Spring clean your credit scores

Spring officially started yesterday. That means it is time to take a quick look at your credit. Most of us could stand to give our credit scores a bit of a boost this spring, myself included. Increasing your credit scores can help you save big on loans, credit cards, insurance, utilities and more. Here are a few things you can do to spring clean your credit scores:

• Aim for a balance of 2 to 6 credit cards and 1 to 2 loans on your credit report. Opening a new credit card or loan could give your scores a boost.
• Check your credit reports for errors. Are there mistakes or fraudulent records holding your credit score back.
• Reduce your credit card debts. Keep your credit card balances well below 35% of your credit limits.
• Dispute expired negative records. Most negative records such as collection accounts, late payments and bankruptcy filings should expire from your credit report after 7-10 years.
• Watch out for common credit mistakes people make. You may think these steps will give you a boost but they can actually damage your credit.

Where does your credit stand right now? What are your improvement goals for this spring? Share your feedback in the comments section below!