What would this do to your credit score?

Start from a score of 720 and try one thing at a time: miss a payment, max out a card, pay one down. The point changes are rough, typical sizes, not a prediction for your own file. The direction and the size are what to remember.

You're starting at 720, which counts as good. Pick one of the actions to see where it would leave you.

Scores run from 300 to 850. Most lenders treat 670 and up as good, and 740 and up as very good.

Where that sits on the 300 to 850 scale

720

Good

300850

How this is worked out

Each action moves the score by a typical amount taken from how FICO describes its own model, applied to a starting score of 720. Real changes depend on everything else in your file: a missed payment costs someone with a long clean history more points than someone with a thin one. Use it for the direction and the rough size, not the exact number.

What a FICO score is made of

Five things, and two of them do most of the work.

Payment history, 35%The single biggest factor. Even one missed payment can drop your score by 50 to 100 points, and it can stay on your report for seven years.

Amounts owed, 30%Mostly how much of your available credit you are using. Try to keep balances below 30% of your limits. Lower is better.

Length of history, 15%Longer is better. Avoid closing your oldest credit cards, even ones you rarely use.

New credit, 10%Each application is a hard inquiry and a small, short-lived dip. Several at once look like trouble.

Credit mix, 10%Having handled both revolving credit (cards) and installment loans (car, student) helps a little. Not worth borrowing for.