u/Silent_Zebra_1923

I commute by car and my drive to work is about an hour each way. With gas prices being what they are, I've started looking into getting an electric vehicle to save money in the long run.

My credit score is around 620, and I'd like to improve it before I start shopping for a car so I can hopefully get a better interest rate. I've been making my payments on time, but it feels like my score just won't change.

For those who have been in a similar situation, what actually helped you raise your score?

I learned the hard way that paying your credit card on time isn't the only thing that matters.

During a holiday shopping spree, I used my credit card to buy gifts and planned to pay the balance off by the due date. What I didn't realize was that the balance would be reported before I made the payment. My utilization shot above 50%, and my score took a hit even though I never missed a payment.

That experience taught me that how and when you use credit can matter just as much as paying on time.