What is Sock Drawer (Sock-Drawering)?
Credit Card Glossary · Updated April 2026
The practice of keeping an old credit card open but not actively using it. This preserves your credit age and available credit. Put a small recurring charge on it (like a subscription) to prevent the issuer from closing it for inactivity.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sock Drawer?⌄
The practice of keeping an old credit card open but not actively using it.
What does Sock Drawer mean on a credit card?⌄
The practice of keeping an old credit card open but not actively using it. This preserves your credit age and available credit. Put a small recurring charge on it (like a subscription) to prevent the issuer from closing it for inactivity.
What terms are related to Sock Drawer?⌄
Closely related concepts include Credit Age (Length of Credit History), Credit Utilization Ratio. Each of these helps clarify different aspects of the same topic.
Where does Sock Drawer apply?⌄
Sock Drawer is a account management concept. It typically appears in the context of balance management, payments, and card lifecycle.
More account management terms
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