How to Increase Your Credit Score DRAMATICALLY in 2025

[@_1Brick1_]

I finally hit the 800 club 🎉. 823 is the highest so far

[@Daniel_Braun]

Nice! Congrats!

[@tejaskary]

Apparently credit utilization does not apply for charge cards like Amex Gold since they have no predefined limits. So it may be a good idea to do larger purchases on these to not hurt your credit utilization as much it seems!

[@Daniel_Braun]

Correct, that's been the case with my Amex Gold and Platinum cards and is definitely a good thing to keep in mind!

[@samuelolvera7025]

So if I pay the whole card off before my due date on the 12th of every month, I can use again on the 13th without credit utilization being an issue?

[@floydbanks173]

@@samuelolvera7025 NO, wait until the statement close date for the current billing cycle passes. That's typically 3-5 days AFTER the Due Date depending on the card. If you're the type of person who checks online for your credit card statements, once you see the next month's statement generated, you're good to go.

[@Bxdarealest]

@@samuelolvera7025no, you have to wait the 3 days in between your due date and the closing date. The closing date is 3 days after in general and is the day the credit card company will report the amount you have to the credit bureaus

[@_1Brick1_]

You can’t carry a balance on the anyways so that don’t matter

[@pro-muffins2721]

This is so funny 😂 😅- I pay all my cards to 0 - I mean zero 0️⃣ and my credit just jumps 2 points.

[@ajh.4131]

I’m almost in the 800 club!! 🎉 Honestly, I just use my credit cards for travel benefits. I couldn’t care less about anything else. The other perks are nice though. I may be able to fly business class for the first time this year since I’ve accrued so many points. Something I’ve always wanted to do 😁👏🏾

[@justinmirche]

This was such a clear and well-explained breakdown of how credit scores actually work! 🙌 The part about payment history being the biggest factor really hit home - so many people don’t realize just one missed payment can stick around for years.

[@Daniel_Braun]

Thanks Justin, much appreciated man!! Yeah that payment history is key - such an easy thing to do consistently to help a credit score, but so easy hurt that credit score with a missed payment

[@justinmirche]

@@Daniel_Braun Absolutely, Daniel! Payment history is such a game-changer

[@miltonceotto3918]

Great video, as a financial adviser I'm surprised that even hnw individuals sometimes struggle with some of these concepts. I’ll be recommending this video

[@aaronrudy94]

I appreciate the helpful videos as always! I started watching sometime ago when my credit score was low 600s. I was able to do everything you mentioned and currently have a 770 score. I have the savor one and venture x combo as my dailies, and mix it up with the amex gold and prime card from time to time. I was able to travel to El Salvador for free last year and rent a car with my amex sign up bonus points on the gold card. Currently sitting on 98k points on my venture X, so I will be planning another trip soon. Thought I would share since I have really benefited from all your videos.

[@Tristin471]

"Waited until 20 years old to open my first credit card." Last year, i opened my first card at 28, so youre way ahead of me 😂

[@SimonLual-f7z]

Aye Daniel, great video and love all the info you've dropped!!

[@nanoyantin9776]

Great advice and video...thank you🙌

[@alexandrasvdavis]

Thanks for this, Daniel! Great content as always.

[@Sakurasan2023]

Great video 📹 👍

[@Antares_451]

Yeah... If you have a vehicle loan, be very careful making additional payments as some loans comes with pre payment penalties.

[@dgasmd1]

I treat CC like a debit card: "1. I don't use it unless I have the cash for it and 2. I pay all balances weekly as I detest to see any balance on the statements". I realize I don't have to, but it is a habit. Am I keeping my credit score from rising, even by a little, by doing so and having a $250K in CC lines (not counting several charge cards)???

[@landenf9]

Set it on autopay for the statement balance on the due date. Continue to only pay for something if you have the cash.

[@Adiscretefirm]

Are your scores going up? How long is your credit history?

