What Doesn’t Matter (As Much) When Fixing Your Credit — And What Actually Moves the Needle

What Doesn’t Matter (As Much) When Fixing Your Credit — And What Actually Moves the Needle

If you’re trying to rebuild your credit, you’ve probably heard a lot of opinions — some helpful, some outdated, and some that just waste your time.

So let’s cut through the noise. Here’s what people obsess over that doesn’t really move your score — and what actually does.

🚫 Things That *Don’t* Matter (As Much)

• Small unpaid medical bills — Most under $500 are no longer counted by credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• How much you spend — in general — Your spending doesn’t hurt your credit unless it affects utilization or you don’t pay it back.
• Using debit cards instead of credit — Debit card history doesn’t get reported to credit bureaus.
• Large purchases you pay off immediately — Buying a couch on your card won’t hurt you if it’s paid off before the statement closes.
• Having too many credit cards — As long as you manage them well, more accounts = better average age + more available credit.

✅ What Actually Moves the Needle

• Paying on time — every time (35% of your score)
• Lowering your credit utilization — Keep balances under 30%, or better yet, 10%
• Keeping old accounts open — They help with your credit age
• Adding on-time rent or utility payments — Use tools like Experian Boost
• Disputing errors — One inaccurate late payment can cost you 50+ points

💡 AI Tools I Used to Track + Improve My Score

I used ChatGPT to make a custom 30-day credit plan, then tracked everything inside Notion. I also used:

• Credit Karma — For tracking changes
• Experian Boost — To add utility bills
• Truebill/Rocket Money — To keep debt paydown automated

💬 Final Thought

Don’t waste energy worrying about things that barely affect your credit. Focus on what moves the needle — small wins add up fast when you’re consistent and strategic.

Coming soon: How I used AI to go from “meh” to “wow” in under 90 days. Subscribe so you don’t miss the shortcut.