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- Use a streaming service for music
- Visible by Verizon
- 2017 credit card bonus categories
- 5. Select your retirement investments
- Can I transfer Apple Daily Cash money to my bank account?
- Ask about car insurance discounts for students
- Loss of control over payment collection
- 10. Selling course notes
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 20-year-olds with poor credit
- For crypto: Crypto.com
- Public non-traded REITs
- Government bonds
- 16. Moe’s Southwest Grill
- Money Manager
- Resident status rules
- Methodology
- 7. Update as needed
- Consider how much you’ll need to borrow
- 3. Outline what’s important to you
- How to maximize your rewards
- 3. Predict the option strike price
- 1. Avoid filing your tax return on paper
- 1. Dividend payments
- Redeem for gift cards
- Cheapest car insurance after a DUI
- Resident status rules
- Pay with a credit card that earns bonus rewards on rental cars
- United Airlines
- Equipment brokers
- Social Security scams
- Fleet expense management tools
- 2. Look into tax-loss harvesting
- 11. Luxury hotel benefits
- Space out credit applications
- Average annual car insurance costs from large companies
- 9. Take surveys
- 6. Account takeover
- Security
- 8. Use a do-over
- 11. Rental car coverage
- 1. Visit American's homepage or log into your account
- Laundry
- Property standards
- 6. Capital One Rewards
- Learning to invest like Warren Buffett
- 2016 credit card bonus categories
- Tax credits for low-to-middle-income households
- 1. Automate transfers
- Set a price alert
- Schedule 3: Additional credits and payments
- Other meals
- 17. P.F. Chang’s
- Open a business bank account and credit card
- Perks await when you fly economy with elite status
- 8. Shared accessories and attire
- How are my belongings covered?
- Bank certificates of deposit, or CDs
- 3. Sell your castoffs
- 2. Get direct deposit
- 2. Capital gains
- Try up-and-coming vendors
- Donate to charity
- Best for
- Our pick for: Fixed monthly payments
- 13. PR agency
- Could be responsible for debt if customers don’t pay
- 11. Working as a lifeguard or swim instructor
- Dividend per share (DPS)
- 2. Make sure your bonus is actually taxable
- It’s more than just roller coasters
- Monitor your credit reports
- 3. Pick your index funds
- 3. Japan Airlines
- Card details
- 12. Travel assistance
- Identify grants that are suited to your business
- Spa services
- 6. Sell your wares on Etsy
- 2015 credit card bonus categories
- Wash sale rules
- How quickly could the IRS implement the child tax credit expansion?
- Medicare scams
- No-exam life insurance rates for nonsmokers
- 3. Hold the shares inside an IRA, a 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account
- 12. Cardholder hotline
- Rebook if you find a cheaper price
- Private REITs
- 10. Search for regular jobs for kids
- 7. Criminal identity theft
- 18. Pinkberry
- Customer support
- AndroMoney
- Access to other deals and promotions
- 4. Research your investments with care
- Example money market account APYs at select institutions
- 3. Stay on top of things
- 7. Don’t neglect your finances
- 3. Net asset value
- Potential drawback
- Our pick for: Cell phone and internet bill payments
- Grocery bonus
- Cricket Wireless
- Appendix: How the math works in our examples
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 20-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket
- Credit unions
- Dividend yield
- Frontier Airlines
- 3. Use tax deductions
- Look for outside funding
- 6. High-yield savings accounts
- Part-year resident status rules
- The details
- Is there enough liability coverage?
- Club Wyndham Grand Desert
- 13. Purchase protections
- Crypto.com is best for:
- Crypto.com at a glance
- 4. Determine the option time frame
- Best insurance company for accident forgiveness: Geico
- 6. OfferUp
- Wireless internet
- Resident status rules
- Part-year resident status rules
- Link your Amazon account
- 14. Professional organizing
- 7. Citi ThankYou Points
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- 12. Participating in research studies
- Tax scams
- No-exam life insurance rates for smokers
- 2. Count your coins and bills
- 13. Access to unique, cardmember-only events
- It might stay open later than other parks
- 19. Pizza Hut
- 4. Set a budget for your stock market investment
- 4. Earn badges through Live videos
- Confirm grant details
- Term life insurance
- 5. Enter a debt management plan
- 2. Start the flight change
- Cost basis calculations
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Benefits
- 4. Contribute to a tax-advantaged account
- 4. Call in a pro
- Pros of a 203(k) loan
- User experience
- 4. Education accounts
- 14. Customer service without the wait
- 4. One more thing to know about your tax refund
- Cheapest auto insurance for poor credit
- Pay upfront
- 15. Photography
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- Investment scams
- Be flexible with destination, airport and dates
- 20. Red Robin
- 4. Decide where to buy your index funds
- 1Money
- 9. Shared home improvement equipment
- What are the deductibles?
