The most common myth in finance is that looking at your own credit score will lower it.

As you get older, nearly every major life purchase—from a new car to your first home—will be influenced by your credit score. Yet, 87% of adults report that high school didn't fully prepare them for the realities of managing money.

: When you check your own credit through a legitimate source, it is a "soft inquiry" and has zero impact on your score.

If you want to move the needle, you need to know what credit bureaus like FICO (the most common model) actually look at: Credit Scores 101 | Gulf Winds Blog: Save. Spend. Live.