How important is it to know the number and what do the numbers really mean? What number is ideal? And what are ways to increase or decrease it to get to that ideal number?

(Don't share your actual number here ~ that's too personal. But feel free to share your thoughts on credit scores or where you would like to be.)

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DH and I both have high scores--the man at the bank that ran it for my school loan said it was excellant.

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We just bought a house so we know our credit scores. I have a high score, DH however went through a bad divorce and he is still trying to repair his. It is amazing how easy it is to destroy your credit and how hard it can be to repair!

My husband and I are working on repair our credit scores and we are working on pay off our debts & IRS. We long are dreaming to buy our first-time home in 2009 after we take care of debts/IRS and are now starting to work with the mortgage consultation to apply for VHDA to see where we are so that way we can be prepare when we buy a home later.

yes.

interesting bit on credit scores-

We have no credit card debt but have mortgage and school loans. we are proud of our savings and investments.

My inlaws never owned a home, live on credit which they pay mimimum monthly, lease their cars and have no savings and very little retirement.

we jsut found out that my MIL's credit score is higher than DHs! My MIL is a QVC queen and buys daily. I can't believe it. she must be just under the radar of the credit rating system bc she rides the slippery slope of making ends meet (thanks to credit) monthly.

I have no idea. That probably does not suprise anyone here who know me

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~Happiness is a large family~

I only know because my credit card tells me as a free service (WAMU). It just jumped up with is exciting. I don't know if it was just time, or if it was the new savings account I opened, but I'm at an all time high. I don't know what DH's is, but it has to be good since he got the mortgage on his own.

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Mom to Kaylee (10/2006)
Waiting on our second bundle of joy to arrive January 2009!

I haven't looked in a while but I have a couple of times. I could ball park it for sure. Good reminder that I should check again.

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Mine is crap to be honest...went through a nasty divorce 7 years ago and I am still trying to get it back up there.

Mine was high two years ago when I had to refinance my house. I am sure it is the same since not much has changed as far as credit history..

Your MIL's is probably higher because she uses her cc alot. Using the cc racks up credit history whether it be good or bad history. Since she is paying the minimum, it shows that she pays every month on time.. Doesn't matter whether she is making ends meet in the rest of her life...KWIM?