Why Checking Your Own Credit Score Won't Hurt It

6 January 2026

Ah, the credit score—a magical little number that determines whether you can finally escape your roommate’s snoring and get your own place, or be doomed to couch-surf forever. If you've been avoiding checking your credit score because you heard it might drop faster than your motivation on a Monday morning, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Let’s bust this myth once and for all: Checking your own credit score does NOT hurt your credit score. Shocking, right? It’s like discovering that eating a salad won’t actually make you gain weight (unless, of course, you drown it in ranch dressing).

But why is that? And why do people still believe this nonsense? Stick with me—I'm about to break it all down in the most entertaining way possible.

Hard Inquiries vs. Soft Inquiries: What’s the Big Deal?

To understand why checking your own credit score is as harmless as watching cat videos at work (unless your boss catches you), let’s talk about the two types of credit inquiries:

1. Hard Inquiries (Bad Guys)

Hard inquiries, also known as hard pulls, happen when a lender checks your credit report to decide whether they should trust you with their money. This usually occurs when you:

- Apply for a credit card
- Take out a loan (such as a mortgage or car loan)
- Request a credit limit increase

Since these inquiries indicate that you might be taking on more debt, they can slightly lower your credit score, usually by a few points. It’s like when your nosy neighbor sees a moving truck outside your house and starts panicking that you're leaving—except in this case, the credit bureaus are the nosy neighbors.

2. Soft Inquiries (Good Guys)

Soft inquiries, on the other hand, are completely harmless and don’t impact your credit score at all. These happen when:

- You check your own credit score (cue happy dance)
- A company pre-approves you for an offer
- An employer looks at your credit report as part of a background check

Soft inquiries are basically like peeking at your bank account to make sure you can afford that extra-large pizza—nobody’s judging you for it, and it doesn’t affect your financial health in any way.

Why Checking Your Own Credit Score Is Actually a Smart Move

Now that we’ve established that checking your credit score won’t send your financial reputation into a downward spiral, let’s talk about why you SHOULD be checking it regularly.

1. It Helps You Stay on Top of Your Financial Health

Would you drive cross-country without checking your gas tank? Of course not (unless you enjoy being stranded in the middle of nowhere). Your credit score is like your financial fuel gauge—ignoring it could leave you stuck when you need credit the most.

By keeping an eye on your score, you can:
✅ Monitor your progress
✅ Spot any unexpected changes
✅ Identify areas for improvement

2. You Can Catch Errors Before They Wreak Havoc

Mistakes happen. Credit bureaus handle millions of records, so it wouldn’t be shocking if they accidentally listed someone else’s unpaid yacht loan under your name (if only you were that fancy).

By checking your credit report, you can catch errors like:
- Accounts that don’t belong to you
- Payments marked as late when they weren’t
- Incorrect balances

If you spot any mistakes, dispute them immediately. The sooner you fix them, the better your credit score will look.

3. It Protects You from Identity Theft

Imagine waking up one morning to find that someone used your identity to open five credit cards and throw a party in Vegas (without inviting you—how rude!). Checking your credit score and report regularly helps you spot suspicious activity early, so you can take action before things spiral out of control.

4. It Prepares You for Major Life Decisions

Thinking about buying a house? Financing a car? Applying for a job that checks credit reports? Knowing where your credit stands beforehand can save you a ton of stress.

Checking your score regularly can:
✅ Help you know when you're ready to apply for credit
✅ Give you time to improve a weak score before applying
✅ Prevent last-minute surprises that could derail your plans

How to Check Your Credit Score Without Freaking Out

If you’ve been avoiding checking your credit score out of fear that it’ll be lower than your winter energy bill, take a deep breath. It might not be as bad as you think! And even if it is, knowledge is power.

Here are some easy (and FREE) ways to check your score:

- Credit Card Companies & Banks – Many offer free credit checks as a customer perk. Check your online banking dashboard!
- Personal Finance Apps – Apps like Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and Mint provide free credit score tracking.
- Annual Credit Report – You’re entitled to a free credit report from each of the big three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) annually at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Bonus tip: Set a monthly reminder to check your score like you do for trash day (or ignore it like you do those 30 unread emails—your choice).

Common Myths About Credit Scores (And Why They’re Total Nonsense)

While we’re debunking myths, let’s tackle a few other credit-related lies floating around out there:

❌ "Checking your own credit score too often makes you look desperate."
Truth: Nope! The credit bureaus don’t care how many times you check your own score. Check it daily if you want (though maybe don’t obsess too much).

❌ "You only have one credit score."
Truth: Surprise! You actually have multiple credit scores. Different credit bureaus use different scoring models, which is why you might see slight variations.

❌ "Closing credit cards will improve your score."
Truth: Not necessarily. Closing a credit account can shorten your credit history and increase your credit utilization ratio—both of which can hurt your score.

Final Thoughts

So, let’s recap: Checking your own credit score is NOT the financial version of stepping on a landmine. It’s actually one of the smartest things you can do for your financial well-being.

By keeping tabs on your score, you can catch errors, prevent fraud, and make sure you're in tip-top shape when it's time to apply for credit. And the best part? It won’t cost you a single point on your score.

So go ahead—check your credit score guilt-free. Your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.