Credit scores are one of those little things in life that while they can have a significant impact on people's financial bottom lines, many people don't understand all of the ins and outs. Here are a few tips to improve or maintain a good credit rating. Keep in mind that a small improvement in a credit rating can impact the interest that you pay on mortgages and other loans. Here are a few handy reminders to help you improve your score

1. Order a copy of your credit report. Review it carefully. Correct any significant errors. This can be done by sending in letters to all three of the credit bureaus.

2. Pay your bills on time, every time.

3. Don't open a lot of new accounts over a short time period, especially if you have a short credit history.

4. Shop for credit over a short period of time. FICO scores distinguish between searching for credit for a specific loan and searching for lots of different credit lines.