<prompt> Human: I am very new to credit. I have two credit cards. They are also my only lines of credit. The first one is a Mastercard I have had for a little over a year now and has a limit of 2300. It has no point benefits, and Im only keeping it open for the history. My second card I just opened is an American Express a credit card, not a charge card with a limit of 10,000. I opened it solely for the cashback benefits.So far Ive been carrying a balance of 1 on my Mastercard and paying it off right after it reports. Ive been charging more than 23 to it, but I pay the excess off immediately. I was planning on carrying a 1 balance on both cards, but I guess the number of cards that hold a balance affects your FICO? Would it be better if I just carried a balance on one? Would it matter if it was the Mastercard or the Amex? Also, I do have a reoccurring payment set up on the Mastercard. If I paid it off immediately before it was owed, would this still count as carrying a balance?EDIT: I think Im using the wrong terminology. I guess Im not carrying a balance. I pay everything off at the end of the month before it accrues interest. I mean Im utilizing 1 of my credit card, not carrying a balance.  <response>: It would be better if you paid each off in full every month. There is no benefit to carrying a balance just to carry a balance. 