With these simulators, you can see how paying off an auto loan will affect your credit score, compared with taking that same money to pay down credit card debt or pay off a student loan. Or you can see how missing several payments will affect you.

If you want to see how certain actions on your part will affect your credit score (both directly and indirectly), the best way is to use a credit score simulator. There are many of these; but probably the best-known simulator is the one Fair, Isaac & Co. provides when you purchase a credit score from it's Internet Web site, www.myfico.com.

You also can see how opening another credit account will affect your credit score. Or you can see how much your ratings will improve once a bankruptcy or a late payment comes off your credit reports.