 TITLE: What Counts as Income on a Credit Application? CONTENT: Prepare for Your Next Application\n---------------------------------\nIncreasing your income can help you get better loan offers, but it isn't easy. Here are some other things you can try as you're getting ready to apply:\n*   **Pay off debts.** Paying off a debt can lower your DTI, but you'll need to pay it off completely. A debt consolidation loan could be a good option if you can qualify for a lower interest rate, and your monthly payment is lower than the total of your previous payments. Using a loan to consolidate credit card debt may also help improve your credit scores by lowering your utilization rate.\n*   **Review your credit reports.** Look over your credit reports for the factors that may be hurting your credit. You can get your credit reports from all three credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also check your Experian credit report online for free. If you find something you believe to be amiss, you can also quickly file a dispute online.\n*   **Check your credit score.** Experian gives you a free FICO® Score☉ based on your Experian credit report. Track it over time and get suggestions on how to improve your score.\n*   **Ask someone to cosign.** A creditworthy cosigner or co-borrower may help if you can't qualify for credit on your own, or if you're not happy with the terms you're offered.\nYou can also try to get preapproved or prequalified for a loan or credit card with a soft inquiry—which won't impact your credit scores. Experian CreditMatchTM can help you find and compare offers from partner credit card and personal loan companies. Some lenders or loan brokers can also work with you directly to preapprove or prequalify you for a new account. END