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The Daily Insight Hub

How often should you use credit?

Author

Jackson Reed

Updated on February 02, 2026

As a general rule, you should try use your credit card at least every one to three months to keep your account open and active, and to ensure your credit card issuer continues to send updates to the credit bureaus.

Is it good to have a lot of unused credit?

In general, it’s best to keep unused credit cards open so that you benefit from a longer average credit history and a larger amount of available credit. Credit scoring models reward you for having long-standing credit accounts, and for using only a small portion of your credit limit.

How long should you wait between loan applications?

It’s best to wait 30 days before reapplying for a new loan, giving you time to check the application and prevent any errors slipping through again. Beware that too many applications may leave a negative mark on your credit report, which can raise a red flag with banks and credit card companies.

How often can you apply for a credit card without credit?

Waiting about six months between applications is a good rule of thumb and can increase your chances of approval. Waiting about six months between credit card applications can increase your chances of getting approved. Apply more frequently than that, and issuers may see you as a riskier bet and reject your application.

How often should you apply for a new credit card?

There’s not a concrete answer on how often you should apply for a new credit card because it depends on your spending habits and goals. The main takeaway is to find credit cards that fit your lifestyle. How often do you apply for credit cards? How Often Should You Apply for a New Credit Card? – YouTube

How often should you ask for new credit lines?

The quick answer to your question is: you should not be asking for new credit lines more often than a year apart. The responsible answer is there are no quick answers when debt is involved. For example, even if a lender gives you an increase this month, their risk management systems can close you card the next.

Why do I have to wait so long to get a credit card?

That’s because you’re the kind of customer card issuers see as having a low risk of defaulting on future payments. On the other hand, if your credit is average or worse, you might need to wait even longer between credit card applications — possibly as a long as a year — to increase your chances of approval.

When to not apply for new credit cards?

When Not to Apply for New Credit Cards. While applying for multiple new credit cards will have a modest effect on your credit score, there are some times when it’s best to avoid applying for any new credit cards. This is the case when you are anticipating applying for a major loan such as a car loan or a home mortgage.