New Credit Card Rules

I am a real stickler for credit.  I need to have excellent credit.  And after the rules changed, my credit is okay...but it could be better.  I needed to find out ways to improve my credit score, and take advantage of certain rules.

First rule.  Never go over your credit limit.  Better yet, try not to go over 50% of your credit limit.  Here are some guidelines:
1% - 10% Ideal.  You want to use your credit card to keep it active, but want to show credit companies that you are in control of your credit.  Some drawbacks is that card companies are now looking at your credit utilization and are cutting your credit limit if you do not use enough of it.
11% - 25% Good.
26% - 30% Okay.
75% or over NEVER!  Never, ever do this.  Once credit companies see that you are using more than a third of your credit, they will begin to worry and start closing your cards thinking you are out of control.  This includes balance transfers.  I transferred my balance from one card to another to benefit from a lower APR, but I was also using about 95% of my credit on that one card.  After about a month, card companies started sending me letters saying that they are closing my account.  On that note...

Rule #2
Spread your debt among your cards.  It is better to have a bunch of cards using about 25% of your credit on each card than having it all on one card using 50%.  For example, it is better for you to split your $5,000 debt among 5 cards with a $5000 dollar limit than have it all on one card with a $10,000 limit.

Rule #3
Never be late.  Don't ever send a late payment.  That really hurts your score.

Rule #4
Pay off your debt ASAP.  Carrying a high balance on your cards is also hurtful to your score.

Rule #5
Keep those cards active and open.  You don't want to have credit card companies lowering your credit or closing your credit.  The higher your limit, the higher your score.

Rule #6
Keep that card you got in High School Open!!  No matter how much you hate that card, keep it open.  That card is keeping your score up.  The moment that card closes, it will look like you lost a few years in your credit history.