You could be paying your balances in full every month and STILL showing high utilization.
Here's why ๐
Most cards report your balance on the statement closing date. Not the due date.
So if you charge $4,000 on a $5,000 limit and pay it off on the due date, your report already shows 80% utilization.
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Pay your balance DOWN before the statement closes
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Aim to report under 5% on individual cards for maximum score impact
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Leave a small balance like $10-$20 so it doesn't report as $0 (shows activity)
๐ Timing your payments around statement close dates is one of the fastest ways to lift your score without opening a single new account.
Small adjustment. Big results.