3 Steps To Lift Your Credit Score

This post by Jill Schlesinger originally appeared on CBS' MoneyWatch.com.

Here are some more ways to take control of your credit score.

• Delay gratification: Just say no to putting more charges on your card
• Don't max out: Credit scores take into account just how much credit you have available, so it's important not to max out your credit card balances; make an effort to keep balances low.
• Pay bills on time: This is the key-enough said!
• Just Say NO to new cards: New open credit may decrease your credit score. Also, every credit inquiry from a finance company decreases your score by points.
• Check your credit report: If you see an error, dispute it! Don't forget that you're entitled to one free report a year at AnnualCreditReport.com

Jill Schlesinger is the Editor-at-Large for CBS MoneyWatch.com. Prior to the launch of MoneyWatch, she was the Chief Investment Officer for an independent investment advisory firm. In her infancy, she was an options trader on the Commodities Exchange of New York.

Jill Schlesinger

Jill Schlesinger, CFP® is the Emmy-nominated business analyst for CBS News. She covers the economy, markets, investing and anything else with a dollar sign on TV, radio (including her nationally syndicated radio show), the web and her blog, "Jill on Money." Prior to her second career at CBS, Jill spent 14 years as the co-owner and chief investment officer for an independent investment advisory firm. She began her career as a self-employed options trader on the Commodities Exchange of New York, following her graduation from Brown University.

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