How do me with a 512 score and my husband with a 530 score raise our score in time to buy a house in August? Do we just pay off everything?

I don't know what those ratings mean. I know I have good credit without looking up a score. The bank will do a debit ratio, I guess, and determine if your incomes will support repayment and your other debts. You get good credit by being prompt and paying more then the minimum on credit cards.

Use your credit cards but pay the full amount, not the minimum payment, each month.

Go to your local library. seriously, there are great resources there concerning debt reduction and improving your credit.

As much as I think online help is great, I've read so much good info concerning finances, debt, and investment through a few shorts trips to the public library. I bet you'll be able to walk out of there with several books no problem.

If yours doesn't have anything, and I would be absolutely shocked, you also can drop in on a major chain bookstore and skim the books.

Lots of things to do... but what's your situation? Do you have a lot of cards? Are they maxed? Have you been late with payments? etc.

Get your credit report. Look it over for mistakes.

I know you are interested in improving your credit for a home purchase, but you should really look at this from a lifetime perspective... not this one event.

A little info can get you on the right track. Next thing you know, you be thinking and planning about your financial future. Pretty powerful stuff once you start. And it all starts with knowledge.