There is a good news. You can now raise your credit score without paying crazy fees.

Just become an authorized user on someone else's credit card. This means they add you to their card, but you don't get one in your name. 

Studies find half of people see their scores increase in only 3 months when they do this. The average boost is 30 points. So, just by getting added to another card, your score often goes up in a few months without you doing much. Keep reading to learn how being an authorized user helps improve your credit score quickly.

What is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a number from 300 to 850 that shows how likely you are to pay back a loan. Lenders look at your credit score to decide whether to give you a loan. They also use it to decide what interest rate to give you. A better credit score means you will likely get approved for more loans and better rates.

Your credit score is based on your credit history. This includes things like:

• How many credit cards and loans do you have?

• How much money do you owe on all your loans and credit cards?

• Did you pay back loans on time in the past?

Why is a Good Credit Score Important?

Having excellent credit can save you lots of money over your lifetime. A good credit score saves you money. Banks let you borrow money for less interest when your score is higher. This means lower monthly payments on things like credit cards, car loans, and mortgages.

A good score also allows you to get approved for more credit cards and loans. This gives you more options for making a big purchase or paying for an emergency.

Additionally, your credit score affects other parts of your financial life. Landlords and utility companies may check your score to see if you can pay bills on time. Car insurance companies can use your credit history to decide your rates.

Why You Don't Need Expensive Credit Repair Services?

You can improve your credit score on your own without paying for services. Just focus on paying all your bills on time each month. If you have debt, pay down balances as much as possible. Also, check your credit report once a year and dispute any errors by contacting the credit bureau.

Credit repair companies charge you hundreds or thousands of dollars and make big promises about fixing your credit quickly. But no one can legally remove accurate negative information from your credit reports. Don't believe claims that seem too good to be true.

The best way to improve your score is time and responsible money habits. Pay off more debt when you can, and never miss payments. Be patient as you build a long history of on-time bills. Your score will slowly but surely go up.

Stick to improving your credit. Paying a company unwarranted fees will cost you money without helping in the long run. You can boost your score independently through diligence and smart financial moves.

How to Improve Your Credit Score Yourself?

Your credit score constantly changes as new information about how you manage debts and payments comes in. Don't worry about small score bumps up and down; stay focused on building healthy money habits in the long term.

What really improves your score is developing good financial behaviors year after year. Here are tips you can start putting into practice:

Pay Your Bills on Time And in Full: Stay on top of monthly payments. Set up autopay or calendar reminders so you never miss a bill deadline. Paying late hurts your score, but an on-time payment record builds trust with lenders.

Keep Your Credit Utilization Low: Keep balances low on credit cards and loans. Using less than 30% of your available credit limits shows lenders you can handle debt responsibly. Pay down balances when possible and limit new charges if your score needs improvement.

Dispute Any Errors on Your Credit Report: Review credit reports annually for mistakes. Errors can drag down your score. You can dispute incorrect late payments, loan terms, or other suspicious items. Initiate an investigation with the credit bureau's dispute process.

Limit the Number of New Credit Accounts You Open: Open new credit only when needed. Too many new accounts can indicate higher risk to lenders. But judiciously adding credit can help build a healthy mix of accounts over time. Balance new credit with other positive factors.

Keep Your Old Credit Accounts Open: Maintain long-held accounts if possible. The average age of your accounts impacts your score, too. Keep cards you've managed well for years. Long positive histories assure lenders of your consistency.

Summing up

The main point is to be proactive and patient. An excellent credit score happens slowly by building good money habits over time. Pay all your bills on time, don't carry large balances on credit cards, don't open too many new accounts, and fix any mistakes on your report. With steady effort, anyone can take charge of their credit and open up more chances.