Credit scores reward consistency. The largest factor is usually payment history, so paying every bill on time is the highest-impact habit you can build. Setting up autopay for at least the minimum protects you from slip-ups.

Next is utilization — how much of your available credit you're using. Keeping balances low relative to limits (many aim for under about 30%) generally helps. Paying down balances before the statement closes can lower the figure that gets reported.

Beyond those: keep older accounts open to preserve your history, apply for new credit sparingly, and check your reports for errors. Your own checks are soft inquiries and never hurt your score.