Business InsiderSponsored by Freedom Debt Relief
Should you worry about your credit when you're paying off debt?
The relationship between debt and your credit score can be rocky. Taking on loans and making steady payments is a major factor in building credit. But paying off a loan or closing a credit card can hurt your score.
A 2026 study by Freedom Debt Relief and Money.com surveyed borrowers with at least $10,000 in non-student loan, unsecured debt and found that improving credit is a motivating factor for debt payoff.
More than half of respondents overall, and 45% of people who describe themselves as very or extremely motivated to pay off debt, want to pay off their debt to improve their credit history and score.
That said, many surveyed borrowers aren't afraid of a credit score drop on the way to financial health.
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