[@dgasmd1]

@@Adiscretefirm score has been exactly at the same for months! Have a very long credit history, number of credit lines, and high limits. Just wandering if the payments before statement dates vs at/after would make a difference even if by a point.

[@ajh.4131]

Same. I pay my balances just about every other day whenever I make purchases.

[@theonlygamergamesvlogs8100]

@@dgasmd1if you are paying it off every week or so, then whenever your statement closes for the month, they send your balance to the credit bureaus and you will have a 0% utilization. This means that the credit bureaus will think you just didn’t use your card at all so you should try to pay it down to only 1-9% of your limit and instead just pay it after the statement closes. you still won’t pay any interest and you’ll still be paying on time but it will over time increase your credit score more than if you leave it at 0%. 0% utilization isn’t bad, but like imagine if you gave someone 20 bucks and they didn’t spend any of it. you wouldn’t gain or lose any trust in that person because they didn’t even use it.

[@im_just_another_guy]

7:56 TIP - add an authorized user to your oldest credit card account that has no annual fee -- Most banks will keep that account open and in good standing, even it it is unused. Otherwise there is more of a chance that an unused account will be closed.

[@Fuknserg]

Woke up this morning to a 20 point increase now 21 sitting at a 755 credit score.

[@erickcarrasco1496]

What did you do

[@brandyssailor]

This is super helpful

[@danielachiara]

Very helpful tipis, but what about closing dates and credit limits? I tend to pay my statement balance and put it in the negative. I also make sure my current balances are $0 on its closing dates. Credit Karma tells me if I keep my oldest card open for another 5 years + increase my credit limit by 10k, then I'll be excellent in all categories. I'm aiming for an 850!! (Currently in the low 800s)

[@darthmaul8941]

Great video as always Daniel! Penny for your thoughts on the updated cash back percentage on the Costco Anywhere card? Also, don't tell my dad, but Go Birds!

[@paolaanimator]

What if I can't pay off the statement in full? What I've been doing is for example, statement balance is $200, minimum payment is $40, and I just put down $100. Is this still good? I did see the interest rate being applied. I have 3 credit cards and been keeping utilization under 20% so far. I'm not in 800 range, in 700 range. My concern is I heard about FICO 10 coming this summer which may either increase or decrease the credit score. I'm starting a new job soon so as soon as I get paid I'll see if I can put more money down on my cards and pay it off sooner. I'm also almost done paying off a different debt (not credit card) so I've been prioritizing that as well. My goal is to put a down payment on my first car and finance a car, it will be a used car within a budget and be my basic transportation to get to work.

[@timberthewolf733]

Anything aove a 700 for a car loan is great, plus the bigger the down payment the better. Less per month and lower interest rate, up to a point.

[@TheGamer-eh2uz]

Hello. I've done all this, and my credit did not go up at all. Maybe 1 point i pay off the credit card at 0 balance and nothing at all

[@floydbanks173]

Even though I set up minimum payments as a precaution (What if I'm temporarily incapacitated?), I usually don't wait. As soon as the statement is available, I get that taken care of. Everything paid after that is gravy.

[@uhhdriftzz4833]

I have a 500$ credit card, if I used the 500 but paid it off in full before the due date would the utilization be 100% or 0 percent

[@Daniel_Braun]

If the $500 amount was reported on the statement closing date, but you still paid it off in full by the due date a few weeks later - you would still have a 100% utilization reported. Get that balance lower by the statement closing date, then pay off that remaining amount in full by the due date

[@uhhdriftzz4833]

Statement closing date and balance due date different? Or is the closing date the balance due date?

[@Daniel_Braun]

Yes they are different - I would rewatch the video because I explain it better in that compared to what I can do with a comment 👍

[@hamp7803]

I sorta messed up 6months ago. I was in the mid 700's but with crappy cards. The 5 cards i wanted the most, i applied for all at once. I was approved for all, and less than a month later, my score dropped by over 125pts. Now lower 600's... 😆 First few months I was mad, but now, i know with time it will be fine. I say in about 1.5yr, i should hit 800... maybe..😊

[@BlockchainMoney87]

Get a self account pipe it back up

[@hamp7803]

@BlockchainMoney87 , I think you missed the point. My score went down because of getting 5 new credit cards at once. My utilization became better. My overall credit became better. How would adding another like you suggest would help?

