Start Building Credit Responsibly

You are at a stage in your life that is perfect to start building your credit history. Your credit history is with you for your entire life, and having good credit can lead to many opportunities in the future, including apartment rental, getting a home or a new car.

Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to start your credit on the right foot—like getting a credit card and paying your bills in full and on time.

Here are some tips for using credit responsibly:

Pay all your bills on time. Doing so helps you avoid fees and builds your credit score.
Pay as much as you can of your credit card bill—at least the minimum due and ideally the entire balance. The more you can pay, the less interest it will cost.
Use your credit card for emergencies only. For routine purchases, use your debit card or cash and pay as you go. Or, use your credit card for one or two small purchases a month, and pay the bill in full each time.
Budget so you know you'll have enough money in your checking account to pay your bill.
Ignore the flood of credit card offers you will receive in the mail. Many of these offers are "too good to be true," and have high rates and annual fees.
Review your credit report. As you start to build your credit, it's important to review your credit report annually to make sure that it's being properly reported. You can do so for free at www.annualcreditreport.com.
Learn more about credit reports »
If you have any questions, contact us.

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Start Building Credit Responsibly

Here are some tips for using credit responsibly:

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