The road to strong credit takes diligence, veracity, and patience.

Credit Improvement Tricks:

• Add a variety of credit to your file; diversity your credit mix
• Keep your oldest accounts open; use them and than pay them off 
• Apply for a small personal loan or a credit consolidation loan from your credit union
• Become an authorized user; ask a trusted relative or friend to add you to a credit card account or two - be respectful - be trustworthy
• Are you an authorized user already? Is the debt really yours? Have yourself removed from the account. That debt will drop off your credit reports
• Use a cash secured credit card (beware the fees); yuk, right? It will help in the long run - big picture
• Try a site that will pull soft credit checks on credit applications
• Use online banks that offer credit building accounts to pay your monthly expenses
• Find a credit union that pays you interest on your checking account balance, preferably over 4% - YES, they're out there.
• Make repayment plan; be proactive and attack your debt
• Pass on unnecessary purchases; forget those expensive concert tickets
• Refuse to indulge; that will prevent you from achieving financial freedom
• Concentrate on paying your highest interest cards off first; then don't use them.

So if you have a tip or tick to help others improve their credit, please share: bettercreditpower@gmail.com