[@MarcosChávezReyes]

What if I pay the current balance? I’ve been doing it for a while but I’m not sure if it’s better or not

[@ajh.4131]

Due date = paid in full Statement date = balance should be less than 30% (preferably 10%)

[@stevenlim2818]

Hey Daniel, I accidentally got too eager and opened up back to back cards to start my credit card journey. Will this have any long term implications or will I be fine as long as I hold off on new credit cards in the meantime?

[@ryan-mj6ts]

You’ll be fine. It’ll even strengthen your credit in the long term because you have more accounts that will eventually mature in age.

[@Adiscretefirm]

You're fine, you took a double hit for inquiries and new credit but the inquiries only count against you the first year and you are doubling the amount of on time payments and increasing the average age of accounts

[@floydbanks173]

It might not be as bad as you think. You will take a double hit on "Age of Accounts" BUT if the two cards pull from different bureaus at least your inquiries get spread out if the cards are obtained via hard pulls.

[@jaipoh]

So paying the statement balance > total balance? Man. I was zeroing out my cards every month (total vs statement) could that negatively affect my score?

[@rickycampos4770]

Thank you I really appreciate the information I have been using your strategy and it really help to increase more of my credit score went from 760 to 800

[@khanfarazz]

Is having 0 % credit utilization a good thing or should i leave a 1-2 % utilization each billing cycle?

[@justgaming6245]

0% credit utilization (all cards combined ) gives a slight penalty.

[@GeauxRilla]

​@@justgaming6245explain, I've heard this claim but have seen zero date to prove otherwise

[@mazenkheder3309]

It would be nice if you summarize it. Thanks

[@Hachihamza-e9u]

What is better card

[@rommelbautista6480]

Is it utilization each card or overall?

[@Daniel_Braun]

Your credit score is going to factor in both

[@exiuss26]

if i appplied for a credit card 5 days ago can i still apply for another one where it would consider as just 1 hard inquiry ?

[@BriFree414]

It would be 2 hard inquiries cause it’s two different credit cards / company

[@BriFree414]

Hard inquiries are for a short time . If you able to go ahead and get a credit card and start building it’ll make up for that hard inquiry but give it some time . Space it out

[@Andy-po8uh]

what if i pay my cards off as soon as the balance shows each time compared to statement balance? js there a difference for my score?

[@michaelhealy7030]

Actually it does affect. If you pay off before the statement, the card's utilization is never reported to the credit bureau. It makes you seem inactive and can stagnate your credit score growth. It's best to leave like 1-3% or so of your max limit for each of your credit cards and allow that to show on a statement before paying off. You can pay off the bigger purchases right away (bigger than 10% of your credit limit) and leave the small ones to pay off after statement

[@Andy-po8uh]

@@michaelhealy7030okay I see thank you so much. I have 4 active cards right now, would you recommend me do this for all cards or just 1 card to keep my utilization down?

[@Andy-po8uh]

@@michaelhealy7030i have 4 active cards at the moment, do you recommend me do this for all or just for 1 or 2?

[@TheCrisisX1]

Any reason why Amex plat declined me?

[@kayr4657]

So can I start using my CC after the due date, or is after the statement balance? (My payment due date is on the 25th but the statement “close date” is on the 27th) I’d really appreciate the clarification, Thanks in advance.

[@Daniel_Braun]

That payment due date of the 25th is from the previous statement balance from last months statement. The close date of the 27th is for the current period Here’s a video that explains it better: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3bNn3p9js9mlZIsi=MQpVaW1gk0ceESLw

[@kayr4657]

Thanks for the link!