- Estimate loan payments
- Permanent life insurance
- Pros
- Where is the best place to exchange currency?
- 7. Self-publish an e-book
- Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX)
- 13. Freelancing online
- Online lenders
- Tax credits for investing in retirement
- Drawbacks
- 3. Prep for grocery shopping
- It's great for adults
- Cons of a 203(k) loan
- Past years' state tax rates
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- Our pick for: An upgrade path
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- 8. Bank of America® rewards
- Copying Warren Buffett’s trades
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 20-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash
- Dividend payout ratio
- For overall similarity: Webull
- 1. Live in the house for at least two years
- How do you get a perfect credit score?
- How much is auto insurance after an at-fault accident?
- SAVE benefits available by October 2023
- 21. Starbucks
- 7. CDs
- Desert Rose Resort
- How do I find a currency exchange near me?
- Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- Best for
- 16. Event space
- Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX)
- 5. Defer your bonus
- 5. Build a community
- 7. Poshmark
- Cons
- Part-year resident status rules
- 14. Cleaning, yardwork and other odd jobs
- U.S. Bank FlexPerks Reserve Visa Signature, U.S. Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite and Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card
- 2. See whether you qualify for an exception
- It’s well connected to the other three parks
- 11. Monetize your social media accounts
- SAVE benefit starting in February 2024
- 22. Wingstop
- 4. United Airlines
- Wildfires
- An example of buying a call
- Consider backup funding options
- Where can you exchange currency for free?
- Potential drawback
- Book through another third-party service
- 17. Interior decorating
- Pros
- Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBTLX)
- Small business loans
- 1. Freeze your credit
- 5. Buy index funds
- Property-based passive income ideas
- 10. Vacation rentals
- How to enroll in Medicare
- 5. ABLE Accounts
- 5. Focus on investing for the long-term
- 3. Review and select new flights
- 8. Get advertising revenue from your blog or YouTube channel
- Tax credits for education
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
- 3. Keep the receipts for your home improvements
- 14. Purchase protection
- 12. Get paid to stream on Twitch
- SAVE benefits available by July 2024
- 23. Red Lobster
- 3. Building a budget
- 18. Woodworking or furniture building
- Cons
- Consumer Cellular
- Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBIAX)
- Equity financing
- 15. Working in retail or food service
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 20-year-old drivers after a DUI
- Payday lenders
- 4. Minimize restaurant spending
- 2. Safeguard your Social Security number
- Everything else
- Webull is best for
- Webull at a glance
- An example of buying a put
- Best insurance company for having few customer complaints: American Family
- Compare car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI
- 8. Establish a marketing plan for growth
- Nonresident status rules
- Hurricanes
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- 15. Return protection
- 8. Buy a rental property
- 11. Electronics repair
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- Our pick for: No security deposit, low annual fee
- Vanguard Growth Index Fund (VIGAX)
- 2020-2022 earned income credit amounts
- 3. Be alert to phishing and spoofing
- 6. Keep an eye on your index funds
- If you want to pay later
- 19. Graphic design
- Business grants
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- T-Mobile customers: Free in-flight text messaging and Wi-Fi on Gogo-enabled flights
- 16. Extended warranty
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- California earned income tax credit (CalEITC)
- The details
- Flooding
- 6. Manage your stock portfolio
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers
- California earned income tax credit (CalEITC)
- Conventional loans
- Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund (VSMAX)
- 5. Get discounts on entertainment
- 4. Use strong passwords and add an authentication step
- 9. Rent out your own house
- 9. Become an Instagram influencer
- Our pick for: Maximized value
- 20. Clothing boutique
- Financial assistance
- 25. Anthropologie
- California young child tax credit (YCTC)
- How to compare life insurance quotes
- Hurricanes and tropical storms
- 4. Saving money
- California young child tax credit (YCTC)
- Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTIAX)
- Average car insurance costs after a speeding ticket
- 5. Use alerts
- 21. Bed and breakfast
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- Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 30-year-olds
- Tax credits for green purchases
- Hail
- 6. Map out major purchases
- 17. Rental car coverage
- 26. Banana Republic
- 10. Get a roommate
- California child and dependent care tax credit
- 12. Academics courses
- Life insurance quotes vs. rates
- American Express® Gold Card
- California child and dependent care tax credit
- Some Budget locations have free pickup service
- 6. Watch your mailbox
- 4. Confirm your flight change
- How much are car insurance quotes?
