<prompt> Human: I have read lots of conflicting info about the best way to increase ones credit. I just got my first card and am curious about how to use and when to pay. Heres what I think I know:On my Capitalone 300 limit, I should use it pretty much whenever I want as long as I can immediately make a payment to cover that amount. So I will have money in my bank acct ready to make a payment through my app. If I spend 40 on gas, as my first charge of the month, I put it on my CC and then make a mobile payment of 39 to Capitalone always have at least 1 on the card so my utilization rate is never reported as 0. That way, I am most likely going to avoid the issue of capitalone reporting to the bureaus before I can get it back down to 10 utilization. The idea is that I make large payments to the CC company each month but never go over 10 utilization. I think this should show the companies that I am capable of a higher limit. Please let me know if this sounds right. I am not looking for the easy, just use 10 and wait answer. I want to most efficient way possible. ThanksEdit: Though I plan on always having 1 on the card during the month, I will pay it off 2 days before my due date and then not use my card again until 2 days after I pay.  <response>: Utilization has no memory. Consistently having low utilization wont boost your score. The month or two before you need your score for something you should make sure its lower to boost your score. If you want to constantly keep it low it wont harm you, but imo its not worth the effort when it wont help you in any way. 