My credit score is in purgatory.

My credit score is in purgatory.
There is room left to climb but I'm just not interested in what it takes to get there.

The top two recommendations I get:
1. Get a mortgage
2. Get an auto loan

In other words: take on debt.

Which brings me to two financial legends:
Charlie Munger and Taylor Swift

"You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes." - Swift

Credit scores help lenders assess how likely we are to repay borrowed money. But we've turned them into a scoreboard for financial well-being.

Those are different things.

Healthy cash reserves, no debt, and no desire to borrow can be a great place to be. Just know, your credit score might not reward you for it.

"Show me the incentive and I'll show you the outcome." - Munger

Credit bureaus make money selling our information to lenders.

We aren't the customer.
We are the product.

That's reason enough to question recommendations that boil down to "borrow more."

Yes, debt can be an incredible tool.
But I'm not borrowing other people's money just to prove I'm good with my own.