What is commonly affected by a poor credit score?

A poor credit score can significantly impact the ability to rent an apartment. Landlords often conduct credit checks to evaluate a potential tenant's financial reliability. A low credit score can indicate a history of late payments, defaults, or other financial problems, which may lead landlords to view someone as a higher risk for not paying rent on time. This concern can result in difficulties securing a rental agreement or may require a larger security deposit or a co-signer to mitigate the perceived risk.

In contrast, while finding a job can sometimes be influenced by a poor credit score, especially in finance-related positions, it is not universally the case and often does not affect every industry. Purchasing groceries is typically not contingent on credit scores, as most grocery stores allow payment through cash, debit, or credit without requiring a credit check. Opening a savings account generally does not involve credit checks, as it focuses more on identity verification and the ability to fund the account instead of assessing creditworthiness.