Yes, moms — it’s possible, and easier than you think.
For years, I thought improving my credit score would take forever. I felt stuck, overwhelmed, and honestly a little ashamed of where my score was. But once I learned how credit actually works, everything changed.
With a few simple, consistent changes, I raised my credit score 100 points in just 6 months — and you can too.
Here’s exactly what I did, step-by-step.
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The “Let Them” Theory Through Faith: Trusting God With What You Can’t Control
Learning to let go doesn’t mean giving up — it means trusting God. In this faith-centered reflection, I share how the “Let Them” theory becomes even more powerful when paired with surrender, prayer, and focusing on what we can control through faith. Discover how “Let Them” and “Let Me” can bring peace, clarity, and freedom…
To help you get started, here’s a short credit-building video with extra tips on strengthening your credit profile. It explains a few of the same strategies I used to raise my score 100 points.
1. I Stopped Ignoring My Credit Score
The first step was facing it.
No more avoiding credit apps. No more guessing.
I used:
*Credit Karma (free)
*Experian (free)
*Equifax app
Tracking my score weekly helped me understand what made it go up or down — and what to fix first.
2. I Paid All Bills on Time — Every Single One
Payment history makes up 35% of your credit score.
Missing even one payment can drop your score dramatically.
Here’s what I did:
*Turned on autopay for every bill
*Set reminders for bill due dates
*Paid at least the minimum on credit cards, even during tight months
This alone can raise your score steadily.
3. I Lowered My Credit Utilization (THE Big Game-Changer)
This is the secret nobody talks about.
Credit utilization = how much of your available credit you’re using.
For example:
If your credit card limit is $1,000 and you’re using $800 → you’re at 80%, which hurts your score.
The sweet spot? Under 30%, ideally under 10%.
What I did:
*Made multiple small payments throughout the month
*Never let balances sit too long
*Paid cards down before the statement date, not just the due date
My score jumped FAST from this step.
4. I Asked for Credit Limit Increases
Here’s the trick:
You want a higher limit but keep your same spending.
Example:
If your limit goes from $1,000 → $2,000 but you still only use $200, your utilization drops and your score rises.
Most companies approve increases instantly online:
*Capital One
*Discover
*Apple Card
*Chase (sometimes)
I didn’t take on new debt — I just changed the ratio.
5. I Stopped Closing Old Accounts
This was hard for me, but it matters.
Credit age = your financial “history”
Closing old cards shortens your credit age and hurts your score.
Instead of closing them, I:
*Kept them open
*Used them for small purchases (gas, groceries)
*Paid them off immediately
Now they help my score instead of hurting it.
6. I Removed Errors From My Report
Credit reports are wrong more than you think.
I found:
*A late payment that wasn’t mine
*A duplicate account
*A closed loan still reporting as open
I disputed them online and they were removed in less than 30 days.
Errors can lower your score 50–100 points — so check everything.
7. I Used a Credit Builder Loan (Optional but Helpful)
This step isn’t required, but it helped me.
Credit builder loans:
*Add positive payment history
*Build credit safely
*Don’t require high scores to start
Companies like Self, Credit Strong, or even your local credit union offer these.
🌟 What Changed After 6 Months
When my score went up 100 points:
*My interest rates dropped
*I qualified for better loans
*My car insurance even decreased
*I finally felt in control again
Credit is not about perfection — it’s about consistency.
💛 Final Encouragement for Moms
You don’t need a lot of money to rebuild your credit.
You don’t need perfect credit to start improving it.
You just need a plan — and you already have one.
Small steps create big results.
And if I can raise my score 100 points, so can you.
Raising your credit score takes discipline, patience, and consistency — but you don’t have to do it alone. God cares about your financial health just as much as He cares about your heart. As Proverbs 13:11 (NIV) reminds us, “whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Every small step you take is a seed planted for your financial future. Stay steady. Stay faithful. Your harvest is coming.
Blessings,
Andrea Raiford
A.C.RAI Publishing
www.acraipublishing.com
