FICO score in excess of 820 here. The difference in credit score if I were to have a small balance at a statement is literally < 1% of my score. I've done it

FICO score in excess of 820 here. The difference in credit score if I were to have a small balance at a statement is literally < 1% of my score. I've done it as an experiment (having a non-$0 balance on statements to show utilization, not carrying a recurring balance and paying interest), and the difference has been typically 2 or 3 points. In my case, that's a fraction of a percent improvement. That is not a meaningful difference that would affect interest rates I could get from a lender. I would get the same rates at 828 as I would with 825 as I would with 790 as I would with 770. There is no meaningful positive difference that having a non-zero utilization provides to your FICO score.