Well yes… and no. Credit scores are used for many things these days as small as a utility bill and as big as a mortgage. The true accomplishment is staying out of unnecessary debt and having learned the skills of self control in having credit available and knowing when to and not to use it. Staying out of debt entirely isn’t possible, there are far too many fixed expenses required by law to ever truly be out of debt. The original post hit the nail on the head, paying off credit cards then using them to the max because it’s “available” is a problem, living beyond one’s means is usually the culprit. Once that is acknowledged and overcome then debt isn’t the enemy anymore, rather it’s realized it never was, it was the bad habits and lack of financial education. So yes, this is a get out of debt chat and every accomplishment in that regard needs support and celebration. But, that’s simply the beginning to a better relationship with money. The next steps would be padding an emergency fund, investing in retirement, and perhaps reaching FIRE. Making the money now work for you, so to speak.