<prompt> Human: I have a credit score of 745. The things keeping it from being higher are that I have a short credit history Im 28 but only got my first credit card 3 years ago and only having one card, which I pay off completely each month. My credit limit was only 1200 and I usually only have less than 10 of it used. A few weeks ago our computer died, however, and my SO has pretty crappy credit. So I got another card, it had a 1000 limit and I immediately maxed it out plus had to put 800 on my old card. This will put me at using almost 100 of my available credit. Ive already paid off 300 of it on one card and it doesnt look like the new charges have been reported to the credit agencies yet. If I take several months to pay it all off how much will that affect my credit score? I have enough in my checking to just wipe both cards clean but it would leave us with very little money for several months as were a single income family.  <response>: but it would leave us with very little money for several months as were a single income familyYou need at least 1,000 in an emergency fund in savings, so if this would jeopardize that, then no, dont kill the CC debt just yet. 