Making sure that you get a free credit report each year from the main reporting agencies can insure that you keep your credit clean in more ways than one.  By obtaining a free credit report, you can see if there is activity on your credit history that does not belong to you.  Many people spot identity theft in this way.  If you catch identity theft, which is when someone uses your name and social security number to open accounts, you can stop it before it becomes even more of a problem.  Another way a free credit report can save your credit is to ascertain any errors that are reflected on your credit report.  These will come up every so often and you can get them removed if they do not belong to you.  Maintaining your credit with a free credit report each year also makes you more credit conscious.