A bad credit score can feel like a wall between you and your goals – whether that’s buying a home, getting a car loan, or even renting an apartment. Although you can fix that with the right habits.

Here’s exactly what you need to do:

1. Pay Every Bill on Time – No Excuses

This one is the biggest. Your payment history makes up the largest chunk of your credit score. Even one missed payment can drag your score down fast.

Set up auto-pay or put a reminder on your phone. You should not miss due dates. This includes credit cards, loans, phone bills, even utilities.