Want an 800+ Credit Score in Canada? Start With These 5 Things
We’re heading into that time of year… Black Friday deals, holiday shopping, and year-end budget reviews.
It’s easy to get caught up spending, but this season is also the perfect time to check in on your finances, especially your credit score.
If you’re more of a video person, I actually made a YouTube video on how I built an 800+ credit score in Canada in my 20s.
You can watch it here 🎥: Youtube Video Link
But if you’d rather read, here’s a quick breakdown of the 5 things that actually impact your credit score the most.
1: ⏰ Payment History
This one’s the biggie. Your payment history tells lenders if you pay your bills on time.
Even one missed or late payment can stay on your record for up to 6 years.
Set up automatic payments for at least the minimum balance, pay off the full balance if you can, and never ghost your bills.
2: 📊 Credit Utilization
This is how much of your available credit you’re using.
Keep your usage under 30% of your total credit limit.
Example: if your total limit is $4,000, try not to owe more than $1,200 at a time.
It’s not about how much you spend, it’s how much you owe at once.
3: 📆 Credit History
The longer you’ve had credit, the better. It shows lenders you’ve been reliable over time.
Tip: Don’t rush to close old cards.
Even if you don’t use one card much, keep it open and make a small purchase every few months to keep it active.
Each extra year of history helps strengthen your financial reputation, and your future self will thank you.
4: 🔄 Credit Mix
Lenders want to see that you can handle different types of credit.
💡 Think:
💳 Credit cards
🚗 Car loans or leases
💰 Lines of credit or personal loans
You don’t need to open new accounts right away, just know that over time, variety helps your score.
Consistency > Quantity.
5: 🕵️ Hard Checks
Every time you apply for new credit, it triggers a hard inquiry.
A few checks are fine, but too many in a short period can make lenders think you’re desperate for credit.
💡 Tips to manage credit checks:
Limit how often you apply for credit.
When shopping for a car loan or mortgage, get quotes from different lenders within a 2 week period. The credit bureaus will combine and treat that as one inquiry.
Only apply when you really need it.
Remember: each hard check can slightly lower your score, but good habits (like paying on time) matter more in the long run.
💳 Final Thoughts:
Building credit isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being consistent.
Pay on time, use less than 30% of your limit, keep your oldest accounts open, and apply only when necessary.
Do those things, and you’ll watch your credit score grow steadily, even if you’re starting from zero.
📲 If you want a deeper breakdown and guidance to succeed, I offer 1:1 coaching calls where we build your financial plan together.
☎️ Book a call time: Here