Credit scores respond to a few behaviors, mainly utilization, payment history, the age of your accounts and new applications, and credit cards touch every one of them. This category is small for now, with three guides, and focuses on the card habits that influence borrowing outcomes rather than on score myths or quick fixes. It suits anyone deciding how many cards to hold or whether to close one.
Where to start
- What does credit utilization actually mean? The clearest place to learn how balances relate to limits.
- When should you keep or close an old credit card? Useful before you cancel anything.
- How many credit cards is too many for a simple setup? Helps you size a setup you can manage.
To put utilization into practice, see the tools page.