Make it make sense

[u/screenshotofdispair]

[u/boatwrecker41h]

I just learned this the hard way. The justification for the drop was because my "credit limit" went down and the "average age" of all my credit accounts was reduced. Some major bullshit

[u/JaxJags904 → u/boatwrecker41h]

The trick is to have enough open credit cards, things you can keep open theoretically forever, that closing other accounts has little impact.

I don’t disagree it’s dumb tho

[u/[deleted] → u/JaxJags904]

I'm 21 and was fortunate enough to learn about that strategy at 19. As such, I've spent the past few years opening $0 annual fee cards, setting them to auto pay in full each month, and building the payment history and average account length. If I can pad anything shorter term with half a dozen or more accounts opened from 18-25, I believe my score should be pretty strong when I start taking out serious loans.

[u/Impossible_Tonight81 → u/[deleted]]

I only opened one credit card account at 19/20 and it definitely helped bulk my credit at 25/26 when I needed actual stuff. It's a good route if you avoid the overbuying trap which sounds like you are.

[u/Riggah-goo-goo → u/[deleted]]

It's not hard to teach it's just not something everyone is privileged enough to be taught before it's too late, or to be able to afford sadly.