Much of what we buy is done with plastic. Whether we can get credit and the amount of interest we pay on it, comes down to our credit scores. But in this economy, the way we're graded has changed.

Credit is a big issue in this country. "It is the American dream to have the home and the extra things that you love to have," says mother of three Amanda Folks. "Really, that American dream that we speak of isn't very attainable without that credit."

She’s right and all that we buy with credit cards and bank loans, from appliances to cars and homes, often comes down to one number, a FICO score. It ranges from 300 to 850. A score 720 and up is typically considered good.

Now the consumer group Take Charge America says 760 is the magic number. Local businessmen who gathered at Brite Ideas Decorating at 38th and Farnam Friday to talk about the economy say it's not that simple.

“Anything over 720 is still an excellent credit score, but what we've started to see is more and more credit that maybe is unused, that is affecting people's credit scores," says United Republican Bank president and CEO Mike Pate.

Pate says having too much revolving credit or too many open accounts, even if they've got zero balances, makes us look risky to lenders. "So the best thing to do is tear up the credit cards, close the accounts, that'll improve your credit score."

Pate adds that in the Midwest where spending has been more conservative than in other parts of the country, getting credit for things like cars shouldn't be a problem.

"(It’s) not the access to credit, but how much credit and that's probably the one thing that we've seen changed a little bit," says Steve Hinchcliff, president and CEO of H & H Chevrolet.

Hinchcliff says zero money down offers are few and far between these days and that our credit score isn't all that counts. Lenders are looking at the bigger picture. "Things like time on job, time in grade at job, things like who you know, what your references are."

Folks says the state of the economy may serve as a wake-up call. "I think that in the long run, it pays to be consistent in what you do and to certainly spend what you earn and not over."

Lenders say you should stay on top of your credit rating. You can get a free report on your credit every 12 months at annualfreecreditreport.com.