Credit Report Source

To avoid falling into the dreaded financial black hole — a low credit score — try to avoid the following factors, several of which consistently drive credits scores down.

Try not to:

File for bankruptcy:. It certainly isn’t rocket science — filing for bankruptcy will destroy your credit score. In fact, declaring bankruptcy can knock as much as 200 points off your credit score.

Frequently apply for a credit card, loan, or mortgage: If you have an established credit rating, your FICO credit score will drop anywhere between 15 and 20 points each time that you apply for a new credit card, loan, or mortgage. That being said, limit your amount of credit cards to a number that you actually need. It may be tempting not to resist an offer for a credit card from your favorite store at the mall — from Banana Republic to Neiman Marcus — but try to avoid doing so. In the long run, saving 15% on a transaction with your Gap card will never cover the costs that you will incur as a result of a lower credit score. My best advice: Try to consistently zone out cashier(s) when they begin to chime in with additional offers before you make a purchase. As someone who used to frequently sign up for credit cards at Major League Baseball games solely to receive a free towel or T-shirt, trust me on this.

Max out credit cards: If you max out a credit card, it could cost you anywhere from 20 to 120 points on your credit score. To prevent ever maxing out a card, never carry a balance of more than 25% of the credit card’s total limit.

Miss monthly payments: If you miss a monthly payment, even only one time, you can lose up to 35 points on your credit score. I say this frequently in my posts, but regularly paying back bills on time is one of the best ways to improve a credit score.

For more factors that lower credit scores, click here.