Q: I'm not in a bad enough situation to warrant traditional credit help, but I'm certainly not in good credit shape. There aren't a lot of paths for folks like me to take when trying to improve credit if you're not already behind in the payments. I am paying more than the minimum amount each month, but I'm still in bad shape. Is there help for those of us who aren't "bad enough" yet?

A: First of all, congratulations! Making more than the minimum payment is definitely one way to help improve your credit.

But it's not the only thing you can do to improve your standing. First, it helps to know your credit score. You'll want to get a copy of your credit report from the three leading credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can get a copy of all three (for a fee) from Fair Issac .

Each bureau will assign you a credit score. This score can affect all aspects of your financial life, from your mortgage to your car insurance. Besides checking for errors, there are ways to up your score:

Pay on time. This is the biggest factor in your credit score. Lenders want to see that you've paid all of your bills on time. The more recently you've slipped, the more it will hurt you.

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Reduce the credit you use each month. After your payment history, your credit-utilization ratio is the next biggest influence on your credit. In the case of credit card companies, this refers to the credit limit vs. your current monthly balance. For example, if you have a $10,000 limit and use $9,000 of it, the ratio is 10/9. But if you pay down some of your outstanding credit, say by $2,000, the ratio will drop.

Don't close long-term accounts. The longer you have a credit card, the better it is for your credit. Even if you rarely use an account, it can pay to keep it open. Of course, if you're tempted to use the card, cut it up!

Don't apply for more credit cards. Recent credit inquiries from lenders can also play a role in your credit score. Too many inquiries, such as applying for loans or new credit cards, in a short span of time can hurt your credit, so be conservative.

Of course, improving your credit standing ultimately boils down to paying off your debt. The less debt you have, the better off you'll be in the eye of a lender or creditor.

Jean Chatzky’s Bottom Line
This week: Choosing a vacation destination? Don’t forget about exchange rates
If you're considering traveling abroad this summer, knowing the exchange rate (the amount of one unit of foreign currency you can get for one U.S. dollar) can be ultra-important. It's one of the crucial factors in figuring out how much your upcoming travels will cost you. A country where the U.S. dollar is strong means your dollar will go further and you'll get more bang for your buck. If the dollar is weak in a foreign country, it may jack up the cost of your vacation — significantly. Here are a few examples:

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Western Europe: If you're traveling to France, Italy, or any country that uses the Euro as a currency, your vacation is going to be costly, since the U.S. dollar is weak against the Euro these days. It is also weak against the British pound. (Despite being part of the European Community, the United Kingdom is not participating the Euro system.)Eastern Europe: Countries that haven't adopted the Euro yet tend to offer the better bargain today.

Latin America and Southeast Asia: You can stretch your dollar further in either of these two areas, where the dollar is strong.

Jean Chatzky is the financial editor for “Today,” editor-at-large at Money magazine and the author of “Talking Money: Everything You Need to Know About Your Finances and Your Future.” Copyright ©2004. For more information, go to her Web site, www.JeanChatzky.com.

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