For years, we’ve been obsessed with hitting that elusive 800+ FICO score. While a high score is essential for securing the best rates on mortgages and loans, reaching a perfect score is often a waste of time and mental energy. Once you clear the barrier for “excellent” credit, the utility of adding more points drops to near zero. Focusing on the raw number distracts from the deeper principles of financial health
“There’s virtually no financial product in existence that offers a better rate for a 820 score than it does for a 760 score. You’re trying to win a game that ends at 760.”
Section 2: Why Utilization Trumps Everything
The real financial leverage isn’t the overall score; it’s your Credit Utilization Ratio (the amount you owe vs. your total credit limits). This ratio is the single biggest indicator of risk, and it impacts your score more than any other factor. A perfect 850 means little if you’re using 50% of your available credit, while a slightly lower score with 5% utilization signals true financial discipline. Lenders look past the three-digit number to the structural health of your debt.
Conclusion (Paragraph Block)
Stop checking your score daily. Instead, focus on the two habits that actually matter: 1. Never miss a single payment date, and 2. Keep your total utilization under 10%. Master those two principles, and you’ll get the absolute best rates available. The extra 50 points are nothing more than bragging rights.
