Because your financial well-being is so dependent on the credit score agencies
, it's a good idea to get a free copy of your report at least once a year. You can get your free report from each of the three agencies at www.annualcreditreport.com. Once you get your reports, go over them carefully and look for any errors or discrepancies. If you find any you should report them right away and add a note to your report. Errors on credit reports are more common than most people think, and it would be silly to lose out on a loan, job or place to live due to somebody else's mistake. There are other things you can do to keep your credit in check besides looking into your credit report. Paying all of your bills on time and in full (or at least the minimum amount due for credit cards) is the single biggest thing you can do to maintain or improve your current credit score. Do your best to pay down any outstanding debt you owe, as this will help your income to debt ratio. Finally, don't overdo any unnecessary activity on your credit cards; this includes opening new accounts or closing old ones. Doing these things will prevent most of the potential red flags and help to keep your credit score higher. The key is to take a proactive approach to your own finances.