A memo from Captain Obvious (a.k.a. Kat)

If you’re paying down credit card debt, set up automatic monthly payments for slightly over your minimum, so there’s no way you’ll forget to pay on time, which negatively impacts your credit score.  Obviously, you can throw some more money at the bills at other times in the month, but the important thing is to ensure that you’re at least covering your minimum payment and doing so on time.

Also, your credit card companies will generally allow you to choose which day of the month your payment is due.  If you have trouble remembering which payment is due on which date, set all of your deadlines to the 1st, the 15th, or another date that works for you.