u2019re trying to repair your credit or bump up your credit score, look no further than your own wallet. Much of your credit score is based on managing debt and paying bills on time. nMisused, credit cards can get you into trouble. But managed properly, credit cards are a powerful tool for proving your ability to handle debt. u2019re required to back secured cards with a cash deposit, which acts as your credit limit. u2013 and takes some patience to repair.

Consistent and timely payments are the single most important thing you can do to improve your score. u2019s on your record for seven years. u2019ll see your score improve. In the end, sustained on-time payments will trump past credit history. The easiest way to avoid collection, nYour credit card is a form of revolving debt, the kind that most impacts your score. u201d accounts for 30 percent of your score. u2019s easier to fix than payment history. nWhile you might be tempted to cancel all but one card, over-consolidation of your credit cards can backfire.

Owing the same amount over fewer open accounts can actually lower your score. u2019re not paying exorbitant fees, keep unused credit card accounts open for now. u2013 another important factor in your FICO score. u2013 especially if your credit is new. Each application causes a hard pull on your credit by the card issuer that will ding your score. u2019s simpler than it sounds. FICO encourages responsible use of credit cards. u2019re looking at how we manage the revolving debt we have in order to judge if we can handle more. nVideo: Kids explain: How do credit card companies make money,

Discover doubles all your cash back at the end of the first year. Pay no annual fee. Consider this card if you want to earn free flights around the U.S. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is one of our favorites because of the value it delivers. Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is one of the few revenue-based systems, which makes it easy to turn their points into flights.

With this type of system, the point cost of a flight is directly tied to the dollar price of that same itinerary. This means award seats are far more abundant, giving you the opportunity to book flights whenever you please. Other airlines may offer up few, if any, seats for customers paying with miles—especially on holidays or popular flight paths.

The card itself gives you 2 points per dollar spent with Southwest Airlines and 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else. We estimate each point can be worth as much as 1.5 cents, so that translates to a rewards rate between 1.5% and 3%. There's also a 6,000-point anniversary bonus that kicks in every year.

90, so it cancels out most of this card's annual fee. 1,000 on purchases in the first three months. For perspective, here are a few flights that fit within the bonuses parameters. Drawback: Getting a co-branded credit card means you're limited in what you can do with your rewards. Southwest is primarily a domestic airline. Furthermore, it's not part of any of the big three airline alliances, which would expand its options. If you're more interested in international flights, we recommend looking at the Delta Air Lines credit cards instead.

However, if you don't mind being tied to the Rapid Rewards program, this card packs in the most value. Rewards: Earn 2 points per dollar spent at Southwest Airlines and 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else. 1,000 on purchases in the first three months. Get 6,000 anniversary points. Consider this card if you want a good primary or secondary card for earning rewards without having to pay extra. The Chase Freedom® is an excellent credit card for those who want high savings while at the same time avoiding pesky annual fees.

It also makes for a good supplementary card when paired with either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Like the Discover it® ­- Cashback Match™—our pick for top cash back credit card—the Chase Freedom® is a rotating-category cash back card. 1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. 500 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.

That's one of the highest bonuses on cards with no annual fee. Even though this card is marketed as a cash back card, it awards users Ultimate Rewards points. This subtle fact is what allows the Chase Freedom® to be used alongside other Ultimate Rewards credit cards to amplify its value. On its own, the points you earn with this card can mainly be used toward cash back. However, if you use it alongside the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can pool your rewards together and transfer them to airline and hotel loyalty programs.