1. Don’t Miss Payments Late or missed payments can severely damage your credit score. Always pay at least the minimum due on time. 2. Don’t Max Out Your Credit Cards High credit utilization (over 30% of your limit) can hurt your score. Aim to keep balances low. 3. Don’t Apply for Too Much Credit at Once Multiple hard inquiries in a short period can signal risk to lenders and lower your score. 4. Don’t Close Old Credit Accounts Length of credit history is important. Keep older accounts open, even if you don’t use them often. 5. Don’t Ignore Your Credit Report Errors or fraudulent activity can go unnoticed. Regularly check your report to ensure accuracy. 6. Don’t Spend Beyond Your Means Overspending leads to high balances and difficulty paying off debt, which can negatively impact your score. 7. Don’t Co-Sign Without Careful Consideration Co-signing makes you responsible for someone else’s debt, which could harm your credit if they default. 8. Don’t Close a Card to “Fix” Credit Utilization Closing a card reduces your available credit, which can increase your utilization rate and lower your score. 9. Don’t Use Payday Loans or Predatory Lending These high-interest loans can trap you in debt and don’t typically help build credit. 10. Don’t Forget to Diversify Credit Types Having a mix of credit (like credit cards and installment loans) can strengthen your credit profile. Avoiding these common mistakes will help you build and maintain a strong credit foundation!

Good credit unlocks financial opportunities, like lower interest rates, higher loan approvals, and better credit card perks. It helps save on insurance, secure rentals, and get favorable mortgage terms. Plus, it boosts financial flexibility, aids in emergencies, and supports business and wealth-building goals.