Improving and maintaining a credit score in that range isn't rocket science, but it's important to stay on top of the factors that influence credit scores. To test your credit score savvy, take this quick Credit Score Quiz.

Before shelling out $7.95 or more to get your credit score, consider using one of the many FICO score estimators on the market. The best estimators offer valuable indicators as to what a consumer’s true FICO is.

Are credit cards for people with bad credit worth the high costs? According to one study, if your aim is to improve your credit score, yes, they are. The study was performed by the credit bureau TransUnion, which was commissioned by Citizens for Equal Access to Credit to conduct a study of 365,000 subprime cardholders over a two-year period.

Personal finance experts generally advise against closing credit cards, because reducing the total line of credit available to you may hurt your credit score. However, according to a new study by FICO, having a lower total revolving credit line may not necessarily affect your credit score. Credit scores will only suffer under some circumstances, for some types of cardholders.

In the current tight credit environment, keeping your credit score as high as possible is of critical importance. The rules for credit scores are changing. A credit score of 720 used to be considered Excellent, and would get you approved for loans and credit cards with the best terms. Nowadays, your credit score must upwards of 750 to be considered Excellent.