Have you ever been told to “always look your best”? The same should be true for your credit. You should work to make sure that your credit always looks its best as well. Here are ten ways that you can approve the appearance of your credit.

1 – Pay down your debt.
This is one of the fastest ways to improve your credit by decreasing your credit available to credit used ratio, paying down the balances on the higher interest credit accounts first. If you are using more than 50% of your credit, then you are using too much and need to start paying some of it off for better results.

2 – Use secured cards to make an entrance into the world of credit.
Most banks and credit unions offer secured credit cards, which are excellent for helping you build credit even if you don’t have much to speak of just yet.

3 – Apply for a passbook loan.
These are month to month loans that use your savings account as a means of collateral, which is a great way to show lenders that you are capable of paying off the loan even if your credit is less than ideal. Some banks don’t report passbook loans to the credit bureaus so check with yours.

4 – Utilize retail store credit cards wisely.
These cards are relatively easy to get and can help to build your credit appeal. You can use these cards for purchases that you can pay off right away and build credit in the process.

5 – Keep old accounts open.
Closing an old account is something that you will regret, so even if you are not using the account, leave it open or it could have a negative effect on your credit.

6 – Properly utilize the 100-word Statement.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are allowed to add 100 words to your credit bureau file, and this can be utilized to improve your credit image. Just keep in mind many lenders will just review the credit score and ignore any statement.

7 – Perform occasional checkups on your credit report.
By reviewing your credit report from time to time, you will be better able to keep track of changes to prevent negative things from showing up.

8 – Protect yourself from identity thieves.
Identity thieves can wreak havoc on your credit, so it is vital that you take steps to prevent your identity from being stolen if you want your credit to be appealing to lenders.

9 – Maintain good record keeping habits.
This is going to mean attending to your checkbook as often as possible, devising a bill paying system that works for you, and above all else, always paying your bills off on time, every time.

10 – Get professional help, if all else fails.
The two primary sources of help are your attorney, and a legitimate credit counseling company. If you cannot make your credit more attractive on your own, these two sources of help could be just what you need.