OK here is the scoop. Carrying a small balance is good for building your credit rating. Don't be late. It doesn't matter if you pay the minimum or more, just pay. If your card is maxed, it works against you. You should keep in mind your debt to income ratio. You really must try to have total credit related monthly payments less than 50% of your income. Don't close old cards, just stick them away. That can also adversely affect your score. It didn't used to work that way, but apparently now it does. They change the rules of good and bad every few years!

I just moved some debt from one card to a zero interest card to pay off sooner. It actually hurt my credit score because I maxed the new smaller zero interest card! Sometimes your payments will not show up in the same month. EX- I transfered from one card to another. It showed a new balance on the new card but not a reduction in the old card! In a month or two my score will go back up, but having cards maxed does not look good.

A good credit score is a girls best freind! Be careful girls! If anyone is in a flex rate mortgage, start looking for a fixed rate...they are on the way up.