- Our pick for: No security deposit, low annual fee, potentially high credit limit
- 22. Food truck
- 18. Trip cancellation or interruption insurance
- 27. DSW
- Alternative investment passive income ideas
- California adoption cost tax credit
- 10. Monetize your Twitch channel
- California adoption cost tax credit
- 7. Shred, shred, shred
- Best insurance company for financial strength: Auto-Owners
- NYC tax rate schedule
- Cheapest auto insurance for senior drivers
- Budget also rents other equipment
- Tornadoes
- 7. Restrict online shopping
- 28. J. Crew Factory
- California nonrefundable renters tax credit
- 13. Language courses
- Tornadoes
- California nonrefundable renters tax credit
- 23. Restaurant or cafe
- Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in California for 30-year-olds
- 19. Trip delay reimbursement
- Average car insurance costs after a DUI
- 8. Use a digital wallet
- 11. Peer-to-peer lending
- 29. Journeys
- Lightning and fires
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 24. Craft brewery
- Ultra Mobile
- Wildfires
- 20. Lost luggage reimbursement
- 9. Protect your mobile devices
- 5. Find your flight credit
- Which factors determine car insurance quotes?
- 8. Delay purchases with the 30-day rule
- 30. Madewell
- Compare auto insurance rates for drivers with poor credit
- Winter storms
- Pros
- 11. Sell your photography
- Our pick for: Average credit and rewards
- Budget offers rental car insurance
- 21. Medical emergencies during travel
- 10. Check your credit reports regularly
- 12. Private equity
- The details
- 14. Business or marketing courses
- 25. Ice cream shop
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 30-year-olds with poor credit
- 31. Old Navy
- Earthquakes
- 9. Get creative with gifts
- 11. Monitor financial and medical statements
- Our pick for: Prime gaming
- 26. Personal chef
- Tracfone
- 32. Target Circle
- Cons
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- 15. Personal wellness
- Best insurance company for discounts: Amica
- 27. Landscape services
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- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 30-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket
- 10. Lower your car costs
- Where you live
- Our pick for: Average credit and no annual fee
- Budget roadside assistance
- 28. Pet grooming
- Apple Cash: digital card
- 33. Aveda
- 12. Become a dog walker with Rover or Wag
- 5. Maximizing your credit cards
- Boost Mobile
- Look up the insurer’s financial strength
- Your house
- Previous claims
- 29. Florist
- 11. Reduce your gas usage
- 1. Lost wallet
- 34. BareMinerals
- 16. Courses in hobbies or interests
- Average annual car insurance costs for drivers with good vs. poor credit
- If you’d rather be a free agent
- Your location
- Your coverage
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Cash App debit card
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 30-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash
- 35. Clinique
- Product creation passive income ideas
- 30. Massage therapist
- Research the insurer’s reputation for customer service
- 2. Mailbox theft
- You and your stuff
- 13. Sell unused gift cards
- 12. Bundle cable and internet
- 36. CVS
- 17. Bookkeeping and accounting
- 1. Look at customer satisfaction scores
- Your deductible
- Our pick for: Limited credit
- Individual stocks
- 14. Write content
- 3. Using public Wi-Fi
- 37. e.l.f. Cosmetics
- 2. Consider financial strength
- Your credit history
- 31. Nutritionist
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 30-year-old drivers after a DUI
- 13. Switch your cell phone plan
- Best insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm
- 6. Borrowing money
- Our pick for: Target gaming purchases
- 38. Lancome
- 18. Consulting
- 3. Evaluate the policy options
- Compare insurance rates for drivers with an accident
- 14. List your spare bedroom on Airbnb
- 32. Personal trainer or fitness instructor
- 4. Data breaches
- Your home’s features
- Ting
- Dividend stocks
- 39. Sephora
- 14. Reduce your electric bill
- 4. Get prices from a handful of companies
- Your other policies
- Our pick for: Good credit
- 33. Beauty services
- How much is auto insurance for young drivers?
- 5. SIM card swap
- 40. SmashBox
- 15. Publish a digital course
- Your dog
- 34. Life coach
- Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 40-year-olds
- 15. Lower your student loan payments
- 41. The Body Shop
- 19. IT support
- 6. Phishing or spoofing
- Car-related passive income ideas
- 42. Ulta
- Best insurance company for military members: USAA
- 15. Sell your gently used clothes
- 16. Cancel unnecessary subscriptions
- 35. Tutor
- What is a prepaid debit card?
- 7. Skimming
- 16. Wrap your car with ads
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- Our pick for: Travel
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- Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in California for 40-year-olds
- 36. Daycare provider
- 17. Refinance your mortgage
- 43. AMC Theatres
- What is a prepaid credit card?
- Average annual car insurance costs for young drivers by company
- 8. Phone scams
- 17. Rent out a parking space
- Our pick for: Walmart gaming purchases
- 44. Barnes & Noble
- 16. Trade in old phones, electronics for cash
- 37. Senior care provider
- Where can you get a prepaid card?
- 18. Set savings goals
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- 9. Looking over your shoulder
- 45. Redbox
- 38. Interpreter or translator
- How do you add money to a prepaid card?
