Whestion 5 of 10 Which is the best way to lower credit utilization to an acceptable level? Apply for more credit cards Increase your credit card balance Decrease your credit card balance credit cards

To lower credit utilization to an acceptable level, the best option is to **decrease your credit card balance**. ### Explanation: 1. **Credit Utilization Ratio**: This is calculated by dividing your total credit card balances by your total credit limits. A lower ratio is generally better for your credit score. 2. **Applying for More Credit Cards**: While this can increase your total credit limit, it may not be the best immediate solution if you already have high balances. Additionally, applying for new credit can temporarily lower your credit score due to hard inquiries. 3. **Increasing Your Credit Card Balance**: This option is not advisable as it would increase your debt and potentially worsen your credit utilization ratio if your spending remains the same. 4. **Decreasing Your Credit Card Balance**: Paying down existing debt directly reduces your credit utilization ratio, which is the most effective way to improve your credit score in this context. ### Conclusion: The best way to lower credit utilization is to **decrease your credit card balance**.