If your credit were a car, what kind of shape would it be in? Would it be a smooth, new convertible with low mileage and high style? Or would it be an aged hoopty with rust and cracked windows? No matter the make or model, Begin a Budget has the tools and know-how to make credit maintenance a smooth ride.

Don’t be mad when we tell you the first thing you need to is pay your bills on time. We’re going to keep saying it until it’s drilled into your head. The importance of being on time with your money is one of the biggest factors to keeping your credit clean. Multiple late payments could take months to make up.

Try to keep your balances low on revolving accounts. Revolving accounts include credit cards and home equity lines of credit. Revolving refers to any account on your credit report in which the balance can fluctuate. If the balance is more than 50% of your limit, you may start to see your credit score slip.

Stay on top of your score by pulling a tri-merge credit report 2 times a year. “Tri-merge” means all three bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You might not think you need all three, but keep in mind some bureaus pick up things the other ones may not. That’s why anyone who is loaning you money (like a mortgage company) is most certainly going to check all three bureaus before lending you a penny!

Dispute any and all discrepancies. By having a copy of your tri-merge credit report, you know when any questionable issues arise. If something seems wrong, do your due diligence by contacting every reporting bureau individually to get any errors off your credit report immediately.