BriteBulb

Watch for your closing dates on your credit cards.  If you want to take advantage of the "utilization" then allow the credit card company to record your balance, it happens usually a couple days before closing date, then pay in full.  You will never pay interest, and you will get the use of the utilization record.  If that is your goal.  My utilization is sitting at 0% 90% of the time and it has never affected my score.  There is no need to ever pay interest or leave a balance on a credit card.  Ever. 

JackieCH It is not just credit cards that are counted.  All accounts that you have had in credit history. I have 57 accounts in that area, and trust me I have never had 57 credit cards in my 25 years of credit history.  Right now I have 6 open credit cards, I use 2 to 4 depending on where I shop.

If I were you I would keep it open. Use it every 2 to 3 months, pay it off in full when bill arrives. My oldest account, which is good to have on record, is a store card with high interest. When I use it, to keep it active, I pay if off the day the bill arrives.