zero balance. As far as maintaining the other cards, how often do you have to use them? Every few months and then pay off the balance right away?
and you can use them for more than 1-9% as long as you pay it off immediately, right? I just want to get this right.
Use the cards however you like. PIF 3/4 before statement cut and let thr fourth report between 1-9% util. Then PIF that card to avoid interest. Rinse, repeat. 
Thank you for the claification!
My answer is posted here:
Thank you so much for your answer TheManwhocan, that is exactly what I wanted to know.
Your score will be based on the current util. It doesn't matter what the util was the month before. No point in waiting as far as I can see. Just make sure you allow enough time for your CR to be updated with the new util rate.
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