Personal credit guides

Glisten's personal credit guides explain how scores are built and what moves them, using FICO's and the CFPB's own explanations. FICO Scores run from 300 to 850, and payment history and amounts owed make up 65% of one. Start with credit utilization, which our calculator works out per card, then compare credit builders on what they cost and which bureaus they report to.

300–850FICO Score rangeSources in this guide

35%of a FICO Score is payment historySources in this guide

30%is amounts owed, where utilization countsSources in this guide

10 of 12credit builders we checked report to all three bureausSources in this guide

How much of my available credit should I be using?

Amounts owed are the second-biggest part of a FICO Score, after payment history. Utilization is your balances divided by your limits, per card and overall, and the guide walks through the math.

Credit utilization: how it's calculated, with a free calculatorWork out your credit utilization per card and overall in seconds. How it's calculated, why amounts owed are 30% of a FICO Score, and what changes it.How credit scores work: FICO vs VantageScore (2026)What goes into a FICO Score and a VantageScore, what doesn't count, what you need to have a score, and which one mortgage lenders now accept.Does income affect your credit score? No, but lenders still ask (2026)Income isn't in your credit report or your FICO Score. Why card issuers and lenders still ask for it, how debt-to-income works, and what a job loss does.

How do I build credit from nothing?

Credit builder loans and secured cards add payment history to your reports. We compared 12 of them on cost and which bureaus they report to. The CFPB found credit builder loans helped people without existing debt more than people who already had some.

Credit builder loans and cards compared: cost and bureaus (2026)12 credit builder products compared on monthly cost, which bureaus they report to and whether they pull your credit, plus what the CFPB found.How long negative items stay on your credit report (2026)Late payments stay 7 years, collections 7 years plus 180 days, bankruptcies up to 10, inquiries 2. Plus medical debt now that the CFPB rule was vacated.

What should I check after I'm turned down for credit?

Lenders have to tell you, and give the reasons or say how to get them. You can also pull all three personal credit reports free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors at no cost.

Business loan denied? What the lender must tell you, and what to do nextLenders must notify business applicants of a denial and give reasons or say how to get them. What Regulation B requires, by business size.How to dispute a credit report error: steps, deadlines and where to send itDisputing an error is free. What to send, how long the bureaus have to investigate, each bureau's dispute channels, and what to do if it isn't fixed.

Work out your credit utilization

Glisten tool · Credit utilization calculator

CardBalance ($)Credit limit ($)

Enter a balance and a limit for at least one card.

Runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good credit score?

FICO calls 670 to 739 good and 800 or more exceptional. The full ranges are in what to do after a loan denial.

What makes up a FICO Score?

Payment history is 35%, amounts owed 30%, length of credit history 15%, new credit 10% and credit mix 10%. See credit utilization.

Do credit builder loans work?

For some people. The CFPB found they helped people with no existing loans get a score, but scores fell for some who already had debt. We compare 12 options in credit builders compared.

Can I check my credit report for free?

Yes. AnnualCreditReport.com gives you a free report from each of the three bureaus once a week. More in what to do after a loan denial.