- Our pick for: Instant gratification
- 39. Housecleaning
- Which prepaid card is best?
- 10. Malware
- 17. Get a babysitting gig
- 19. Track spending
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- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 40-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket
- 7. Your credit score
- 40. Automotive repair
- 1. Gather your information
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- 18. Rent out your car
- Our pick for: PlayStation purchases
- Our pick for: Personalized rewards
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 40-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash
- 21. Keep savings in a high-yield savings account
- 42. Dry cleaners
- If you want both brand-specific perks and flexible points
- 2. Choose the right liability car insurance coverage levels
- 43. Hardware store
- 22. Create a 50/30/20 budget
- 1. Do your research
- 19. Sign up for TaskRabbit
- 44. Self-storage business
- Cheapest auto insurance in California for 40-year-old drivers after a DUI
- 2. Get organized and make it official
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- 23. Shop consignment and thrift stores
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- 20. Become a private tutor
- 3. Find the right financing
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- Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California for 50-year-olds
- 48. Sell clothes online
- 3. Decide if you need full coverage car insurance
- Our pick for: Best Buy purchases
- 24. Join initiatives to get free items
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- 8. Taxes
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- Cancel For Any Reason
- 27. Enjoy community events
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- Our pick for: Digital Microsoft Store purchases
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- 24. Sign up to be a mystery shopper
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- Compare car insurance companies
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- 10. Insurance
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- The NerdWallet Smart Money podcast
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- Auto insurance laws in California
- Low-income car insurance in California
Your credit utilization is simply the portion of your available credit you use, expressed as a percentage. It is the total of balances on all your credit cards divided by the total of all your credit limits. (It's also figured on a per-card basis.) This number is a big factor in your credit score — the less available credit you use, the better it is for your score.
Here’s how to keep your utilization low.
Why is having a low credit utilization important?
Paying your balances on time and in full every month is the best way to keep your score intact or build it. On the other hand, using a larger portion of your credit limit could do damage. Credit utilization accounts for around 20% to 30% of your credit scores.
But if a financial crisis means you have to lean on credit cards, take heart: Credit scores can rebound quickly once you're able to lower your utilization.
How to lower your credit utilization
1. Keep your charges on each card to a minimum
The simplest way to avoid losing credit score points for using too much of your limits is to watch how much you charge to each card. Make a habit of patrolling your online accounts to keep tabs on spending. If you are close to using 30% of your credit limit on one card, try to make a payment or switch to using another card.
Simply getting into the habit of paying twice per month instead of once could help you decrease your credit usage. Lower balances can save you interest if you carry a balance — and are good for your credit score regardless.
You can also monitor your per-card and overall credit utilization by viewing your credit score profile from NerdWallet.
2. Ask for higher credit limits
If it’s tough for you to avoid utilizing more than 30% of your available credit, another solution might be to request a credit line increase on your card or cards. Getting a credit limit increase might require you to call your card issuer or make the request online. Sometimes increases are offered automatically if you’ve had your card for a while and have a positive payment history, so be on the lookout for those offers when you log in to your account.
Another option to get a higher overall credit limit is to ask a friend or relative to add you as an authorized user on an established account. The primary user doesn't even have to give you a card or tell you the account number for your credit score to benefit. Do choose carefully: Being on the account of someone who is having problems with credit could affect your score, too. You want to be on an account showing good payment history, preferably with a high credit limit and consistently low credit utilization.
A higher overall credit limit could help you keep your credit utilization lower than it would be otherwise. This could make a big difference in your credit score. You can check your own credit to see the effect (and it won't hurt your score).
3. Set up balance alerts to stay on top of spending
If you find yourself consistently overspending, setting up balance alerts can help keep your spending in check.
Sign up with your credit card issuer to receive alerts via text message or email. You can choose to be alerted when the balance reaches a certain amount or percentage of your credit limit. Your goal is to keep the balance below 30%.
4. Pay your bill before your issuer reports to the credit bureaus
Most credit card issuers report your balance and payment activity to the credit bureaus once every 30 days. However, this doesn’t necessarily coincide nicely with when your bill is due. If your issuer reports a few days before the end of your billing cycle, you’ll consistently look like you’re carrying a high balance — even if you pay it off in full just a few days later.
Place a call to your card issuer’s customer service line to find out when it reports to the credit bureaus. Simply pay off as much of your balance as you can in advance of that date every month, and you might see a jump in your score.
5. Monitor your total credit utilization
If you have multiple credit cards, it might be hard to view the bigger picture of your credit utilization. Using the calculator below, input your credit card balances and limits to check whether you're under the recommended 30% utilization threshold.
If you’re creeping up to that limit, do your best to pay down your balances and explore ways to stop spending money.