ELI5 how do I fix my credit score after forgetting a payment
I had a nearly perfect credit score but I didn't pay for a student loan due to significant memory issues and it went down to 530. I just paid it all off because it wasn't even that much that I was late on. I don't know how to get it back up. I'm trying to get an apartment and it was totally fine just a few days ago.
I have little financial education. I have a Captial One credit card because I just needed credit for things like apartments. I'm not in any debt now. I only have one card that's a couple years old. I don't have any reason to take out other loans. I still have payments left so I'll keep doing that on time. I don't like messing with finances I really am just trying to pay bills and that's it.
How do I build credit? Is there something I should do to show that I can make payments? Sorry if this is stupid I really don't understand credit scores and I'm freaking out a little especially because I really need an apartment ASAP and now I have horrible credit all of a sudden. I don't know how to find help for my situation because people with credit this low usually have a lot of debt and this is the only time something like this has happened to me. I know not paying was stupid I really wish I'd been better about this.
Edit to clarify I know this takes a while, I mean over time. Do I just keep doing what I'm doing? I don't want this to stick for a long time.