[@MYS7ICZ]

I am 18 years old and a 74 1 credit score. How long should I wait for me to get another card. My freedom rise is around 3 months old. Also I always pay my card 4 days before is due does it make a difference if I pay it the day that is due or 4 days early.

[@AshishSingh-si1zg]

Wanna know the same thing. I've got above 760 score with freedom rise as well, hoping to get a card with better limits and benefits, but I'm not if applying within 3 months will be detrimental.

[@jackh1507]

He has a video about the optimal order to get credit cards. I think he says around 6-12 months after your first card go for the chase freedom unlimited; and that’s what i just did i waited 6 months.

[@vince8436]

I personally would not apply for another credit card until the hard pull from the last card drops off of your report. This would be more important to someone with a limited history. But 740 should qualify you for a new card. I guess it depends on how badly you want a second card. But even with decades of history I would never open more than one until hard inquiry has dropped off.

[@LsxDean]

I do all these steps and I’m stuck at 797

[@Daniel_Braun]

I means that’s basically 800 in my eyes and the eyes of lenders. Getting up to around 800 is the goal and time will take care of the rest

[@justgaming6245]

Here's a tactic that some of the more credit gurus use it's called All Zero Except One (AZEO). It's a great strategy to give a little boost right before an application or just for fun. It involves having all of your cards be 0% utilization except for 1 card that is at 1-3%. This gives a short term boost , no point in doing it if you aren't applying for anything.

[@Usmc031189]

The key have multiple loan in your credit report i have like 5 since 2018 utilization 4% (810)

[@vince8436]

I did same too, only difference only credit cards in the mix. The age of credit put me over the top. Which means simply the older you get doing exactly the same thing, your score will naturally go up because of age of oldest card.

[@GeauxRilla]

Does a zero utilization ACTUALLY harm you, car and mortgage aside? Ive got 7 cards and pay every cycle, not due date... So my cc utilization is damn near zero. Please elaborate for the folks at home.

[@birddoesnottalk1032]

I know for Capital One it can because it shows that you might not spend on their card; for Amex I don't think so

[@GeauxRilla]

@birddoesnottalk1032 Amex is a charge card. I'm specifically asking about CCs

[@floydbanks173]

Zero utilization on the cards DOES NOT hurt any of your loans. Having the loans doesn't hurt, BUT your credit report will reap a lot more benefit from the loans when they get to the area of being 80%, 85% 90% paid. Why????? Those same 2 words again, LOW UTILIZATION. The loan is now 90% paid off. When your loan is only 20%, 30% paid off????? THAT'S HIGH UTILAZATION. It's at 70 to 80%. Have you ever read I did the Navy Fed pledge loan & I paid off 90% of it right away & my score exploded. It got really high. That's why. Low loan utilization percentage. More specific to the cards, a principle called AZEO (All Zero Except One) works great for me. All Zeros dropped my score by about 25 points. The one card that did report about a balance was only reporting $5.

[@SumitKumar-oi1eh]

What if your credit score isn't changing for a month or so even after paying everything before closing date and keeping utilization as 0-1%

[@BriFree414]

Is that happening to you ?

[@SumitKumar-oi1eh]

@BriFree414 yes

[@Polo1928-v2e]

If your new to Credit Cards do not get a card with an annual fee.

[@vince8436]

The older you get the chances of your oldest card going away becomes bigger. My first two cards ever were issued by a retailer I worked for which is no longer in business, my second card was from a bank no longer in business. But my 3rd, 4th, and 5th cards still exist. 35 years old.

[@SOXGATORS]

👍🏻

[@Daniel_Braun]

Thanks as always for stopping by! 👍

[@Beenreadytodie]

My credit score dropped 26pts today because I had a 53% utilization so if I have a low utilization next closing date would I get that 26pts back?

[@justgaming6245]

Yes

[@Beenreadytodie]

@ thanks man!!! It’s my first time this happening to me. So I was worried lmao

[@MarcosChávezReyes]

What if I pay the current balance? I’ve been doing it for a while but I’m not sure if it’s better or not