Get a credit card with a high limit, keep the balance low and use the credit card to establish a credit history or boost a low credit score. Remember — the more available credit on a credit card, the better.

Your credit score and credit history are extremely important pieces of information. They are used to determine how much home you can afford; what your payments will be on your car; whether you qualify for credit cards; and even how much you’ll pay for auto insurance.

A second mortgage is a type of loan which is secured against the same assets as the first mortgage (e.g. your house) but which is based on the equity accumulated within the property. Though difficult to qualify for a mortgage with bad credit, second mortgages may be the answer for some borrowers looking to improve their credit scores while taking out a loan and making timely payments on that loan.

Insurance companies can use use drivers’ credit scores and personal credit score information to determine how much to charge for auto insurance rates.

Minimum FICO credit score requirements for store credit cards are different for approval from store to store. While credit card companies do not disclose their credit requirements, we can estimate credit requirements for a particular card based upon surveys of previous applicants’ experiences applying for the particular credit card.