How to structure balances for highest score next month

[Anonymous]

Long story short, I may have to fill out a credit application or something next month so I wanted to see the best way to maximize my score. I know there are thresholds on different utilization rates on cards(48.9, 28.9, etc) where you get a score bump but I also know that having certain numbers of cards with zero balance also helps. I currently have four cards. The three scenarios that I’m considering would have my cards utilization at 48.9, 28.9, 1-15%, and 0, or have them at 48.9, 33ish, 0, 0. The overall utilization between all cards wouldn’t be any different between the two.

[Girlzilla88]

My recommendation is to have them all reporting equaling up to 8.9%   so if you have 4 cards, have one at 2% one at 2% one at 2% and the last at 2.9% etc something like that you can do the AZEO method but I did notice I had a higher quick jump when I had a balance even if it is small reporting than when I had a 0 balance reporting 

[Anonymous]

I should clarify, because of the balances overall there is no way I can get all 4 cards under 30%. My total utilization is somewhere in the mid 30s but I won’t be able to lower it in time for next month

[Anonymous]

The less # of cards reporting a balance seems to factor higher with some profiles vs dragging the aggregate under X%.  It all depends on what you're applying for though and which score model they're using to evaluate your credit.  If it's employment related they're mostly looking for abd things like missed payments, BK, etc.

[Anonymous]

Aggregate utilization being a constant here regardless of what you do only leaves 2 other factors to consider:  Highest individual utilization card and number of cards with a balance.  Taking your highest individual utilization card down across 1 threshold (say 45% to 27%) is probably "worth" about the same as having one less account with a balance, so chances are it doesn't really matter which direction you go.  If you're talking a mortgage, less accounts with balances is generally the advice you'll receive, so trying to zero out more accounts would perhaps be the wisest move.

[Anonymous]

This is why I have more than 4 cards. lol

That way I have the freedom of everyday spend on the other 5, while those 3-4 carry a balance. Only having 4, and carring a rather high balance on all of them is just to constricting.

Are you apping for a Mortgage, or a consolidation Loan?

[SouthJamaica]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Long story short, I may have to fill out a credit application or something next month so I wanted to see the best way to maximize my score. I know there are thresholds on different utilization rates on cards(48.9, 28.9, etc) where you get a score bump but I also know that having certain numbers of cards with zero balance also helps. I currently have four cards. The three scenarios that I’m considering would have my cards utilization at 48.9, 28.9, 1-15%, and 0, or have them at 48.9, 33ish, 0, 0. The overall utilization between all cards wouldn’t be any different between the two.

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I don't know about your profile, but in my profile I don't think there'd be even a point difference between the 2 scenarios.