“My credit score is in the low 600s, and I need to raise it. But I don't want to wait a year or longer to see improvement. Are there ways to boost my score more quickly?”

Definitely! Depending on your credit history, your score can jump as much as 100 points in just a few months—you could even see improvement as soon as today.

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That's great news since raising your credit score makes banks more likely to approve you for a mortgage, car loan or credit card. Plus, you could qualify for a lower interest rate that saves you thousands of dollars.

Getting started is simple: First, check your current score at the three major credit reporting bureaus for free. For TransUnion and Equifax, sign up at CreditKarma.com, and for Experian, go to Experian.com. Then use these pro tips to raise your score in no time at all!

See an instant boost

You're probably making regular monthly payments for services like your wireless plan, utilities, car insurance and streaming platforms. While credit bureaus traditionally don't count these bills toward your credit score, the free Experian Boost program does use these payments to increase your Experian score.

Just sign up at Experian.com/credit/score-boost. Then securely connect the credit card or checking account you use to pay monthly bills and choose those you want added to your Experian credit file.