Recommendations to keep your credit in good standing

1. Close-out any open lines of credit that you are not using, as lenders view these open lines of credit negatively. If you make an in-store purchase (i.e. furniture), oftentimes that account remains open even after you've paid-off the loan.
2. Do not open lines of credit at stores that say "save 10% today if you open a credit card". Each card you open creates a "hit" on your credit report that negatively affects your credit rating.
3. Do not max-out your credit cards, as it is viewed negatively by lenders. It is best to only keep a balance on a credit card that is less than 30% of your maximum credit line.
4. Do not keep high-credit line credit cards, as they are viewed by lenders as potential financial hazards (you could potentially charge $100,000 to a $100,000 credit card, which makes you a risk).
5. NEVER miss a payment, as it puts a bad mark on your credit report. It is always possible to contact the lender to make financial arrangements rather missing a payment and receiving a bad mark.