ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- For a three-digit number, your credit score packs a big wallop. In a time of slashed credit limits and tighter restrictions, having strong credit is more important than ever. There are some easy ways to boost your score

While there's not one magic trick that can pump up your score by a certain number of points, experts say depending upon how early you pay your bills can boost your score by about five points. Now if you can't pay them all early, credit expert Elizabeth Schomburg says focus on the ones that carry the biggest weight things like credit cards and utility bills. Credit utilization accounts for 30 percent of your score, so the lower you can keep your balance the better.

Schomburg said, “Usually people get their credit card statement and pay it as soon as they receive that statement but there actually is benefit to paying your bill two or three times a month so it reports as a lower balance on your report, therefore using less of your balance, and your score should be increase because of that."

Even if you pay the balance in full every month you should actually contact your issuers and ask them for increases in your credit limits. Remember, the idea isn't to use this credit, but to show lenders you have the discipline to stay away from it.