 TITLE: Why Did My Credit Score Drop? CONTENT: Ways to Improve Your Credit Scores\n----------------------------------\nIf you're looking to improve your credit scores, these tips can help.\n*   **Pay your bills on time.** This is one of the most crucial steps to getting and keeping a good credit score. The best way to pay on time is to set up automatic payments so you won't miss a bill. But make sure you have enough money in the connected bank account to avoid an overdraft.\n*   **Minimize overall debt.** If possible, don't lean on credit to buy items you're not able to pay for in cash, or that you can't pay off by the end of the month. This keeps your payments manageable and your ongoing credit utilization ratio low. Your goal should be to bring your credit card balance to $0 at month's end.\n*   **Monitor your credit regularly.** There are many ways to check your credit score for free, including via Experian. Doing so can help you identify dips in your score quickly and course-correct if necessary. Free credit monitoring from Experian can help you keep tabs on both your FICO® Score and credit report, and keep you updated when there are any changes to your credit report.\n*   **Avoid applying for unnecessary credit cards.** Not only do some cards have pricey annual fees, but an abundance of cards might result in more spending than you can handle.\n*   **Practice responsible spending habits.** Setting up a budget—even a general one that categorizes your spending into a few overall buckets and doesn't require too much upkeep—can help you spend within your means over the long term. END