How to Keep a Good Credit Score

During this day and time, many purchases that we make will need to be used with credit. If you must purchase something on credit, having a higher score is definitely desirable! Here are some tips to help keep your credit score at a level that will allow you great competitive interest rates!
Instructions
Step 1
First off, you need to establish credit if you haven't yet. This can be done by having someone close to you, a friend or family member, "co-sign" on a credit card and/or purchase to help you establish credit. You start off with no credit whatsoever and this is built up by buying things with your credit card and paying it off accordingly.
Step 2
Now that you have credit, do your best to keep your credit card balance(s) at or below 25% of your limit. Keeping your balance at this percentage or below lets the credit card companies that you are very likely to continue paying off your debt and are a reliable borrower. This will maintain or increase your credit score!
Step 3
If you are a college student and have taken out school loans, these is "good debt" and will help your credit score as it shows you are trying to better yourself and will probably end up making more money once you get out of school and pay them off.
Step 4
Don't just casually open up new credit cards at very many places or keep too many credit lines open. If you have a credit card that has been inactive for a very long time, occasionally make a small purchase and pay it off or cancel the card altogether. You want to make yourself appear as reliable as possible to the credit agencies and keeping too many credit lines open defeats this purpose!
Step 5
Always at least pay the minimum on your balance! This will prevent any credit reports being filed on you which can drastically lower your score. Paying at least the minimum payment each month shows that you are trying to work on the balance instead of not paying anything at all.

Tips & Warnings
* Learn from people around you with good credit scores
* Don't take on more debt than you can handle
* Only accept credit cards with low interest rates
* Keep low balances!