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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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
