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Suze Orman's 5-Step Financial Action Plan

Step 2: Raise Your FICO Score

In today's economy, your financial character is being determined by one thing—your FICO score. Even landlords and employers are using it.

"FICO happens to stand for Fair Isaac Corporation, the company that created the credit score years ago. FICO scores go from 300 to 850," Suze says. "The lower your FICO score, the higher your interest rate. The higher your FICO score, the lower your interest rate."

Download this chart to see how your FICO score is determined. PDF

Suze says there are three ways you can start improving your FICO score today:   

1. If possible, pay more than the minimum every month on your credit cards. "If you're charging on your credit cards and all you're doing is paying the minimum, the credit cards are afraid now that you're not really being very smart with your money," Suze says. "And since you can't, it's not the FICO score that they're looking at to choose to close down your credit cards. It's the fact that you're paying just the minimum, and those are the cards that they're closing down." 

2. Pay your bills on time. "Paying your credit card bills on time essentially counts for 35 percent of your FICO score," Suze says. 

3. Never go over your credit limit. "That's when they start to raise your interest rates, close you down," Suze says.

Another thing to keep in mind: Suze says to never close down a credit card. "It will hurt your credit score," Suze says.

Not sure what your FICO score is? From now until January 22 at 10:00 p.m. CT, Oprah viewers can get a 50 percent discount on the Suze Orman FICO® kit from myFICO®.com. Learn more!

 

From Oprah's Best Life Series Live Your Best Life