Most of us have trouble understanding the impact some actions may have on our credit scores. According to a recent survey conducted by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and VantageScore Solutions, these are the facts that tripped up consumers the most: 

• Marital status is NOT a factor in the calculation of your credit score. Almost half of survey respondents incorrectly believed that marital status played a role.
• A low credit score can increase the cost of a loan. Only one-fifth of survey participants knew this.
• Credit scores can be used in applications that are not related to being offered credit - for example, your utility company may factor in your credit score when requesting a deposit for service. Insurance companies and landlords also can use these scores when deciding to work with you. This was unknown by over half of those surveyed.

If you're worried about your credit score and how it could be impacting your finances, just follow these basic guidelines: make all loan payments consistently and on time, check your credit reports on a regular basis to make sure all of the information is accurate, and keep credit card balances low.