Don't Fall for These 5 Myths About Your Credit Score

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• Your credit score is your own, even if you're married.
• Using a credit card responsibly can help your credit.
• You actually have many credit scores.

Credit scores are a big part of Americans' financial picture, even if most people don't quite know how they work, or how to tell fact from fiction. Having a good credit score can help you qualify for the best credit cards, and it has other benefits for your life, including saving money on auto insurance and possibly even being offered a job (in some states, employers can check your credit profile during a background check).

Here are five credit score misconceptions not to believe -- and the cold, hard truth.