Building history that lasts
Credit rewards patience in a way almost nothing else in life does. The boring moves are the ones that compound.
Keep old accounts open
The average age of your accounts matters. Closing your oldest card can shorten that average and nudge your score down. If a card has no annual fee, keeping it open and lightly used usually helps.
Open new accounts slowly
Each new application is usually a hard pull and lowers your average account age. Space applications out, and avoid opening several cards right before a big application like a mortgage.
Automate the basics
Autopay at least the minimum, ideally the full statement, on every card. One missed payment can undo months of progress, and automation removes the chance to forget.