(BPT) - Managing money wisely: It’s something that everyone is told to do from an early age. From putting pennies in the piggy bank to classroom instruction in how to balance a check book, the message is to spend and save thoughtfully. However, in the real world, those lessons often fall by the wayside due to crunched schedules, unexpected expenses and simple forgetfulness. However, the way you handle – or mishandle – your money from day to day will have an impact on your credit score.

While many people only see their credit scores with their free annual check, a recent white paper by credit score model company VantageScore Solutions points out that roughly 70 percent of credit scores fluctuate by as much as 20 points in a 90-day period. Whether it goes up or down depends on your behaviors.

“When it comes to credit scoring, there are two questions that are most commonly asked by consumers yet rarely understood. These questions are ‘why did my credit score change,’ and, ‘how can I improve my credit score,’” says Barrett Burns, president and CEO of VantageScore Solutions. “We’re providing answers to those questions and more, including specifics for how certain profiles of consumers are impacted by common credit activities, and how to further improve their scores or repair a damaged credit profile.”