When you check your credit score, you will find that it falls between 300 and 850. The higher your credit score, the better.

Right now, the median credit score in the US sits at roughly 695. That's an all-time high for the country, but believe it or not, 695 wouldn't be considered an ideal credit score.

To have “good” credit, a person must have a credit score greater than 700. And to have “excellent” credit, their credit score must exceed 800.

For some people, the idea of ​​having a credit score between 700 and 850 is a pipe dream. They can't imagine taking a look at your credit report and seeing such a high credit score.

But it is possible to achieve an ideal credit score if you are willing to do the work necessary to achieve it. Take a look at how you can earn a credit score of 700 or better in the months and years to come.

Check your credit report for errors

According to a recent study by the Federal Trade Commission, about 20% of people have errors on their credit reports. Many of them don't even realize it.

Every year, you should check your credit report to see what your situation is. While looking at it, you need to keep your eyes peeled for any mistakes that may be in it.

A simple mistake could prevent you from achieving an ideal credit score. You can give your credit score a big boost by contesting an error and removing it from your credit report right away.

Pay off all the debt you can

The average person walks with more than $ 38,000 in debt hanging over their head. From credit card debt to student loan debt to auto loan debt, most people have all kinds of debts that lower their credit scores.

You must find a way to pay off as much of your debt as possible if you have debt that is affecting your credit score. An easy way to do this is by obtaining a loan and using it to pay off all the debts you have at the time.

This post explains what lenders will consider when deciding whether or not to grant you a loan. When used correctly, loans can make it easier for you to achieve an ideal credit score.

Make debt payments on time

Have you gotten into the habit of paying most of your bills late? You may not think that paying them a few days late is that important, but you could be putting a number on your credit score.

Every time you make a late payment on a credit card, your credit card company will report it to the credit bureaus. And if you make enough late payments, it will start to lower your credit score.

You must find a way to make your debt payments on time each month. It will show that you are responsible enough to manage your debt and give you a higher credit score.

Ask creditors to increase your credit limits

When you show that you can be responsible by using credit, your credit card companies will often respond by increasing your credit limits. They do this to try and entice you to rack up more debt on your credit cards.

You must not do this if you want to achieve an ideal credit score. The more debt you have in your name, the lower your credit score.

However, you should take advantage of credit limit increases from your creditors. You should even actively seek credit limit increases on your credit cards if you want to.

When a creditor increases your credit limit, it will give you more available credit and lower your credit utilization ratio. This will lead to an increase in your credit score over time, as long as you don't deplete your newly available credit.

Avoid applying for too many forms of credit

Simply applying for a single form of credit is enough to lower your credit score and away from the ideal number. This is why you need to be careful about applying for too many forms of credit over time.

You may not think there is any harm in determining whether or not you qualify for a car loan or a new credit card. But when you fill out a credit application, a creditor will take a soft or hard pull on your credit to see where you stand.

A gentle pull will generally not affect your credit score too much. But a strong jerk could cause it to fall.

Fortunately, bad credit shocks will only stay on your credit report for a year or two in most cases. But if you have a series of tough endeavors, it could force you to spend a year or two living with a less than ideal credit score for no real reason.

Be careful how and when you apply for new forms of credit.

Keep a close eye on your credit score

How will you know if you have an ideal credit score if you don't take the time to review your credit report every year?

Americans can access their credit reports for free every year. However, studies have shown that around 40% of people don't take advantage of this and have no idea what their credit score is.

If it falls into this category, please change it immediately. Start taking a closer look at your credit score so you can raise it to over 700 and keep it there.

Achieving an ideal credit score is more than possible

If you are someone who has struggled with debt in the past, achieving an ideal credit score may not seem possible. But you can do it with a little patience and a lot of work.

Use the tips here to guide you as you aim to achieve an ideal credit score. In just a few months, you can start to improve your credit score and put yourself in a much better financial position.

Check out our blog for more informative articles on credit scores.