Howard Dvorkin | Source | Chairman at Debt.com

Think of recession-proofing your life like you would hurricane-proof your home. If a storm is days away, and I ask you where the hurricane shutters are, the worst answer you could give me is, 'I think I have some in the garage, but maybe I need to buy some more.’ By then, it’s too late, and any exposed window could spell doom. Recessions work the same way, except their devastation can last months and linger for years.

Credit utilization is the amount of credit you're using relative to the total credit line you have available.