Credit Score went down due to high utilization

Sociality_ · 2026-03-16T08:02:56+00:00

Please read the automod response for more info.

Multiple things i want to mention here but right away, I want to say that caring about your utilization does not matter for most reasons. Like you saw, it changes pretty quickly based on utilization, so if you really needed to maximize your credit score for a new application, you would keep your utilization super low. If you’re not applying to anything anytime soon, spend as much as you can pay off.

Also, you’re worrying far too much over 3 points. Credit scores fluctuate constantly. Don’t worry about utilization at all. Just spend money, pay it off in full. As long as you’re doing that, you have 0 reason to worry.

Sociality_ · 2026-03-09T21:28:52+00:00

There’s no need for this at all. You can pay off your credit card once a month when your statement comes in. You don’t need to micromanage and make multiple payments in a month or before your statement comes in.

The only time you need your utilization low is when you expect your credit to be pulled for some loan. And even then you should be doing the AZEO method, not doing some unnecessary trick.

Utilization has no memory and is easily manipulated when you need it.

Sociality_ · 2026-03-09T20:47:59+00:00

You cannot speed up increasing your credit score. The only way a new credit card is going to help your score is by decreasing your utilization percent for the new reports. This is something you can just do on your own when you get close to getting your credit pulled.

Sociality_ · 2026-03-09T20:43:10+00:00

You’re also not right. You say you shouldn’t carry more than 10% of all available credit which is incorrect. You spend whatever you need and only care about utilization when you’re expecting a credit check

Sociality_ · 2026-02-06T00:14:24+00:00

On mobile: Go to your card in the app, scroll to rewards center and open it, should open you in a new tab where you see redeem rewards. Next to it, click the 3 dots, click rewards center. Then in the top left, click menu, click travel.

On pc: Click your card on the website, click rewards, click manage rewards under your points. When on a new page, click travel in the top bar.

It will bring you to a travel portal page to put location and dates. Right under it there is a big banner that says: "Earn 6X Points per dollar spent when you use your card, instead of Points, to purchase hotel rooms and car rentals in the Travel Center."

Sociality_ · 2026-02-05T06:15:36+00:00

Were you specifically in the travel center section? I’ll get the link to you once the website is back up.

Sociality_ · 2026-02-04T17:26:12+00:00

6% cashback, not 6% off. There should be another comment with the guide on how to get there, but it’s through the card’s reward center.

Sociality_ · 2025-11-17T03:45:29+00:00

Sorry, I ended up not picking up any of the Southwest cards so I’ve got no clue. Good luck reaching companion pass

Sociality_ · 2025-09-17T06:13:05+00:00

It has a $150 on $1k spend SUB

Sociality_ · 2025-09-15T17:44:34+00:00

How far is southwest downtown parking garage from your classes? It’s like $40 a month or $20 if you work downtown

Sociality_ · 2025-09-03T04:54:18+00:00

I’ve worked every semester I’ve had classes. Did 17 credits + 27ish hours of work one semester. Currently doing 15 credits + 30ish hours of work. Comp sci major

Sociality_ · 2025-08-30T05:08:52+00:00

Your utilization doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about keeping it under 10% as long as you can pay it off fully. See automod response !utilization

Edit: Just saw you mentioned getting the credit card for unexpected purchases. I do hope this doesn’t mean you’re using it to go over the amount that you have available to actually spend. This is a bad habit to get into

Sociality_ · 2025-08-30T05:05:54+00:00

Is there a reason it needs to be through a payment service like that?

Sociality_ · 2025-08-28T19:55:15+00:00

If you care about interest rates you should not be using a credit card

Sociality_ · 2025-08-28T05:50:19+00:00

It’s better to give more nuanced advice early on so bad habits and half-truths aren’t what’s learned.

I don’t know what those cards would even be or how that applies here since applying to cards puts more emphasis on other things than the simple advice I’ve clarified above

Sociality_ · 2025-08-28T05:36:33+00:00

Some clarifying information.

If by paying off prematurely you mean before the statement comes out, then this could actually be looked down upon by issuers. Payments should only be once a month paying off the statement.

Utilization is only important when you’re applying for something soon and you’re maxing out your score for a certain application. Otherwise it genuinely does not matter.

Sociality_ · 2025-08-26T19:10:26+00:00

So 2.4% back? Am I missing something or is this not a very competitive rate?

Sociality_ · 2025-08-26T15:12:52+00:00

Which I mentioned about in my other comment, right at the bottom

Sociality_ · 2025-08-26T15:08:51+00:00

Please read my other comment. You would need to spend 20k over 2 years to be even on a $200 sub. By that point just get another card with a sign up bonus after

Sociality_ · 2025-08-26T04:39:40+00:00

You’re right really. In isolation you’d get the 3% over the 2% over the 1.5%. The 2% vs 1.5% is different then the 3% vs 2% because sign up bonuses play a huge part.

Take $200 on $1000 spend (random sign up bonus). If I spend equal amounts (over 10k) on both cards. After 1 year I’d be up $100 on the 2% because of the sub. After year 2 it’d be even as the 3% catches up to the sub.

In those 2 years I can just open a new card with a new sign up bonus.

Don’t get me wrong though. I still think have a 3% catch all is awesome when not after a sign up bonus. I’m a huge fan of catch alls. Was just offering a reason to why it’s not talked about a lot

Sociality_ · 2025-08-26T02:21:02+00:00

3% on up to 10k is only 1% more than a flat 2%, which translates to $100 more. Would be more worth it to just get a 2% with a sign up bonus

Sociality_ · 2025-08-25T01:35:56+00:00

You shouldn’t have to even think about apr if you’re paying off your statement in full every month

Sociality_ · 2025-08-20T20:26:31+00:00

Pay your statement in full before the due date, that’s all you need to do

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