Home » credit utilization
November 29, 2025
By
The Admiral Staff
A recent study found that one in four American credit card holders have experienced a decrease in their credit limit or even card closure, reversing a six-year trend of increasing limits. Credit card companies are reducing available credit due to economic uncertainty. If your limit is reduced, it’s crucial to understand how this impacts your credit utilization (the amount of credit you’re using compared to your total limit), which significantly influences your credit score. Options for dealing with a reduced limit include contacting the issuer to inquire
November 23, 2025
By
The Admiral Staff
A reader’s credit score dropped 38 points despite diligent budgeting and paying off their credit card in full each month. The author suggests the likely culprit is an inactive store credit card that may have been closed due to inactivity, which negatively impacts credit utilization and account age. They advise obtaining free weekly credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com to investigate and check for inaccuracies, errors, or potential identity theft. The author emphasizes that a credit score is a snapshot and maintaining good financial habits like paying balances
October 29, 2025
By
The Admiral Staff
Achieving an 800 credit score, held by just 22% of consumers, unlocks the best lending terms and significant savings. Those with near-perfect credit share nine key habits: consistently paying bills on time, establishing a payment schedule (often frequent payments), keeping credit utilization low (ideally below 10%), avoiding cancellation of old credit cards, using cards regularly, applying for new credit selectively, requesting credit limit increases, utilizing credit freezes to prevent fraud, and avoiding obsessive score
September 12, 2025
By
The Admiral Staff
This article provides guidance on improving your credit score, emphasizing the importance of credit utilization. It outlines credit score ranges (from 300-850) and details the factors that influence your score: payment history (35%), credit utilization (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%), and credit mix (10%). The article stresses keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30% to boost your score, offering strategies to achieve this, such
March 18, 2025
By
The Admiral Staff
To maximize credit card rewards, leverage sign-up bonuses, rewards for spending (especially on bonus categories), and perks like free checked bags or elite status. While applying for multiple cards can boost your credit score by lowering credit utilization, it’s crucial to manage them responsibly to avoid interest fees and overspending, which can negate any rewards earned. Ultimately, choose a card aligned with your goals—travel rewards or cash back—to best suit your needs.
